P 38
- Thread starter Yer Man
- Start date
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I would suggest first getting it on diagnostics....then get a new mechanic....new ECU - mad man!
Can you hear the brake pressure pump running? if it runs continuously, it could the accumulator, it could be a duff pump, it could be a duff pressure switch.....
if it doesn't run at all, it could be a duff pump, duff pump relay, duff pressure switch.
Most often if the pump is duff you will have a rock hard pedal with little braking force....a pedal that goes all the way to the floor with no braking effect, it could be a leak in the system!
Can you hear the brake pressure pump running? if it runs continuously, it could the accumulator, it could be a duff pump, it could be a duff pressure switch.....
if it doesn't run at all, it could be a duff pump, duff pump relay, duff pressure switch.
Most often if the pump is duff you will have a rock hard pedal with little braking force....a pedal that goes all the way to the floor with no braking effect, it could be a leak in the system!
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- 58,170
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- Preston Lancs.
Go to another mechanic. Preferably one who knows what he is doing.
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- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
I'd start with the basics, does it have any brake fluid in it? ABS light won't go out until you're doing over 5mph anyway. Favourite is brake lines rotting behind the fuel tank. If they've rotted and the fluid has leaked out it'll have no pressure and all lights will go on. So try following all the brake lines and look for leaks. After you've fixed any leaks then it'll need bleeding as per RAVE. If there are no leaks then check the accumulator as Saint says.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
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- 43,878
- Location
- Near Poitiers SW France
With a rear brake line leaking I still had brakes.
If the pedal goes to the floor, is there any fluid in the reservoir?
With a duff pump, pressure switch and/or duff accumulator the pedal will go to the floor.
Worth checking the fuse for the pump.
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- 12,100
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- Sud ouest France !
- Posts
- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
Depends how long he was stamping on them pushing all the fluid out, I guess? Once that pump kicks in the fluid pumps out PDQ.
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- 58,170
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- Preston Lancs.
Front brakes are hydrostatic and should produce a braking effect even with no pressure. Rear brakes will not work unless there is pressure. If he has no pedal at all he has a problem that needs properly looking at. But i would strongly suggest NOT by the mechanic who first gave him a opinion. Who in my humble opinion is bloody clueless.
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- 12,100
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- Sud ouest France !
I would get a second opinion if you can. To have them both fail is a real coincidence. Just to add one of either won't break the other!!!
Last edited:
- Posts
- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
Listen to Saint. He's very knowledgeable. The accumulators are known to fail. Usually you hear the ABS pump kick in after startup just the other side of the bulkhead from the driver. Usually cuts out after a few seconds, depending how long the car has been standing. After 3 - 6 presses of the brakes it usually runs again. Can you hear that running?
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- 58,170
- Location
- Preston Lancs.
You lot are not listening. If as he says the pedal goes straight to the floor with no brake effect at all on the front brakes and the fluid tank is up to level and there are no leaks. He has a lot bigger problem than an accumulator or pump.
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- 12,100
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- Sud ouest France !
Maybe the main block?
- Posts
- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
I've not seen a response to whether there is any fluid in there or not? He's checked the lines and the pads.
I cannot see how the pedal can go straight to the floor unless he's pushing against air or the pedal is no longer attached to the accumulator.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 43,878
- Location
- Near Poitiers SW France
I wonder if the mechanic has tried bleeding the brakes without following the correct procedure? Would that cause the problem?
- Posts
- 58,170
- Location
- Preston Lancs.
He says his man checked for leaks, one would assume there is fluid in the tank. As the front brakes are hydrostatic the pedal should never go to the floor unless they are being bled.
- Posts
- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
If he's a mechanic I doubt he could have cocked up that badly.
I could see the clip where the rod comes through the bulkhead from the accumulator and attaches to the brake pedal being disconnected and forgotten to reconnect though.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 43,878
- Location
- Near Poitiers SW France
Not many mechs know the P38 brake bleed procedure.
- Posts
- 18,941
- Location
- Buckinghamshire, UK. ('95 DT)
Yes, that's the difficulty in diagnosing over the web though. You make assumptions. I can barely see the level in my reservoir, even with a Maglite shining through it!
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- 58,170
- Location
- Preston Lancs.
Don't know what he has done. More info would be maybe helpful.
