Hey guys, A couple of weeks ago I went on a one week holiday overseas and upon returning when I went to start the car the brake pedal was very hard, it hardly moved. However after starting the engine the pedal was back to normal. Yesterday after not using the car at all on saturday the same thing happened. I would like to know if this is normal or something I should have the dealers take a look at. Cheers PS I still havent reached the 1,000km thershold for engine break-in, its driving me nuts jeje
If the ignition isn't on, don't worry. It's electronic and hydraulics won't work without the ignition.
Yes I experience this when the engine is off. If there is a leak it whould be visible under the car in the parking floor or not necesarily? Because there are no apparent puddles under the car.
Are you actually pumping the brakes to get the pedal hard or is it hard without pumping? If it's hard without pumping it could be a vacuum leak I recall.
It should be soft to start with but will stiffen as it's pumped. Unless the 265 is running something different.
Don't scare the guy!! If it goes hard with the engine off, it's 100% normal. Or the last 3 Meg's I've had were all duff. Engine on, different story.
Eh, I mean eh? So on the last 3 megs you have had the brake pedal was solid with the engine off and without pumping the brake?
You're making assumptions that the pedal is not pressed when the engine is off. "Press brake to start" means there's at least one press of the pedal with the engine off. Two and it'll be pretty firm. If it all comes back when the engine fires, nothing to worry about.
Also the guy has said it only happens with the engine off and he's not yet done 1k. Still getting used to the car I guess.
I'm not making any assumptions!!!! I asked a question on whether the pedal was being pumped! One press will NOT make the peddle hard to the extent it hardly moves, so it is you that is making the assumptions. If it is hard "hardly moves" as described in the op's post and it is the first time he has gone near the brake peddle then that is NOT normal on any car I've owned. The op needs to make it a little clearer what is going on before you start saying all is fine.
Too much of this happens on forums. Not just you, but a diagnosis of a vaccuum leak and brake booster leaking. My assumption that all is fine is based on the fact the brakes work else they'd have hit a tree/wall/other hard object. So there's three of us making assumptions.
Brakes can show warning signs of failure before they fail, you do realise that don't you?, just because he hasn't crashed doesn't mean that he doesn't have a problem. You should not be ASSuming all is fine on something as important as brakes on a vague description. And I've not diagnosed anything, I've stated it "could" be an issue, I've not said categorically that it IS a problem. Yet you have stated with 100% certainty all is fine! Anyway this is boring, you're making assumptions on the issue and the point I'm trying to put across.
And you realise if you're really worried about your brakes you should take your car straight to the garage, not ponder it on a forum? We'll agree to disagree then.
Yes, he absolutely should take it to a garage to be sure and NOT listen to people on the internetz who are using assumption as proof all is fine.
tbf he did state before he started the car, so the pedal going hard sounds normal to me, not any specific to this car but cars in general do this
Right, in an attempt to dish out the man-hugs I've just tested my 250 as follows. 1 press - a fair amount of movement 4 presses - rock solid 2 & 3 presses it's getting harder (now I just sound like a homo). I'd class this as very normal until the engine is on!
My point exactly, in the op's description (seeing as pumping is not mention) he has described finding a hard brake peddle from the get go, not normal. Gayest thread ever, all this pumping and getting hard!
ive had my brake pedal go hard no and again when pressing the brake to start the car, that was in the clio 197 and the megane, again sounds normal
Yes we've established that pressing the brake with the engine off will make the peddle go hard. I think overall you're missing the point.
Woa guys..! Different time zone here so sorry for the late reply. Couple of things to clarify: 1. I have only experienced this twice since having the car for almost a month. First time after not using the car for a week, second time after not using the car for a whole day. 2. On these two occations I have found the pedal to be pretty stiff from the get go, first pump (while depressing the brake in order to start the engine). However once the engine is running the brake pedal feel goes back to normal and the car brakes fine.
Well that clears that up. In my experience and even testing it on a Megane and a brand new Nissan, the brake pedal has always been soft to start with, but will stiffen when pressed/pumped (engine off) as the stored vacuum is being depleted and not replaced by a running engine. The reason the peddle softens after you start the engine is the vacuum returns. My advice would be to have it looked at, is your car under warranty? Just my opinion. And I'm not a mechanic, just stating what I would do if it were my car. Also my terminology may not be correct.
I take it other than the 2 occasions you have stated, the brake peddle has felt normal when you first press it?
No im not missing the point, ive had it happen on my 250 and 197, and i can garrentee you that there no problem with my brakes. God nows what causes it, probaly holf the brake while turning the engine off, or accidently pumping it before yoy leave the car.
I think youve pump the system before you exit the car. Hard to tell really as its only happened twice, keep a eye on it and keep note what you do before you get out the car ie, holding the brake before turning the engine off etc. if its that its normal, just tested it on mine.
Will keep an eye on it definitely. Im currently at 850kms so only 150kms to go before going to the dealers for inspection anyways so will mention it to them just in case.
You can even try it yourself, keep the brake on whilst turning the engine off then release the brake, and press again to restart
Apologies to revive an old thread but here goes, my first post. Does anyone find that the booster doesn't have much vacuum reserve capacity? My brake pedal becomes rock hard on the 3rd press and with RS monitor on, brake pressure is literally zero. This is with the engine on, at 60kmh in 4th gear and 3 quick firm applications of the brake pedal. With the engine off, the pedal is rock hard by the 3rd press also. I was testing the other night, maintaining constant throttle at 60kmh in 4th and did the same 3 applications of the brake pedal with my left foot and the same thing happened. Except this time the brake boost didn't recover until i pressed the clutch in or let go of the accelerator pedal - i assume this is because the manifold is under positive pressure and not vacuum. Is this just a flaw of the system? Can someone reassure me by doing the same tests as above? I'm used to driving BMWs for work and they have a separate cam driven vacuum pump which gives them an endless supply of vacuum to the booster - so things like bedding in brakes is a breeze.
