Wednesday 7th March : 2007 R26 was running perfectly fine, up until yesterday. I can’t even drive it for more than 5 mins, as suddenly the front braking circuit lock up with the ABS light and traction control light illuminated on the dash. I was coming out of a junction when this first happened, and the brakes locked up and there I was. Stopped right in the middle of the road and I couldn’t even go any further, as i was just burning the clutch. 2 hours later, brakes freed and within almost 2 minutes of driving again, the front brakes locked up. I don’t know what to do. Local garage is trying a brake fluid change and installing my new brakes all round, but if this doesn’t sort it, I don’t know what step to take next. Anyone here ever experience or have heard of a similar problem? New update today: Just had a text from the lad working on my car. His message is ‘New brakes and rear calipers are on, still going through braking system because they still stick occasionally. Pulled fuse for abs system and looking for vacuum hose for servo to disconnect and see what it's like. But keep having to stop for customers. Can pump the brakes with engine off and brakes don't lock up, but as soon as you start the engine and pump the brakes they lock up’. So I’ve replied to him with, ‘can I drive the car with the ABS pump disconnected or fuse pulled? Will it stop the sudden braking?’. Reason I have asked this is because, if the above hasn’t cured it, then I don’t want to pay £50 for recovery charges as the car is currently not MOT’d. Was preparing it for Mot when all this had happened and I’d like to drive it to a garage of repair or to that Renault specialist place and let them just crack on with it.
Not just a failing abs sensor that's intermittently causing the abs to kick in? Can't see the discs or pads being the issue, did they need replaced anyways?
The front pads were low and rear N/S brake disc had a crack in it, so I had them replaced anyway. New rear calipers too as the old ones were seized solid and wouldn't wind back. I've not yet had it on a diagnostic, as I've been busy with work. I understand you say failing abs sensor, but can they cause that much of a grief, to an extent I cannot even drive the car as the front brakes lock on?
Getting it on a diagnostic machine would be my first port of call just in case. It sounds like something it triggering the abs pump to apply pressure to the front brakes. Whether that could be caused by a faulty sensor I'm not sure but a diagnostic machine will tell you if the sensors are all reading true and if there are any other fault codes logged.
Just got off the phone to the lad that is working on the car. He is going to try and disconnecting servo etc and try a few things. He has said, something is pressurising the front brakes and is currently finishing off some diagnostics and will call me back in 30 mins. I will keep you updated Dale. Thank you for your assistance pal
Yes finally some good news haha. I'm actually quite happy lol. So basically, the garage reckon the servo is knackered. Servo connected, start the car, pump the brake a few times and fronts lock up. Disconnect vacuum pipe to servo, start the car up and pump brake a few times and nothing goes wrong. It's all perfect. Garage reckon servo is at fault. What do you think?
I might just do that. My mate who works at another garage has just mentioned about a one way valve thing? Not sure what he means.
A one way valve is a check valve, it only allows flow in one direction, I think there is one in the servo line. I can’t imagine this is causing the brakes to lock up though Live data on clip will show you straight away what the abs sensors are doing and list the fault with the brake system
It's been dropped to a Renault specialist this morning. He has assured me, that they will get to the bottom of it. Has also mentioned, no fix, no fee as they don't work on p/h. He thinks because I have brakes that now work and no warnings lights anymore, it could be the servo pipe, but will check and let me know on Monday. I just hope it isn't something major
