Hi everyone,
I'm trying to help a friend who has a strange and rather dangerous problem with the brakes on his 2005 Xsara. Once every few days or so the pedal feels hard and the cars brake capability drops to ca. 10-15%...very scary.
Once I was with him in the car when it happened and he told me, this time the pedal didn't feel as hard as the other times but the car wasn't really braking -just the same.
I myself believe the root cause might be a defective master cylinder. Other than that I can think of no other culprits. So I thought I'd post the question here and see if people think I'm on to something or if anyone has a different take on this.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Gabriel
Xsara Picasso brake problem
Moderator: RichardW
Xsara Picasso brake problem
99 Xantia, 2.0 HDI
TKM 215
TKM 215
With mine I even had a main dealer look at it, who could find nothing wrong.
After putting up with it intermittently for 2 years I found a suggestion on another forum to try spraying WD40 into the brake vacuum pump. I did and the problem went instantly and never returned in the following year or so I kept the car.
Edit: On reflection although WD40 was suggested I think what I actually used was silicone spray lube.
After putting up with it intermittently for 2 years I found a suggestion on another forum to try spraying WD40 into the brake vacuum pump. I did and the problem went instantly and never returned in the following year or so I kept the car.
Edit: On reflection although WD40 was suggested I think what I actually used was silicone spray lube.
Hi gents,
Thanks a lot for your replies. It is a petrol (1.6L 66 kW/90 PS). I reckon the brake system on this one is probably not that much differernt from yours (it might have been if there were a significantly stronger engine in it, I suppose).
Based on your replies (luckily I see I I am probably on the right track) I would start by spraying some silicone lubricator on his vacuum servo booster (vacuum pump) and hopefully that will take care of business. Do you think there is a chance the pump is defective? He's not losing any fluid so no leakage I reckon.
Cheers,
Gabriel
Thanks a lot for your replies. It is a petrol (1.6L 66 kW/90 PS). I reckon the brake system on this one is probably not that much differernt from yours (it might have been if there were a significantly stronger engine in it, I suppose).
Based on your replies (luckily I see I I am probably on the right track) I would start by spraying some silicone lubricator on his vacuum servo booster (vacuum pump) and hopefully that will take care of business. Do you think there is a chance the pump is defective? He's not losing any fluid so no leakage I reckon.
Cheers,
Gabriel
Last edited by citroDane on 08 Feb 2011, 10:17, edited 1 time in total.
99 Xantia, 2.0 HDI
TKM 215
TKM 215
Interesting. Is that specific for Citroen? I am not a pro but if I am not going senile I think I recall to have seen cars with gas engines that have vaccum pumps.
Last edited by citroDane on 08 Feb 2011, 16:10, edited 1 time in total.
99 Xantia, 2.0 HDI
TKM 215
TKM 215