Hi all

Guess what? I'm driving down the M1 this afternoon on the way back from the Milton Keynes Volvo service shop, I'm doing 70mph and move left onto the exit ramp at the Luton junction.

I press the brake pedal...

...nothing happens

I press harder...

... nothing happens

I'm still doing 70 and heading towards red lights and lots of cars!

I put my full body weight onto the pedal, pull hard on the steering wheel and force the gearbox into 2nd.



I just about stopped at the line.
Very scary!
Pulled onto the hard shoulder on the exit road and called the RAC. After 2 hours of waiting I called and cancelled the patrol and drove home, very carefully, using engine braking the whole time.
I've checked everything, there is plenty of brake fluid in the little container under the bonnet, nothing looks out of place. The pedal doesn't move at all, it's like its stuck. I can't figure it out.

Anyone know anything of this?


:crying:

WOW! I hope your ok! What a scary experience! I hope you get your problem sorted.

:haha: The old brown underwear moment eh Danny!


Open the bonnet & driver's window, press the brake pedal hard half a dozen times & then with your foot on the brake pedal, start the engine. You should feel the pedal "give" as the vacuum in the servo builds up. Take your foot off the pedal & after a couple of minutes, switch the ignition off. Press the brake pedal a few times & you should gear hissing. After several pushes, the pedal should feel harder & not go down as far.

If it doesn't act like this then suspect that the servo has failed or the vacuum line to it has come off or split, effectively killing the power assistance to your brakes. At 70mph that's serious stuff. If pedal feels solid & hard to depress then it's 99% certain it's the servo or vacuum line. Not a cheap job I am afraid, unless it's just the servo non-return valve that is faulty or the servo air filters that are blocked.

Whilst writing, UK members are planning a meet in March - see Regional forum - Europe - UK subforum.

Good luck.

BB
:thumbsup:

Just had a call from the garage. Aparently the vacuum pipe melted.
This explains the burning smell, and why i lost brake power suddenly rather than slowly. The mechanic replaced the pipe a couple of weeks ago because the old one leaked. He replaced it with one recovered from another volvo, which was too long. It was cut to size and fitted. Maybe its a different material the one which was removed? He is going to try and make a shield to protect it in the future... but I must admit I'm tempted to sell it and get a smaller car. This car is too big for me to be honest.

Such a shame, its a great car other than this problem and the heat shield

:(

Dan

dont get mad, its not the cars fault the mechanic didnt know what he was doing.

Oh this isn't a frustration thing. I was thinking about it anyway. I simply cannot justify owning a 1.8 injection car. Its so nice to drive, and the heated seats are brilliant. Power steering is wonderful, electric sunroof would be grand in the summer. 5 doors make taxi-services easier. The boot is likea black hole. But, compared to my last car which was a 1.2, this 440 uses 50% more fuel, costs about 30% more on road tax, and my insurance is twice what a 1.2 would be (£700 a year).

The brakes are fixed now for good, but i probably will sell it.

... and the 1.2 could fold like an empty coke can in an accident, Danny...

Accept what you say about cost & only you know your finances, but hope you can find a way to keep the Volvo.

By the way, not impressed with your mechanic one bit - he nearly caused a major high speed smash involving you & other road users!

Keep an eye on that replacement vacuum hose.

Fingers crossed.

BB
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