Loss Of Brake Power Galaxy Tdi 2005

[ddhh33]

Hi all,

 

I have changed my previous Galaxy to a MK 2 1.9 TDI 2005 model. I have had this just 4 weeks. Noticed after 2 weeks the alloys were really black - like soot and then also noticed on a few occasions some loss of brake power - strange feeling, like try to put my foot down and nothing happens, have to really push hard before car stops (couple of scary moments!) Got a mechanic to check over and brakes were very worn/cheap so had them replaced a few days ago. Hwoever, today I had the same "loss of power" feeling again when trying to park and nearly reversed into car parked behind when car wouldn't stop when I wanted it to. Have spoken to mechanic again who suggests could be linked to servo but as it's diesel needs to speak to someone as he's not sure it's something he can deal with. I saw anotehr site (honest John) where someone sadi to test out servo you pump brake 6 times with engine off then start up with foot on brake and this seemed all ok - as I turned engine on teh brake pedal depressed furterh as it said it should if all ok. I'm Mum travelling mostly with 4 kids in this car and really can't cope without it but now concerned how safe it is......will hope mechanic can get back asap and give me some idea but in meantime if anyone else has any suggestions that might save me money in trying to find fault in meantime I would be very grateful.

[seatkid]

Check the brakes arent binding and so getting stinking hot. This can lead to brake fade. I say this as you say there is an abnormal amount of brake dust (soot). This could be due to the brake pedal not releasing fully.

 

The most likely reason though is loss of servo assistance due to a vacuum leak. Galaxys are notorious for vacuum hose leaks, the servo seals are also prone to leak (in which case you can sometimes hear a hiss).

 

Any compentent mechanic can check this.

 

A quick check is with engine idling - "pump" your brake pedal resonably hard several times for about 1 second each time, releasing for about a second between each pump. If the pedal goes hard / difficult to apply after less than 4 attempts, then there is insufficient vacuum in the servo reservoir and you likely have a leak.

 

Tell your mechanic that despite being a diesel, it is a conventional vacuum operated servo, with a vacuum pump mechanically operated off the engine. The vacuum also supplies the turbo control circuit and on some models, some actuators in the a/c, so there are lots of pipes/joints where the vacuum could leak.

[NikpV]

if the problem only occurs at low speed/engine revs then its likely to be a leak... there is a non-return valve somewhere in the bowels (I have yet to find it) and apparently it cracks and leaks vacuum(if such a thing can be said) its an easy fix apparently but i have not yet seriously looked for it

[roy202]

Hi all,

 

I have changed my previous Galaxy to a MK 2 1.9 TDI 2005 model. I have had this just 4 weeks. Noticed after 2 weeks the alloys were really black - like soot and then also noticed on a few occasions some loss of brake power - strange feeling, like try to put my foot down and nothing happens, have to really push hard before car stops (couple of scary moments!) Got a mechanic to check over and brakes were very worn/cheap so had them replaced a few days ago. Hwoever, today I had the same "loss of power" feeling again when trying to park and nearly reversed into car parked behind when car wouldn't stop when I wanted it to. Have spoken to mechanic again who suggests could be linked to servo but as it's diesel needs to speak to someone as he's not sure it's something he can deal with. I saw anotehr site (honest John) where someone sadi to test out servo you pump brake 6 times with engine off then start up with foot on brake and this seemed all ok - as I turned engine on teh brake pedal depressed furterh as it said it should if all ok. I'm Mum travelling mostly with 4 kids in this car and really can't cope without it but now concerned how safe it is......will hope mechanic can get back asap and give me some idea but in meantime if anyone else has any suggestions that might save me money in trying to find fault in meantime I would be very grateful.

sounds like a vacum leak or siezed callipers but if the pads were changed they should of noticed this and told you, so i agree with the others and go for the leak...

 

let us know when you find the fault

[ddhh33]

Hi all,

 

I have changed my previous Galaxy to a MK 2 1.9 TDI 2005 model. I have had this just 4 weeks. Noticed after 2 weeks the alloys were really black - like soot and then also noticed on a few occasions some loss of brake power - strange feeling, like try to put my foot down and nothing happens, have to really push hard before car stops (couple of scary moments!) Got a mechanic to check over and brakes were very worn/cheap so had them replaced a few days ago. Hwoever, today I had the same "loss of power" feeling again when trying to park and nearly reversed into car parked behind when car wouldn't stop when I wanted it to. Have spoken to mechanic again who suggests could be linked to servo but as it's diesel needs to speak to someone as he's not sure it's something he can deal with. I saw anotehr site (honest John) where someone sadi to test out servo you pump brake 6 times with engine off then start up with foot on brake and this seemed all ok - as I turned engine on teh brake pedal depressed furterh as it said it should if all ok. I'm Mum travelling mostly with 4 kids in this car and really can't cope without it but now concerned how safe it is......will hope mechanic can get back asap and give me some idea but in meantime if anyone else has any suggestions that might save me money in trying to find fault in meantime I would be very grateful.

sounds like a vacum leak or siezed callipers but if the pads were changed they should of noticed this and told you, so i agree with the others and go for the leak...

 

let us know when you find the fault

 

Can confirm - definitely worse at low speed/revs - especially when stop start situation.....been keepin well back at junctions in case cars in front change mind about pulling out as I cant stop behind them quick enough! Did the pumping brake when idle bit and on 3rd depression the brake went "solid" so all definitely going towards leak. Have spoken to mechanic and told him all this (bet he loved me telling him how to do his job !) and he's going to take a look on Saturday hopefully. Meanwhile I'm driving very carefully and will report back once sorted. Thanks!

[sepulchrave]

Sounds like the monkey who fitted the cheap brakes may have allowed some air into the system, this then creeps up to the highest point in the circuit and sits there forever.

 

Suggest you get all the brake fluid completely drained and renewed.

[seatkid]

Sounds like the monkey who fitted the cheap brakes may have allowed some air into the system, this then creeps up to the highest point in the circuit and sits there forever.

Air in a brake system would give a soft pedal. OP confirms pedal goes hard, therefore vacuum leak.

[ddhh33]

Sounds like the monkey who fitted the cheap brakes may have allowed some air into the system, this then creeps up to the highest point in the circuit and sits there forever.

 

Suggest you get all the brake fluid completely drained and renewed.

 

So the question is.........is FINDING a vacuum leak likely to be a costly deal and/or an easy one to remedy?

 

I'm still driving VERY carefully....and becoming very aware of when the problem more likely to occur but each time it still freaks me out and I reach for the handbrake in panic (probably a "girly" thing).

[Ga73]

Wow I was just going to post as my Alhambra TDI has just started doing exactly the same thing and I can also confirm its a little scary when it happens!!

 

Ive no problems having a look round the engine but can someone give me some ideas where the vaccum leaks likely to be, im going on holiday with 3 kids to yorkshire next week and dont fancy having limited braking on some of those hills !

 

thanks

 

Gary

[sepulchrave]

Loss of servo assistance through vacuum leak etc. does not result in any loss of braking power, you simply have to press the pedal harder in order to achieve it, so it may be a simple vacuum leak.

 

I had a 'bubble' of air sitting somewhere above the ABS modulator which produced exactly the symptoms you describe and I too suspected a vacuum leak but couldn't find one, pedal felt completely normal but would suddenly briefly dip with accompanying loss of braking, ABS would also sometimes give a brief thump. I eventually swapped out all the brake fluid at service time and hey presto, problem solved. I have absolutely no idea how the air could have got there and it was very intermittant and therefore very hard to trace.

[seatkid]

So the question is.........is FINDING a vacuum leak likely to be a costly deal and/or an easy one to remedy?

 

Its a process of inspection and elimination, if you employ a garage it depends on how long it takes them to locate the leak (labour charges).

 

If you're lucky you hear it hissing at the leak (with the engine running)

 

Start by checking the the main vacuum feed to the servo - this is a rigid plastic pipe going to the servo (big black circular thing located in the engine bay, directly behind the brake pedal area. i.e. about 18" under the brake fluid reservoir. This pipe is known to split.

 

The other item to check is the servo unit itself, and leaking servos are quite common. With the engine running stick your head in the drivers footwell and see if you hear hissing from the area above the brake pedal (IIRC there is a small rubber flap/valve there that leaks)

[dixie]

Any news or update on this one. I bought a Mark II Gal 1.9 TDI 2003 the other day and all was fine. Went out today and the pedal went hard with loss of brakes, scary indeed. This happenned a few times on the way home. I've 2 kids and the other half in the car most of the time. Got to get it fixed as cheap as possible spent all the money on the new car :P

 

I was also sure the aircon was pretty cold when I tried it the day I bought it. But today it was not cold at all. Are these sepatate issues or could their be a common cause.

 

How do I fix the aircon and should I check the hoses for vacumn leaks.

 

Also does the car have remote central locking (if it does it don't work )

[big_kev]

There is absolutely no connection between the brakes and the aircon system.

 

 

 

Ignore the aircon until you have sorted out the brake issue.

 

 

If you have a remote key then you will have remote central locking....if you have an ordinary key then you most likely just have manual central locking.

[dixie]

There is absolutely no connection between the brakes and the aircon system.

 

 

 

Ignore the aircon until you have sorted out the brake issue.

 

 

If you have a remote key then you will have remote central locking....if you have an ordinary key then you most likely just have manual central locking.

 

Thanks big_kev

 

I'll ignore the aircon for now and check out the brakes fist chance.

 

I have a remote key with the car which I tried programming in with the instructions found on the forum. The led on the door is supposed to flash 5 times if successful. The key flashes 5 times at the end of the process but the door led does not and it's not working. It does go into programming mode as the light comes on at the start. Hope you know what I mean, any ideas

[seatkid]

I have a remote key with the car which I tried programming in with the instructions found on the forum. The led on the door is supposed to flash 5 times if successful. The key flashes 5 times at the end of the process but the door led does not and it's not working. It does go into programming mode as the light comes on at the start. Hope you know what I mean, any ideas

 

Unfortunately this is common and seems to mark the end of the remote keyfob's useful life. Only fix for this is a new fob or, like me, just use the locks.

Edited July 6, 2009 by seatkid

[seatkid]

Gonna try out some "reset" procedures later on today to see if the keyfob can be reset. Edited July 6, 2009 by seatkid

[dixie]

Gonna try out some "reset" procedures later on today to see if the keyfob can be reset.

 

 

Good luck if it works let us know, my old Gal has the exact same problem as well

[ddhh33]

So the question is.........is FINDING a vacuum leak likely to be a costly deal and/or an easy one to remedy?

 

Its a process of inspection and elimination, if you employ a garage it depends on how long it takes them to locate the leak (labour charges).

 

If you're lucky you hear it hissing at the leak (with the engine running)

 

Start by checking the the main vacuum feed to the servo - this is a rigid plastic pipe going to the servo (big black circular thing located in the engine bay, directly behind the brake pedal area. i.e. about 18" under the brake fluid reservoir. This pipe is known to split.

 

The other item to check is the servo unit itself, and leaking servos are quite common. With the engine running stick your head in the drivers footwell and see if you hear hissing from the area above the brake pedal (IIRC there is a small rubber flap/valve there that leaks)

 

 

OK all - sorry for long delay in updating on this ....first we were on holiday ...then mechanic...you know how it goes !

 

Anyway, I knew it wasn't a problem caused by new brake pads being fitted as the problem had already shpwn itself prior to these being done....and anyway I know my mechanic's no monkey!

 

After lots of discussion with Ford Technical and others he knew who dealt with Ford Diesels it was narrowed down to TWO - either a specific pipe that is direct link to servo (think thats what you talk about above) OR the brake servo pump itself. Mechanic had been warned that both were a bugger to get to and work on and if he went for the "cheap" option (pipe around