Brake Pedal Occasionally Hard After Start Up

[Thomsy]

Hi All,

 

I have a very intermittant problem on a Ford Galaxy Mk3 Ghia (2008). I have not experienced this myself, but my wife reports that after starting the car after it has been left all day the brake pedal is rock hard and does not give any braking. After after 10-20 seconds it returns to normal. However the other day it took a lot longer for it to return to normal.

 

I have tried a couple of tests e.g. 1. pump the brake pedal a few times then rest foot on brake pedal on start up and brake pedal goes down. and 2. Run engine for a minute, rest for a minute and then pump brake pedal - the movement does decrease.

 

I am assuming it is either a split in a pipe, the non return valve or the actual power vacuum servo starting to go.

 

Strange that I have never experienced this problem myself.

 

Any ideas what to do next would be helpful. Thanks