Hi all,
Collective thinking required, please.
Yesterday I jumped in the P38A to nip to the shops. The 3 amigos took a little longer to go out than usual and then I set off. I touhed the brake and the pedal went all the way to the floor! Furiously pumping the car came to a standstill. I then reversed back up the drive. No lights were on but the pedal just had very little resistance and way too much movement. The fluid level seemed low so I topped it up and then parked up and took the bike as I was in a hurry.
I took today off and this morning I checked all lines and brakes - no leaks visible. That's a relief as I replaced the brake-lines and calipers 2 years ago. The pedal was still very soft though. I bled the brake booster unit but I couldn't really see what was happening as I was on my own using one of those non-return valve one-man bleeding things. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Anyway, I started the car up and the pedal firmed up, the lights went out as usual and the brakes work! I took it out down the road and back and I don't think the pedal is as hard as it should be but it definitely works. All very strange.
So what could it be?
My current thinking: the accumulator was changed when I got the car 10 years or so ago. Could the nitrogen sphere have failed? That was the fluid would fill the sphere and then when I topped up and ran the car again it has repressurised but obviiously there isn't much gas so pressure cannot be held long. What beats me are there are no lights or faults. The pump doesn't seem to be running more than you'd expect it is just a softer pedal than usual. I live at the top of a hill so I'm a little loathe to risk driving anywhere. Unfortunately the Jag is still SORN'ed waiting for its MoT test so I am without wheels unless I can get the Rangie working. I've ordered brake fluid and will do a full bleed over Christmas. I looked at the pump and accumulator on the scrapper but they look older and more dodgy than the ones currently on there.
Anyone ever had this behavious at all?
Collective thinking required, please.
Yesterday I jumped in the P38A to nip to the shops. The 3 amigos took a little longer to go out than usual and then I set off. I touhed the brake and the pedal went all the way to the floor! Furiously pumping the car came to a standstill. I then reversed back up the drive. No lights were on but the pedal just had very little resistance and way too much movement. The fluid level seemed low so I topped it up and then parked up and took the bike as I was in a hurry.
I took today off and this morning I checked all lines and brakes - no leaks visible. That's a relief as I replaced the brake-lines and calipers 2 years ago. The pedal was still very soft though. I bled the brake booster unit but I couldn't really see what was happening as I was on my own using one of those non-return valve one-man bleeding things. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Anyway, I started the car up and the pedal firmed up, the lights went out as usual and the brakes work! I took it out down the road and back and I don't think the pedal is as hard as it should be but it definitely works. All very strange.
So what could it be?
My current thinking: the accumulator was changed when I got the car 10 years or so ago. Could the nitrogen sphere have failed? That was the fluid would fill the sphere and then when I topped up and ran the car again it has repressurised but obviiously there isn't much gas so pressure cannot be held long. What beats me are there are no lights or faults. The pump doesn't seem to be running more than you'd expect it is just a softer pedal than usual. I live at the top of a hill so I'm a little loathe to risk driving anywhere. Unfortunately the Jag is still SORN'ed waiting for its MoT test so I am without wheels unless I can get the Rangie working. I've ordered brake fluid and will do a full bleed over Christmas. I looked at the pump and accumulator on the scrapper but they look older and more dodgy than the ones currently on there.
Anyone ever had this behavious at all?
