by "Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
Published 12/04/2017 at 14:32
by "Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
Published 12/04/2017 at 14:32
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STARS: 0
In my 2012 Nissan Versa this morning in the dark, I was pulling into a parking lot and a lady in dark sweats was in my path, so I gave the brakes a little jab, whereafter, I lost all pedal. I pumped them a couple of times and got a tiny bit of braking, but really nothing at all. Complete loss of brakes. I rolled into the parking place, pulling my emergency brake to stop the car, and turned off the ignition. I restarted the car and the brakes worked fine. An hour later, as I drove home, I repeatedly stabbed the brakes, once to the point that I felt the ABS engage. They worked fine also when I drove the car to work.
What could cause a complete loss of braking like that? Master cylinder failing? Thoughts?
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
12/04/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 0
An air bubble in the lines could definitely do that. Have you bled your brake fluid anytime recently? If not, it may be worth checking if your bleeders are tight.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
12/04/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 0
At first, I thought maybe you brake lines burst... but since you got it back, I think you just missed the pedal. pushed the floor
Seriously though, check for leaks around all wheels, master cylinder and any brake line leading to and from both.
Also could be air in system... strange behavior indeed
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/04/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 0
That’s scary.
I can think of a few things that could conceivably be the culprit, but under the circumstances it might be best to bring it in somewhere and have it checked out by a certified shop, at least for diagnosis.
God forbid you think you have the issue resolved, but really don’t, and someone gets hurt, you could be found criminally negligent.
"I hoon, therefore I am" (hookemdevils22)
12/04/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 0
Losing then recovering the brakes is a classic symptom of a master cylinder bore leak; however, being an ABS car, it brings to mind the Chevy S10, which had ABS failures that resulted in loss of braking.
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/04/2017 at 14:56, STARS: 0
Could be:
Failing master cyl/booster
Stuck caliper, which boils fluid after driving at speed, causing pedal to drop to floor. Cured once cool, only to happen again once it re-boils. (If the car doesn’t pull to left or right, probably a rear brake caliper)
Crack in hose/line
Air in system.
Etc etc etc
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/04/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 0
Check for leaks. If no leaks are visible, I’d say bad master.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 2
That’s sound advice, but they’re going to not be able to replicate the problem and then recommend replacing the whole car and keeping the radiator cap.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 0
Car was cold; had only driven a mile before the event.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:04, STARS: 0
I’d think I’d have less-than-perfect pedal the rest of the time if that were the case...
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
12/04/2017 at 15:06, STARS: 3
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
12/04/2017 at 15:06, STARS: 0
Are the pads still in good shape? I know on my car when the pads are almost down to metal the pedal gets mushy and it feels like the car won’t stop in emergency situations very well.
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/04/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 0
Probably the master then, but I would hate to find out the hard was that I was wrong.
Good luck. Hope you’re able to sort it easily and without issue.
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
12/04/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
It could be that the master cylinder didn’t return properly. That’s really the only thing I can think of that would ‘get better’ after it sat. The other thing that could get funky is a bad brake hose, but that would likely only affect one wheel. Last possibility is if you triggered the ABS and the ABS system went haywire, making your next braking difficult. After restarting the car, the ABS system ‘reset’ and everything went back to normal...
One last thing I thought of - if you are low on brake fluid and the sudden jab jammed all the fluid to the front of the reservoir, air got in the master, and it burped out while you were parked. Do you ever get a ‘brake’ warning light on a hard corner or sudden stop?
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/04/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 0
All the stars for you sir.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
12/04/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 0
The radiator cap will be easy to replace when you get it home.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
12/04/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 1
Sadly , this may be because Versa.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
12/04/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 1
Also, that is the perfect gif for this situation.
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
12/04/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 0
Not necessarily! It could be a new air bubble, or it could be an air bubble that found its way to a place that caused an issue. Earlier this year I drove a car 70 miles before air in the system caused me to lose brakes.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 1
Shoes/pads are fine. Sudden, complete loss, then normal like nothing happened when I stopped and restarted the car.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
12/04/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0
Sounds terrifying. Good luck!
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0
Thank you. Hell of a thing, this. I’m glad my wife wasn’t driving or my mother or my daughter. Complete loss of brakes. Happy for the handbrake...
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 1
I worry that it could be ABS-related. There’s no fluid under the car... I’ll check the reservoir...
No Brake warning. I was moving too slowly to cause anything to slosh.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 0
I don’t mind paying to have it fixed, I just don’t think the problem is likely to replicate anytime soon.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 0
I hope not. It’s really a decent car in other respects, but it won’t be for long if it won’t stop.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
12/04/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 0
One of my parents old employees no w works at Nissan Corporate and said the newest ones are the worst car he has ever driven or been in.”Upgrading” to a new one may not be the best idea if it comes to that.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
12/04/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 1
I second something wacky with the ABS. I’ve driven one, and it’s cars like that that make people think they can brake better without ABS. Although in that car they’re probably right.
"Victorinoo" (victorinoo)
12/04/2017 at 15:54, STARS: 0
Most likely Master cylinder failure. How was the temperature outside? Failures appear more on cold days because the old seals shrink. Often bad master cylinders will feel “better” when the car warms up.
As for those suggesting ABS failure, I doubt it. Unless there is a leak, you would not have any problems that result in soft pedal due to ABS failure.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 0
I happened into this car. I bought it for $1500 and 70k miles from a friend at church. The maintenance had been neglected and it needed an engine, but the trans turned out to be bad also, so it got both, each with 32k miles. So I’m under $4k into the car. (And the rear main oil seal failed in the replacement engine so I dropped the transmission
again
.) But having disassembled/reassembled much of the car, I’d rate it as a high-concept beer can that happens to drive very nicely. I’d probably replace it with a Mazda 3.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 1
I am strongly inclined to think master cylinder fluke/failure.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
12/04/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 0
$4k is not a bad amount to be into a car. Mazda 3 would be a good choice.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 1
Thanks for the reply. You new around here? Email oppomoderator@gmail.com and ask them if you can be granted authorship. You can read
the handbook of style
a read and tell them that you’ve read it. Takes about 90 seconds.
I am strongly inclined to suspect the master cylinder. It was cold outside for my area, cold enough to frost the windshield — barely — and the car had only driven a mile or so this morning before the event. The master cylinder has 72k miles on it.
I don’t think anyone has come out suggesting an ABS issue; I have been hoping that ABS would not be the issue.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 16:05, STARS: 1
And low miles at that. I worked on a friend’s Mazda 3 5-speed this summer and I was really impressed with how well it drove.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 0
That’s where I am on this. I figured at the time something could have ruptured, but no fluid on the ground. I think it also could have been a fluke and might not strike again for years, if ever.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/04/2017 at 16:17, STARS: 0
I think it also could have been a fluke and might not strike again for years, if ever.
Not worth taking the chance. To be more specific I’d guess it’s an internal master leak.
Edit:
I’m guessing the ABS light is because of an inconsistency in fluid travel.
Really, seriously. Don’t ignore it.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
12/04/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 1
Sounds like the most likely scenario.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 1
Just filed a report with the NHTSA. Thanks for the tip.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 1
Just filed a report with the NHTSA.
"Rico" (ricorich)
12/04/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 0
It has to be that or air in the lines. Hope you find out the issue, your Handbrake might be your new best friend just in case.
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/04/2017 at 16:45, STARS: 0
Excellent. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Next stop is the Nissan dealer, I presume. Hopefully they will do a free good-faith repair without any hassle, warranty be damned.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 1
My dad had a VW Karmann Ghia that I drove when I first got my license. One day I went to Doumar’s Barbecue in Norfolk, where I grew up, and got out of Dad’s Ghia to order my lunch and maybe someone hollered at me, but I looked and saw the car rolling away toward the busy boulevard. It was hot, and the window was down, and I ran and dove through the window and yanked up the handbrake and averted disaster. Lesson learnt.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/04/2017 at 18:02, STARS: 0
No, but they’ll give me a discount on a new master cylinder and swear they’ve never heard of these brake problems before. $200 for the part (down from $300) and lots of plastic boxes that have to get yanked out to make way...
"Rico" (ricorich)
12/05/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 0
That’s scary as hell! Glad the car was fine lol
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/05/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 1
Thanks. New brake master cylinder inbound from Nissan.