brakes-or rather lack of
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
- ermie571
- Registered user
- Posts: 4970
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
- 80-90 Mem No: 2129
- Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288
brakes-or rather lack of
Lost the brakes last night.
But have fluid in the reservoir
Some resistance engine off
Nothing engine on
ok - whats gone? Is the servo still working as it is assisting when the engine is running?
Handbrake light on - indicating low fluid.
But where is the sensor for the level....there is nothing in the top of the fluid reservoir - just a black screw on cap, no electrics
Van at garage I trust - I'd just like to know the likely culprit
Em
xx
But have fluid in the reservoir
Some resistance engine off
Nothing engine on
ok - whats gone? Is the servo still working as it is assisting when the engine is running?
Handbrake light on - indicating low fluid.
But where is the sensor for the level....there is nothing in the top of the fluid reservoir - just a black screw on cap, no electrics
Van at garage I trust - I'd just like to know the likely culprit
Em
xx
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
- Ian Hulley
- Registered user
- Posts: 12659
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
- 80-90 Mem No: 1323
- Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
ermie571 wrote: But where is the sensor for the level....there is nothing in the top of the fluid reservoir - just a black screw on cap, no electrics
Hiya Emm, the normal T25 cap has a float switch built in and the 2 wires to a plug.
The last time my brakes 'went' it was actually the clutch master cylinder that was peeing the fluid down onto the cab mat.
Ian
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
- bigherb
- Registered user
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 5789
- Location: West Kent
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Most likely the master cylinder has failed if there is still fluid in the reservoir.
If you have the three wire brake light switches the light is coming on due to the differential brake pressure in the master cylinder.
If you have the three wire brake light switches the light is coming on due to the differential brake pressure in the master cylinder.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow
- Titus A Duxass
- Registered user
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: 24 Nov 2007, 08:22
- 80-90 Mem No: 4475
- Location: Cologne
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
bigherb wrote:Most likely the master cylinder has failed if there is still fluid in the reservoir.
If you have the three wire brake light switches the light is coming on due to the differential brake pressure in the master cylinder.
What Bigherb said. I have also experienced this (on the autobahn), I'm afraid master cylinder has gone kaput.
Not a major job for a qualified mechanic. But if you go to somewhere like quick fit they will start at the rear wheel slave cylinders and fault find their way foward and eventually end up at the master cylinder.
VW T3 GTi Camper 2,0l
- ermie571
- Registered user
- Posts: 4970
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
- 80-90 Mem No: 2129
- Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Hi folks, thanks for this
Ian- no electrics on mine - basic van from 1984. Just a screw cap. No obvious lead hanging around either. Checked cab mat straight away - nothing obvious. But will ask garage to check again thanks for the pointer
Titus/Bigherb - is the master cylinder you speak of the same one as Ian is talking about? Where is is please? I think we have changed one before but I can't remember. Oh - is it the one under the reservoir? if there is no fluid on the mat, can it fail without leaking fluid??
Interestingly, I thought that in the event of fluid loss, the clutch went before the breaks, but gear changes are fine.
I topped the level back up to max - (was just on minimum) and it didn't change on pumping the brakes, and was still on max when I looked at it an hour or so later.
I'll update with verdict from garage
thanks both
E
x
Ian- no electrics on mine - basic van from 1984. Just a screw cap. No obvious lead hanging around either. Checked cab mat straight away - nothing obvious. But will ask garage to check again thanks for the pointer
Titus/Bigherb - is the master cylinder you speak of the same one as Ian is talking about? Where is is please? I think we have changed one before but I can't remember. Oh - is it the one under the reservoir? if there is no fluid on the mat, can it fail without leaking fluid??
Interestingly, I thought that in the event of fluid loss, the clutch went before the breaks, but gear changes are fine.
I topped the level back up to max - (was just on minimum) and it didn't change on pumping the brakes, and was still on max when I looked at it an hour or so later.
I'll update with verdict from garage
thanks both
E
x
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
- Titus A Duxass
- Registered user
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: 24 Nov 2007, 08:22
- 80-90 Mem No: 4475
- Location: Cologne
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Emma - the master cylinder is under the instrument cover.
You have lost brakes due to the master cylinder failing, you do not have a fluid leak (the clutch would be the first to stop if you had leakage).
Wayne will sort it in no time.
You have lost brakes due to the master cylinder failing, you do not have a fluid leak (the clutch would be the first to stop if you had leakage).
Wayne will sort it in no time.
VW T3 GTi Camper 2,0l
- bigherb
- Registered user
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 5789
- Location: West Kent
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow
- ermie571
- Registered user
- Posts: 4970
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
- 80-90 Mem No: 2129
- Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Wonderful - thanks for the clarification!
I had just about got there
I had just about got there
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
- bat
- Registered user
- Posts: 405
- Joined: 15 May 2013, 10:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 12385
- Location: West Sussex
- Contact:
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Seems there's more than one style of the reservoir, are they interchangeable or specific to the cylinder underneath (can't tell from my photo if the cylinder is the same)?
every day's a school day.
Regards Gary
every day's a school day.
Regards Gary
Sheila's & Gary’s long-term project. A 1988 RHD diesel Syncro camper van.
1900 tdi ahu, on 235-70-R16 wheels & tires, & a few other mods
https://www.thebeast.blog
1900 tdi ahu, on 235-70-R16 wheels & tires, & a few other mods
https://www.thebeast.blog
- bigherb
- Registered user
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 5789
- Location: West Kent
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Later vans had a wider reservoir and non servo brakes had a different one again.bat wrote:Seems there's more than one style of the reservoir, are they interchangeable or specific to the cylinder underneath (can't tell from my photo if the cylinder is the same)?
every day's a school day.
Regards Gary
Later resevoir.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow
- bat
- Registered user
- Posts: 405
- Joined: 15 May 2013, 10:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 12385
- Location: West Sussex
- Contact:
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
Thanks for the info, No servo scary.
Regards Gary
Regards Gary
Sheila's & Gary’s long-term project. A 1988 RHD diesel Syncro camper van.
1900 tdi ahu, on 235-70-R16 wheels & tires, & a few other mods
https://www.thebeast.blog
1900 tdi ahu, on 235-70-R16 wheels & tires, & a few other mods
https://www.thebeast.blog
- Ian Hulley
- Registered user
- Posts: 12659
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
- 80-90 Mem No: 1323
- Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/b ... er-t3.html
I assume the float switch is just on the 'late' styleee.
Cheers, Ian.
I assume the float switch is just on the 'late' styleee.
Cheers, Ian.
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
- bigherb
- Registered user
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
- 80-90 Mem No: 5789
- Location: West Kent
Re: brakes-or rather lack of
No they could be on early ones as well but rarer.Ian Hulley wrote:
I assume the float switch is just on the 'late' styleee.
Cheers, Ian.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow