Hi guys,
Realy need some help with my Pla.

Ever since i have owned it the ABS has always been a bit tempermental (cuts in way too early and when not needed). Was lots better when i had the new brakes fitted, but now it has started playing up big style,
So i took it to local Fiat garage last Monday
to check and see if the sensor was up the chute etcetc, but its come back with nothing showing as wrong, just that they would recommend new brakes (everything!!) all round and see if that cures it.
Well as they quoted nearly £1000 to do it i declined.

Bought her home and she was doing her usual until Friday when the airbag light came on and won't go off!!!, next i was going down a hill (not fast and not overly steep) on Sunday evening, now i know my brakes play up on this particular bit of road so i was going only 10 - 15 MPH and my brakes completely failed:bang:. I had nothing, foot was to the floor, ABS was banging away but my brakes weren't active at all. Had to use the hand brake to stop as i was just going straight on.
It was a very very scary moment and needless to say i will not drve her until i have got everythign i can get replaced done so.
However before i completely skint myself out on her again . I thought i'd ask you lovely lot if anyone has had any thing similar at all and if so was it a dodgy sensor?? or is my car just pants .
She is a JTD 110 (i think) 02 plate.

Ta lots peeps
x

Did the garage make any adjustments to the brakes ? Maybe they over adjusted them and they over-heated causing the fluid to boil and 'lose' the pedal ? Was there any smell ? If not ....

Check in the brake reservoir to see if there is still fluid inside . If not , you have a leak somewhere in the system .

If there is fluid in the system but you can 'beat' the brake pedal ( light pressure applied and the pedal sinks ) then the master cylinder is faulty - replace ASAP

Thanks Greaser , does sound like its the master cylinder. They didn't do anything at the garage apart from look at it and plug in the computer, oh and tell me i was imagining things :bang: . All fluid levels etc are A ok (i'm paranoid about levels so always check lol) and there was no funny smells (well none that weren't coming from the dogs anyway).

Best go find some prices out for my master cylinder then , this could be a expensive month as service and cambelt is due. Don't we just love em when they work and hate then when they cost a bomb to fix .

Any ho, thanks loads for your words of wisdom.

Presumably the car is at home now. Is there a brake pedal without the engine running, or does it go to the floor? Have you looked under the car, especially back of the wheels for any leaks? I once had a Primera (unfortunately) and had to hit the brakes to avoid a council lorry that pulled out in snow. The abs came on and the pedal sank on that as well and I had to grab the handbrake and luckily stopped. But when I drove on the brakes were back up so I assumed it was something to do with the abs. I recently sold a Citroen Xm and I know on certain models there was a bleed nipple on the abs valve.

Yes car is at home, no obvious leaks anywhere. Been over it with a fine tooth comb.
It goes in on thursday to have a complete new brake system (well pretty much).
It having new pads discs and or drums can't remember what it has but its having the whole bloody lot, new master cylider, new brake hoses, new brake fliud (obviously lol).
If they are still crap after that i'll cry, really don't like not having her on the road,.


The thing is the ABS has always played up ever since i got her a year ago, its way too sensitive which is why i thought a dodgy sensor (hence the trip to the Fiat garage), they said the brakes snatch at the back and then the ABS comes on and said brakes needed all round (advisory) but that at the level they were at it shouldn't be a problem at all but to get the done by the end of the year.

She has been seen by 3 independant garages and Fiat numerous times and noone has been able to find the problem with the brake so i was getting paranoid. But Sundays lack of brakes has made my mind up and the lot is being done lol..


Now gotta find out what the airbag light means :-/

my brakes have started to do a similair thing on mine (they havent failed yet though) but i cant find anything obvious thats wrong. it only got MOT`d a few months back and the front pads and discs are fine. fluid levels ok too. its a little worrying when you know how it feels and have to slow down quickly. very strange

On my old uglybug the abs used to come on really early on certain down hill slopes right from the 16000 miles when I bought her. Used to frighten the life out of me! No such problem with the nosejob though? Is it just an uglybug trait?

Could be a bias valve not working properly hence making the abs kick in, not sure on the multi but most have a spring which sets the tension on the rears.
Not an expensive job to replace the either , hope your not payin nearly a grand for some brake pads and a once over.

Once had a similar problem with brakes. Worked fine but then failed with no loss of brake fluid etc. It turned out to be a broken shaft in the Mater Cylinder.