I have a '58' plate Scudo Panorama 2.0jtd-140 with 36000 on the clock, it was towed into a garage yesterday with the brakes locked on, garage is saying it could be either the vacuum unit or the servo broken, does anyone have any ideas? The garage have checked the calipers & pads, they have found that by disconnecting the vacuum servo assist, the vehicle brakes work fine, as soon as they re-connected the unit, the brakes gradually come on, pump the brakes and the brakes work?????

i cant help but i work in a garage and we have got a 2005 peugeot expert which is same as the fiat, and its doing exactly the same, its had brake master cylinder on, 2 brake pipes and calipers, pads etc checked and its still the same, its fine untill it gets driven a few miles then it just locks on :S

Hi, I have the answer to my brake problem....a vehicle recall on the vacuum servo, the scudo is off to main dealer on Monday. You should check out the VOSA website for recalls because the problem is on Citroen, Fiat Peugeot versions, you might get lucky and have it sorted for free.

I believe the recall will not cure your particular issue, the valve sounds more likely or servo/servo assembly.

Hi, just an update on the Scudo brake saga.....
The vehicle was taken to the 'local' main dealer last Tuesday(25/10/11), they said the valve was now in stock, however they could not start until Thursday(27/10/11) but would have it ready by the afternoon. Phoned them at 1630 & was informed the vehicle also needed the brake servo replaced & this part was coming from Italy, told them that the vehicle was needed as the driver has 5 children to get to school on Monday...the dealer couldn't supply a courtesy car, so it was not their problem! On Friday I phoned Fiat Customer Services, then phoned the garage who surprise, surprise now could supply a courtesy car.....a Ford Fiesta was provided on Saturday morning. Monday (31/10/11) Fiat phoned to say the servo should now be at the dealer & the vehicle back yesterday (02/11/11). Phoned the dealer 30 mins ago to be told that the servo was not at fault, it is now some control rod/shaft that has failed & to replace it, they are going to have to take the engine out....so we might get it back some time next week!!!!!! I pointed out to the dealer that I was not happy with not being kept updated with the situation to be told they will phone when it is finished because they want their car back as much as we want ours back!!
I never had faith in this dealer, but as the brake problem was a serious issue, the only solution was to take it to the nearest dealer ( wouldn't recommend this dealer to my worst enemy and not giving faith in Fiat products. We be speaking to the Area Product Manager at Fiat UK, who has this dealer in his area...so glad I kept his business card.

No need to take engine out.

That's my thoughts on the matter too. Well had a phone call late Friday from a man based at Fiat UK in Slough to find out if the Scudo was back with us.... he was not happy to be told that it is still at the dealers not fixed, when the dealer had assured them that it was fixed. I would like to listen to call the dealer will get first thing Monday lol

The Scudo is finally back with us

Hi - May I first apologise for resurrecting this age old problem..
My van - 54 plate 1.9D (not HDI) 90k mls & am interested (desperate) to know if & how they sorted your problem..??
I'm experiencing problems with front brakes binding intermittently & sometimes inconsistent amount of 'drag' , as per previous thread(s)..
So - What I need to do, at the minute, to stop front brakes seriously overheating..
When I 'feel' the brakes binding on front 2x wheels only, I pull in, stop, switch off & release bonnet - then pull the rubber plug on front of servo - listen for the 'whoosh' of vacuum to release, push plug back in & on my way & generally no 'drag' until I brake at full pressure again & maybe 5/10 times brakes bind, BUT.. NOT always..!!?? (Doing my head in..!!!!)
Everybody but everybody seems to think it is NOT the fault of the m/cylinder or the servo unit..??
So, was it the bush on the hidden shaft that everyone seems to think it is..?? OR, something else..?? (the shaft obv' bad design that links the brake pedal & the servo.. sits somewhere, I'm told, behind the bulkhead in engine compartment, linking to the rear of servo unit.. apparently can only be seen & accessed by dropping the engine..??)
Any help, advice, & PLEASE - no sarcasm right now.. I just don't need it..!!
Many thanks for any help you, or anyone picking this thread up, can offer in anticipation of an end to my very frustrating brake problem..
Cheers..

Hey jaimzee. Just thougt id mention some similar issues ive had recently and open up this thread for the tech members to give some advice. Had a service done 3 weeks back. Rear shoes were replaced in drums. (2000, 1.9 diesel) Drove it away wih slightly spongey brakes but was assured these would bed in. After around 400 miles i was surprised that the brakes were less reaponsive than ever. After a hard brake at some traffic lights the brakes remained binded. I had about a mile to get home so just took it steady, noticed that pedal was harder and the handbrake felt resistance on its first click as opposed to its 5-6th. After a few hours brakes had cooled down and unbinded. Drove van to garage and next day they looked at it and agreed brakes were very weak, yet there was no leaks and brake fluid was fine. They started some tests, checked pads, shoes, made adjustments amd re-bled the lines. Still no brake power. Agreed that it could be the master cylinder. Had that replaced and again bled the system. No joy. Agreed on servo being replaced, which kept it off the road for over two weeks due to the wrong part being delivered from fiat in italy. Mechanic was going mad by this point as hed bled through several litres of brake fluid and still wasnt happy with brake performance. He also checked the rear load regulator valve which was clear. His last bit of work was to replace the two flexi hoses on front brakes and replace a rear drum at no extra cost. He had tested it on a rolling road and aside from rear brakes taking a while to get up to efficiency the front brakes were balanced and within mot levels. Since having the van back ive noticed several things.
When the engine is cold the brakes seem fairly stiff and responsive.
After a bit of driving i can hear some brake squeal from the drivers side front. This goes at lower speeds and when braking. Braking at speed is fairly responsive and pedal is firm. However when sitting in traffic or reversing into spaces pedal is very weak again and needs around 70-80% depression to stop. Its harder to stop at slow speed than fast speeds... i had checked a lot of the forum posts and aside from replacing the two front callipers and one rear dr brake i have nothing left to change... also its cost a bomb so far as i didnt want to hazard any used parts... any ideas are welcome but aside from replacing pads and discs again (6months old) im stumped and looking at putting it into a brake specialist. Also worth mentioning the van is uses for surding and commuting, weight in rear is never over 80kg.

It will be the metal connecting rod that joins the pedal box to the servo, it runs through a couple of brackets on the bulkhead at the rear of the engine, it seizes up and holds the brakes on. Quite common. Access isn't easy

Thefox said:

It will be the metal connecting rod that joins the pedal box to the servo, it runs through a couple of brackets on the bulkhead at the rear of the engine, it seizes up and holds the brakes on. Quite common. Access isn't easy

Click to expand...

Hi all - and thanks for your comments and info but am STILL no further forward..
She goes into the garage next Tuesday (26/07/16) for, wait for it - the full dash removal......!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaaah!!!! I can feel the strain on my bank card already.. Sorry - back in gear..
This is necessary apparently to access the connecting rod that you mention Fox.. Mech' says its hidden behind a panel in the bulkhead & only access is from inside the vehicle..?? NOT from in the engine compartment..????
So - the guy who is going to do the job (and he is a very experienced, feet on the ground Mr problem solver..) says this is the only way to go now.. he's already replaced front pads & 2x front brake hoses that were perished & bleeding.. His suggestion is NOT to replace the servo or the M/C but I hope to hell he can at least ID that the connecting rod bracket bushes ARE the problem here & make/fit replacements..??
That would be problem sorted.. I'll confirm what he finds & the outcome..
TBH - on this thread - I'm baffled as to why this on-going problem hasn't been nipped in the bud by mechanics who have done this job & sorted it for good - Fiat, Peugeot or Citroen there are thousands of 10-20+ year old Scudo's, Expert's & Dispatch's out there that MUST have had this problem..?? (servo unit all behind passenger side bulkhead & all need to be linked via a connecting rod..)
Any further comments in a desperate attempt to once & for all, solve this SAGA would be greatly appreciated..
Many thanks..
Jaimzee

I think you need to get a 2nd opinion from another garage, removing the dash will show nothing, the rod that joins the servo to pedal box is on the bulkhead under the bonnet behind the engine. The rod pivots on u shape clamps, it sticks and holds the brakes on.
Go to another garage that you feel has good expertise and say what I've said. Try find a fiat,Peugeot or Citroen specialist, you don't want to waste money at garages that aren't familiar with your type of vehicle.

I've just googled the fault, loads on the internet about this fault, have a look at the link below
http://www.roadtestreports.co.uk/qanda/65981/

Thefox said:

I've just googled the fault, loads on the internet about this fault, have a look at the link below
http://www.roadtestreports.co.uk/qanda/65981/

Click to expand...

If only every answer on this forum could be as concise & accurate as your one, good job.

Just cured this problem on my 2008 scudo (250,000 miles).One of the problems owners of 2007 on scudo/expert/dispatch/e7 taxi will encounter is the sticking brake pedal.
Most likely on cold mornings, in that when you brake, the brakes stay on when you lift your foot off, maybe for 2/3 seconds but up to 10 minutes.As the car/engine compartment warms up the fault will cure itself, but the brake pedal will still feel stiff, and you never get instant brake release when you lift your foot.
Take your van to a main dealer and they will tell its either the brake servo, caliper pistons, flexi pipes etc.but they cant say which, just get your credit card out.
Smaller garages wont know either, well the ones around where i live didnt(n.yorks)
The problem lies with the Heath Robinson type arrangement used to transfer the brake pedal over to the right for right hand drive vans, the brake servo staying on the left.
The pivots behind the servo start to stick due to water ingress and general wear/lack of lubricant.
To get to these pivots , by removing the servo, looks near impossible without taking the engine out, or moving it forward.
The easy way to do it is to gain access to the pivots from inside the van, from the passenger footwell area.
On the bulkhead behind the servo, remove the carpet/sound proofing and you will see a domed section which is there to make room for the pivots.
Cut a section of this domed area out using a drill/cutting shears.
You can then oil the three pivots, which in my case were all rusty,whilst someone operates the brake pedal.
You can then weld a patch over the hole you cut out and put the carpet back.
Take great care when you are cutting out the metal. The main pivot is behind the left hand side of the dome (as you look at it from inside the van), so drill/start cutting from the right hand side.
This worked fine for me but i take no responsbility for any mistakes you make or
disastrous consequences.Dont blame me.

scudo88 said:

Just cured this problem on my 2008 scudo (250,000 miles).One of the problems owners of 2007 on scudo/expert/dispatch/e7 taxi will encounter is the sticking brake pedal.
Most likely on cold mornings, in that when you brake, the brakes stay on when you lift your foot off, maybe for 2/3 seconds but up to 10 minutes.As the car/engine compartment warms up the fault will cure itself, but the brake pedal will still feel stiff, and you never get instant brake release when you lift your foot.
Take your van to a main dealer and they will tell its either the brake servo, caliper pistons, flexi pipes etc.but they cant say which, just get your credit card out.
Smaller garages wont know either, well the ones around where i live didnt(n.yorks)
The problem lies with the Heath Robinson type arrangement used to transfer the brake pedal over to the right for right hand drive vans, the brake servo staying on the left.
The pivots behind the servo start to stick due to water ingress and general wear/lack of lubricant.
To get to these pivots , by removing the servo, looks near impossible without taking the engine out, or moving it forward.
The easy way to do it is to gain access to the pivots from inside the van, from the passenger footwell area.
On the bulkhead behind the servo, remove the carpet/sound proofing and you will see a domed section which is there to make room for the pivots.
Cut a section of this domed area out using a drill/cutting shears.
You can then oil the three pivots, which in my case were all rusty,whilst someone operates the brake pedal.
You can then weld a patch over the hole you cut out and put the carpet back.
Take great care when you are cutting out the metal. The main pivot is behind the left hand side of the dome (as you look at it from inside the van), so drill/start cutting from the right hand side.
This worked fine for me but i take no responsbility for any mistakes you make or
disastrous consequences.Dont blame me.

Click to expand...

Just logged on to say thanks to Scudo88 for the info I have a 2010 pug expert and this info allowed me to fix the brake linkage. Lots of wd40 and loosening the pivot bolt and it's done. Made a bit of a mess with angle grinder but that doesn't matter it's all hidden and sorted.