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Technical Brake failure on steep incline and restored back on plane

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Technical Brake failure on steep incline and restored back on plane

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Mukulgoel

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just experienced this. I got a repair done on my handbrake yesterday(it was not holding on sharp inclines before, would slip with click sounds). So I wanted to test this and took car on a sharp incline and my engine stalled as I was in high gear. My first action was to apply pedal brakes. I pressed the pedal and nothing. It felt like car is just rolling freely. I then applied hand brake and that did put some resistance but it still slipped back.

I managed to get it on a plane and tried foot brake on plane and they wouldnt work. I then stopped engine. After like a minute I turned it back on and I could use the brakes again.

I drove it back home slowly and didnt feel much difference in foot brakes. But I am not confident at all in it now.

Can someone please suggest what could have gone wrong that the brakes went off and came back in a minute.

The car is a fiat punto evo 2010. It has ABS and I have recently brought it used. I have had some issues with hand brake on sharp inclines before(with more load in car) but never with foot brakes before.

Also, no warning or danger lights were on on Dash when this happened
 
Last edited:
What do you mean by "I managed to get it on a plane and tried foot brake on plane and they wouldnt work" Was the pedal hard? When you tried brakes again was the engine running?
 
digger58 said:
What do you mean by "I managed to get it on a plane and tried foot brake on plane and they wouldnt work" Was the pedal hard? When you tried brakes again was the engine running?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I mean. I got it back on flat ground and then restarted the engine. Slowly moved forward (on flat) and tried foot brake. But it didn't do anything. I don't remember very clearly but the pedal was definitely not hard. I am not sure how soft was it.

Then I stopped it again. And restarted car in SAy 5 minutes and brakes were slightly back.
I then did some emergency stops and after that it seemed good.
Also maybe m just being too paranoid but it feels like the brake pedal is a tad bit spongy than before incident
 
What work was done on the rear brakes to make the handbrake work?
If they have been adjusted too tight, they may rub all the time, and the heat can cook the seals and cause fluid to leak, so you lose the rear brakes. Fluid loss in one circuit will cause longer pedal travel, this can be quite frightening if not ready for it, or not experienced it before. Was the work done professionally?

Before you do anything else. Check the fluid level. If it has dropped, it may have allowed air in.

For anyone with doubt about brakes, don't test them facing uphill. Always downhill, near the bottom, with a good space ahead on the flat. Plan the escape!

In normal braking, the front brakes do most of the work. When going backwards, the rear brakes get most load, so you're asking the drums to do what the front discs normally do. If going downhill backwards, any weakness will show up immediately, so speed needs to be very low. Forwards, at least you can see where you are going and plan to hit something soft, and it steers properly.

When the engine is running, it provides a vacuum to the brake servo to provide assistance. When it stalls, you have enough residual vacuum for two or three applications, then you have to push quite hard. If you've also lost some pressure due to leak or air ingress, stopping becomes difficult.

First checks are fluid level, then leaks.
 
Slowly moved forward (on flat) and tried foot brake. But it didn't do anything. I don't remember very clearly but the pedal was definitely not hard. I am not sure how soft was it.

Did the pedal move at all? Do what has been suggested above,ie check fluid etc. Where are you?
 
Last edited:
Mukulgoel said:
Thanks for the reply. I mean. I got it back on flat ground and then restarted the engine. Slowly moved forward (on flat) and tried foot brake. But it didn't do anything. I don't remember very clearly but the pedal was definitely not hard. I am not sure how soft was it.

Then I stopped it again. And restarted car in SAy 5 minutes and brakes were slightly back.
I then did some emergency stops and after that it seemed good.
Also maybe m just being too paranoid but it feels like the brake pedal is a tad bit spongy than before incident
Click to expand...

Sounds as if there is air in the system.

Any idea how old the fluid is..quite possible it had boiled to to bad moisture content

Charlie . Oxford
 
portland_bill said:
What work was done on the rear brakes to make the handbrake work?
If they have been adjusted too tight, they may rub all the time, and the heat can cook the seals and cause fluid to leak, so you lose the rear brakes. Fluid loss in one circuit will cause longer pedal travel, this can be quite frightening if not ready for it, or not experienced it before. Was the work done professionally?

Before you do anything else. Check the fluid level. If it has dropped, it may have allowed air in.

For anyone with doubt about brakes, don't test them facing uphill. Always downhill, near the bottom, with a good space ahead on the flat. Plan the escape!

In normal braking, the front brakes do most of the work. When going backwards, the rear brakes get most load, so you're asking the drums to do what the front discs normally do. If going downhill backwards, any weakness will show up immediately, so speed needs to be very low. Forwards, at least you can see where you are going and plan to hit something soft, and it steers properly.

When the engine is running, it provides a vacuum to the brake servo to provide assistance. When it stalls, you have enough residual vacuum for two or three applications, then you have to push quite hard. If you've also lost some pressure due to leak or air ingress, stopping becomes difficult.

First checks are fluid level, then leaks.
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for the reply. I checked thr fluid levels and it was above the max line. Is it bad to have it above max?
It was above max before when I checked as well but after the incident now after the brakes work fine it looka like the levels have ever so slightly increased.

Also, the rear brakes were just adjusted and brake pads cleaned(thats what the mechanic said to me). Also yes it was done professionally in a garage at the dealership(now kia but formerly theu were fiat as well and the car was brought there used)
 
varesecrazy said:
Sounds as if there is air in the system.

Any idea how old the fluid is..quite possible it had boiled to to bad moisture content


Charlie . Oxford
Click to expand...


Not sure how old the fluid is but the last service was done like 1500 km ago(i didnt own the car then)
It does looks it had boiled as there are condensed vapour on inner top lining of the brake fluid container.
I am in Killorglin
 
Last edited:
Also, I have got a 3 months warranty from the dealership. So, is this something that I should get looked after as the brakes are fine now.
If yes then what should I tell him that needs checking
 
digger58 said:
Slowly moved forward (on flat) and tried foot brake. But it didn't do anything. I don't remember very clearly but the pedal was definitely not hard. I am not sure how soft was it.

Did the pedal move at all? Do what has been suggested above,ie check fluid etc. Where are you?
Click to expand...
i am in Killorglin
 
Mukulgoel said:
Not sure how old the fluid is but the last service was done like 1500 km ago(i didnt own the car then)
It does looks it had boiled as there are condensed vapour on inner top lining of the brake fluid container.
I am in Killorglin
Click to expand...

I've NEVER seen vapour on the side of a fluid reservoir:confused:

brake fluid absorbs moisture over time,
so it's supposed to be changed fairly regularly.. but is often left:eek:

just say "flush and bleed the brake and clutch fluids";)

out of interest.., did you get any warning lights on..??

Charlie
 
varesecrazy said:
I've NEVER seen vapour on the side of a fluid reservoir:confused:

brake fluid absorbs moisture over time,
so it's supposed to be changed fairly regularly.. but is often left:eek:

just say "flush and bleed the brake and clutch fluids";)

out of interest.., did you get any warning lights on..??

Charlie
Click to expand...

Hi Charlie, thanks. I will check with the dealer about the fluid.
When I said condensed vapour. I meant vapour that is condensed as droplets on inner top. It is same color as the brake fluid though.

No there were no warning light when that happend.
 
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