1996 Dodge Intrepid Brake Problem
Question:
I have a 1996 Dodge Intrepid which had a squeak coming from the drivers side front wheel when the brakes where applied. I took the brake caliper off and sprayed the rotor and pads with brake cleaner to remove any dust particles that could have been causing the noise.
I reinstalled the caliper and wheel and pumped the brakes to set the pads on the rotor. When the brakes felt firm, I put the car into Reverse to take the car for a test drive in order to see if the squeak was gone and noticed that the brake pedal now goes straight to the floor (the brake pedal remains firm when I'm in Park).
I removed the tire again to see if I somehow installed the caliper improperly but both bolts where in and tight. Did I somehow get air in my brake line or ruin my master cylinder just by removing the brake caliper or has something else happened? Also, I did not notice any brake fluid leaking from the brake line and my master cylinder is at the full level.
Answer:
While not especially common I have seen many cases where the caliper pistons are pressed back into the calipers cause the brake master cylinder to go bad. What happens is the crud and sludge that collects in the master cylinder is forced back and cuts the rubber cups in the piston assemblies. This allows brake fluid to bypass the pistons and results in a no pedal condition. Sometimes bleeding the master cylinder may get it working again but not very often.
You may also have a problem with the brake vacuum booster. With the engine off, press the brake pedal several times to exhaust the vacuum inside the brake booster. Then, while holding the brake pedal down with moderate pressure, start the engine. The brake pedal should drop a bit and then hold firm. If it does then the vacuum booster unit is working properly. If not, check for vacuum at the booster. If you have at least 12" of vacuum the booster is bad. If there is no vacuum repair the vacuum lines going to the brake booster.
Bleeding and adjusting the rear brakes may make an improvement in pedal height. If not then you will need to replace the brake master cylinder.
Ford Escort Won't Come Out Of Park
Question:
I am driving my son's Ford Escort for the next year while he is in Iraq. I have a heck of a time getting the car out of park every morning. It seems to be okay the rest of the day, but the morning will sometimes take 10 minutes. He has had it "fixed" at a dealership and they stated "found shift interlock switch working intermittent need to adjust key interlock cable P&A.
This did not fix it...
I thought there might be safety features and tried everything from putting on my seatbelt, making sure the E-brake was On/Off, putting it in neutral, setting the e-brake first, taking my foot off the gas and then putting it in Park. Have you ever heard of this? I would like to have it fixed before he gets home.
Army Mom
Answer:
I had a lady come in with the same exact complaint. I spent several weeks trying to duplicate the problem but just couldn't do it. She insisted that the first time every morning without fail she would have to fight to get it out of park. Finally I told her I would come to her house the next morning and see if I could see the problem.
Well sure enough, I got out there first thing in the morning, got into the car, started it and I needed two hands to shift it out of Park. Then I saw what was happening. When she pulled into her buildings parking lot she would pull her car right up to the concrete stop, step on the brake and put it into Park. When she released the brake the car would try to roll back off the block and jam the transmission.
I told her from now on to stop the car before she hit the stop and put it into Park and she wouldn't have that problem again. She took my advice and it was fine from then on. But I'm sure this is not what you are doing... is it?
Anyway, the shift interlock system (which is the only safety on that car) is designed so you need to step on the brake before you can shift into gear. The system relies on the brake light switch to tell the Shift Lock Control Unit (SCLU) that you are, indeed, stepping on the brake. It may be this switch needs adjustment. There is also a switch on the transmission called the Park Sense Switch. This too may need an adjustment or it could be bad and needs to be replaced. Otherwise there may be a loose or corroded power or ground wire causing the system to work intermittently.
If you have a question or comment for me, you can e-mail me at autotechrepair at suite101.com.
