Car Talk

March 2004

Dear Tom and Ray:

DATE: MARCH 29, 2004 Dear Tom and Ray: I am concerned about my brakes, but I don't want to get ripped off. I was driving last night, and when I went to brake, I had to practically shove the brake pedal into the floorboard to make the car stop. And the pedal was mushy, like there was no pressure on the brakes, if you know what I mean. Then I was stopped at a red light, and without releasing the brakes, the car started moving and I could feel the pedal going down by itself, with no extra pressure from me. But this morning, everything seems fine. Please help -- does it sound to you like something's wrong? Or was last night just a fluke that probably won't happen again? -- Jessica

TOM: Jessica, if you're not dead by the time you read this, you should get your car to a repair shop right away. If you are dead, then disregard this advice.

RAY: You have the classic symptoms of a bad brake master cylinder. The master cylinder is the device that, when you step on the brake pedal, pushes hydraulic fluid through the brake lines. That's what stops the car.

Beat up old car TOM: So if the master cylinder goes bad, you'll get exactly the symptoms you describe. The pedal will "sink" down while you're stepping on it. And you'll push the pedal without the car stopping. That's not good, Jessica.

RAY: And it's not a fluke. A failing master cylinder will sometimes act up intermittently. It will often be worse when the temperature is colder. But it needs to be replaced, and it's not something you want to wait on.

TOM: And by the way, if you ever have difficulty breathing, cold sweats and chest pain that radiates out to your shoulder, arm or jaw, don't write to us about it and wait for a response. Go right to the hospital, OK?

Back to the March 2004 index

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