99 Windstar Suddenly No Break

[tlijun]

I have a 99 Ford Windstar with 130K miles on it. One month ago changed the front brake and rotators, rear brake and weel cylinders, brake press switch on master cylinder.

Brake worked fine before today, push the brake pedal feel solid. Brake Master cylinder has enough brake fluid. Today before the red light, van speed is very low, pushed the brake pedal, felt van reduced speed, then it slided (heavily rain afternoon). I felt the ABS is activated, but seems no brake applied on the car, the van did not stop, brake light was on, felt the brake padel is soft.

After restarted the van, everything came back, no lights were on, and brake worked fine and solid. Scaned car computer, there is no error code.

I do not know what I should do. I will bleed brake. If someone can tell me what should I check or what is the possible reason for this problem, it will be great help.

Thanks your help in advance.



tlijun

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by tlijun

I have a 99 Ford Windstar with 130K miles on it. One month ago changed the front break and rotators, rear break and weel cylinders, break press switch on master cylinder.

Break worked fine before today, push the break pedal feel solid. Break Master cylinder has enough break fluid. Today before the red light, van speed is very low, pushed the break pedal, felt van reduced speed, then it slided (heavily rain afternoon). I felt the ABS is activated, but seems no break applied on the car, the van did not stop, break light was on, felt the break padel is soft.

After restarted the van, everything came back, no lights were on, and break worked fine and solid. Scaned car computer, there is no error code.

I do not know what I should do. I will bleed break. If someone can tell me what should I check or what is the possible reason for this problem, it will be great help.

Thanks your help in advance.

tlijun

Hello

The brake light comes on when there is a pressure difference between the front and rear brake system.

That's really odd to have brakes fail and then come back...??? Yes I would bleed the brakes. Make sure all of the air is out. If this happens again, I would consider replacing the master cylinder.

If at all possible, I would get the brake system inspected! Your life, and other's, is on the line!



Regards
Dan

[tlijun]

Dan

Your post is helpful. I just wonder how it happens "there is a pressure difference between the front and rear brake system!" Is this caused by the air inside the brake system? I thought the brake light on is caused by some malfunction brake parts.

By your suggestion and I did some reading, I remembered my foot probably was put on bake pedal for a while before the brake failed, not 100% sure, but if it was reason by Master Cylinder defective, why was the brake light on? Can defectived Master Cylinder cause the pressure difference between the front and rear brake system? I just want to make it clear.


Thanks.


Lijun

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by tlijun

Dan

Your post is helpful. I just wonder how it happens "there is a pressure difference between the front and rear brake system!" Is this caused by the air inside the brake system? I thought the brake light on is caused by some malfunction brake parts.

By your suggestion and I did some reading, I remembered my foot probably was put on bake pedal for a while before the brake failed, not 100% sure, but if it was reason by Master Cylinder defective, why was the brake light on? Can defectived Master Cylinder cause the pressure difference between the front and rear brake system? I just want to make it clear.


Thanks.


Lijun

On my 95 Windstar I had both rear wheel cylinders fail after replacing the shoes. With the wheel cylinders leaking the presure on the rear brakes was less than the front. So the brake light came on.

Yes the master cylinder could fail internally and one circuit psi could be lower and turning on the brake light.

If you had your foot on the brake pedel for a while before you stoped, you could of heated your brakes up caused the fluid to boil and possible cause what you experienced.

Regards

Dan

[tlijun]

Dan:

Thanks your advices.

Just bled the Windstar four brakes today. Some air came out in driver side rear brake and two front brakes. Hope the air was caused the prblem, and this problem is gone.

tlijun

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by tlijun

Dan:

Thanks your advices.

Just bled the Windstar four brakes today. Some air came out in driver side rear brake and two front brakes. Hope the air was caused the prblem, and this problem is gone.

tlijun

tlijun

I hope you got the problem fixed!

Dan