Without having tried anything similar I would say that you definitely should get it checked out by your dealer. Brakes are never supposed to fail like that. If they dismiss you, you should make an direct inquiry with Vauxhall/Opel in your country.
I generally fear anything like that happening while driving around with my wife and kids.
Yes get it to the dealer asap. DON'T drive it there.
Assuming it's under warranty insist they pick it up free of charge. Otherwise get somebody to tow or take it there on the back of a truck.
You don't want the same to happen again, especially if you're on the road.
Got it booked in for a health check. Apparently the brake system isn't covered under warranty though?! Think ill be arguing that one on a car which is just over 2 years old!
Haha yes. I'd say failure of brakes within 2 years is unacceptable, whether explicitly covered under warranty or not. If you badger them you may get some contribution as a 'good will gesture'. worth a try anyway.
Do you not have a 3yr warranty??. The only brake parts that are generally not covered by warranty are those which required periodic replacing such as discs/pads. in addition If something has been damaged which is not attributed to a manufacturing defect then those parts are also not covered.
I'm concerned that you had lost total braking, braking systems have split systems which prevent total failure should a leak occur on one part of the system. The effect you would get is the brake pedal goes down half way which enables the vehicle to be bought to a halt although with greater effort and increased stopping distances.
I'm guessing but it sound like an issue with the master cylinder this controls the split system. I would not drive the vehicle until the vehicle has been checked. If the causal part is the master cylinder your warranty should cover this providing the brake fluid has been changed at the 2 year interval, I believe this could be used as a get out clause if not. Keep us all informed.
Brake failure is caused by failing clutch slave cylinder since it contaminates the brake fluid and master cylinder, that's why the pedal dropped to the floor. They should have replaced both master and slave cylinder.
All you did is read th car next to his profile to say that hahahaha, stop spreading lies that's it's only that does that, it literally has nothing to do with what you said. End of.
All you did is read th car next to his profile to say that hahahaha, stop spreading lies that's it's only that does that, it literally has nothing to do with what you said. End of.
Update from the dealership is they ran a test and no problems found.
I've been advised to take it straight back if it happens again!! Nice knowing you when i'm doing 60 towards a sharp bend and they fail...
I agree it's not acceptable. We're talking total brake failure here, not cd player failure. They should be taking this more seriously. Fair enough, they've only got your word for it, but if you hit a tree then it's on their shoulders and their reputation at risk (not to mention your health!).
I agree it's not acceptable. We're talking total brake failure here, not cd player failure. They should be taking this more seriously. Fair enough, they've only got your word for it, but if you hit a tree then it's on their shoulders and their reputation at risk (not to mention your health!).
They told me I could leave it there and they can "keep testing" but without any evidence they can't do anything. I got told that if it happens again to "ride it in using the handbrake only and not to touch the brake".
I had 2 other "issues" also which they fobbed me off.
1. Car Play cuts out when I receive a phone call (not major)
2. Since they changed the Slave and Master Cylinder my Second Gear has been 'sticking / grinding' slightly, mostly on a morning. apparently they couldn't find a problem with this.
That's exactly what mine was doing, went in last week as I couldn't get it into gear, clutch gone it's a 66 plate so only 18 months old asked them to check the brakes too as I had to keep really planting my foot down! So it was all or nothing with them they have changed the callipers yesterday and still not solved they have called on specialist technicians now so await a recall ladies and gents looks like it might be a common thing!
If the issue is as discussed - ie clutch hydraulic pipework producing deposits that are contaminating the hydraulic fluid, and we know that brakes and clutch use the same reservoir, then:-
As you press the brakes to operate the master cylinder, the piston first of all seals off the reservoir (else you would just pressurise it and not your brake lines) then with that sealed it can start to pressurise the brake lines and actuate the brakes.
I presume clutch is similar.
This may mean that contaminated fluid from the clutch lines can get back into the reservoir and then into the brake system.
So whilst they are separate hydraulic systems when being actuated, in their waiting state they are linked by the reservoir.
If the issue is as discussed - ie clutch hydraulic pipework producing deposits that are contaminating the hydraulic fluid, and we know that brakes and clutch use the same reservoir, then:-
As you press the brakes to operate the master cylinder, the piston first of all seals off the reservoir (else you would just pressurise it and not your brake lines) then with that sealed it can start to pressurise the brake lines and actuate the brakes.
I presume clutch is similar.
This may mean that contaminated fluid from the clutch lines can get back into the reservoir and then into the brake system.
So whilst they are separate hydraulic systems when being actuated, in their waiting state they are linked by the reservoir.
The supply of brake fluid to the clutch hydraulic circuit is partially separated from the main brake reservoir, so that in the event of a leak on the clutch side, it will maintain an adequate fluid supply to the brake circuits. This should prevent cross-contamination of the two circuits.
As you describe the process of what happens when the brake or clutch pedal is depressed, it is the same 'column' of fluid that is compressed in the circuit each time the pedal is operated and released. There will only be a transfer of new fluid into the system when the pedal is released and wear of compnents at the slave cylinder end (clutch friction plate or brake pads) require an increase in travel of the piston to take up a new position to account for this wear. The only time I can think that there is fluid flow from the slave end back up and into the reservoir would be during maintenance, when the pistons of the brake calipers are pushed back manually, for example.
So all in all, very unlikely that clutch problems should affect brakes through cross-contamination. More that clutch problms damage the master cylinder per previous suggestion.
My suggestion would be replace the brake fluid every 2 years this includes the clutch fluid. As per every 2 years recomended.
This is at additional charge to the service.
So all in all, very unlikely that clutch problems should affect brakes through cross-contamination. More that clutch problms damage the master cylinder per previous suggestion.
I'm guessing that there is still fluid in the brake pipes so they would still work (unless fluid was leaking from a brake pipe), and the 'low brake fluid' warning light would come on way before the fluid in the reservoir was insufficient to maintain a head of fluid above the brake circuit.
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