Sudden Loss of Vacuum?
 

Today the car started up just fine & ran well until I stopped to fuel up. I filled up, checked the oil & drove off just fine. The problems started when I tried stopping! The brake was VERY hard to push in & didn't work too well even then. When I got to work it wouldn't shut off. Obviously I lost vacuum somehow. I checked the vac lines & nothing seems disconnected or anything. Could the pump have gone bad all of a sudden? Is there anyplace else I should check?

Thanks!

Mike

I would check the pump by sticking your gauge where the line from the pump meets the booster hose.

It does sound like your pump died. I guess it happened very suddenly, but they've got to go sometime!

Another possible culprit is the check valve that is inside the nipple where the vacuum line attaches to the pump. Sometimes the valve retainer rusts out and breaks, blocking the orifice. The result is the loss of vacuum, even though the pump itself is fine. You can remove the check valve easily with the pump still installed.

It's also possible the brake booster has failed. resulting in a large leak. You can disconnect the vacuum line from the booster and see if you have vacuum at that point.

Cool! Thanks for the quick replies! I'll check those things tonight, hopefully.

Mike

Well it looks like Craig was right. I finally got a chance to brake the fittings on the vac line & the brake booster doesn't hold a vacuum. I started the car & the vac pump is definitely pulling a vacuum.

Thanks for all the tips!!!

Mike