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  #1  
Old 04-17-2003, 11:14 AM
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brake problem on the 500E? SOLVED *pics*

Alright, quite scary as a matter of fact. I'd say i drove the car a total of 30 miles yesterday. 15 miles to school in the morning, drove it very lightly because it was rush hour. Was in school for 5 hours. 15 miles from school to work, again lightly because of traffic. I spent 4 hours at work. Then 15 miles back to school, driving it pretty easy once again because of traffic.

On the way from work to school, i passed glass windows on my right side, which seemed to echo the sound of my car off of them and i noticed an odd noise coming from my right side, which of course it has been pulling right lately. So before I go home from school again, i had my friend drive it at about 10mph in a parking lot while I hung out the right side to listen for it, and the sound went away.

So I dropped him off and was back on the parkway going home from school. The parkway was completely clear, so i dropped her down in 3rd and opened her up. I hit about 85 then let off the accelerator and the weight of the car and whatever else slows a car down when you let off the accelator slowed it down to about 60. Then traffic was starting and it was moving about 45 so I was now doing about 45. I noticed someone about to swurve in to my lane, so i hit my brake, and my heart dropped. The brake pedal went completely to the floor and i wasn't stopped. Luckily the guy looked and saw me in the lane and didn't come over. I had probably50 feet until the next car ahead of me because I always like to leave some safety space, so I pushed her back up into "D" and tried my brakes again, they again went to the floor.

Now I'm starting to get nervous, there is alot of traffic, so i'm about to pull off when i notice i forgot my cell phone at work. How convenient right? It's night out, and i'm not quite comfortable with pulling over and leaving the car. I'm only about a mile from home, so i decided to duke it out. I hung in the very left most lane the whole time incase emergency i could swing onto the shoulder. I now had her going a steady 15-20 mph with my hazards on, and foot ready to apply the e-brake if needed. Luckily traffic let up and i was almost home.

I kept my distance and there was only one traffic light before my house, i got my car down to about 5 mph within about 200-300 feet of the light and there was not a car in sight.

I got her to my house and threw the ebrake on in the driveway, then did a couple prayers that i made it home safe and there was no traffic since it was late.

I will not attempt to even locate the problem myself, when it comes to brakes it's not something i like to mess with and test out.

But I remember from previous posts, people with 500E's had brake problems before when their brakes would fail. I just had new rotors and pads put on. The brakes were hot when i stopped it in my driveway, but nothing unusual for the car.

If i would hit the brake it would jerk the car for like a milisecond as if it was trying to grab it, allowing me to slow down slightly, then it felt like it would just let go. So i was basically able to pump them to help me slow down.

Heres another observation, is this normal for any other 500Es? I'd drive my car about 15 miles or so (my usual commute), about 75-80 farenheit outside ,and the car is running about 95-100 degrees according to the meter, i'd turn her off in the garage and if i'd come back down an hour later, the temp would still be about 100-110. If i came back 2 hours later, it would be around 85-90. Is something not right in the cooling system? Could this have caused anything with the brakes if something wasn't cooling correctly?

Well, thanks guys, any feedback is appreciate.

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Last edited by hedpe; 04-19-2003 at 11:37 PM.
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  #2  
Old 04-17-2003, 11:39 AM
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fyi-

NONE of the posts I've read re: 500e500's brakes issues have indicated (w/in regular use) brake failure of this sort...

In either case, I'll start a generic list of possible causes of brake issues:

>low brake fluid
>leaking lines/ calipers
>not kosher= resurfaced rotors vs. new units
>non OEM parts
>crimped line/lines/ non oem parts
>contaminated pads
>brake booster failure
>brake master cylinder failure
>fluid contamination
>linkage failure

I'd suggest taking it to mech. pronto!
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  #3  
Old 04-17-2003, 12:03 PM
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it's getting flat bedded out sometime today or tomorrow, i know the brake failures that i read were from taking it to a track for a period of time, but I didn't know if they could be related. I didn't read in depth.
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  #4  
Old 04-17-2003, 12:59 PM
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This just happened to me. Except I wasn't on the highway thank god! It was the mastercylinder.

Can you pump the brake till it is stiff while the car is off?
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  #5  
Old 04-17-2003, 01:49 PM
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what is the master cylinder?

I'm not too familiar with this.

The car is at my house and i'm at school now. I should be home around 9ish, i'll try it then or ask my mom to try it for me.

Check this post again, i'll send you a PM when i check it. Thanks man.
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  #6  
Old 04-17-2003, 02:40 PM
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hedpe - under your hood, against the firewall, just in front of the driver's side you'll see a large plastic circular contraption know as the brake booster. Sticking out from its center toward the front of the car is the mastercylinder. You can't miss it because it has the brake fluid reservoir smack on top of it. Its usually silver in color.

You might also want to Check the fluid in the reservoir and also check to make sure you have no brake fluid leaks just behind your wheels signifying a ruptured brake line.
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  #7  
Old 04-17-2003, 03:19 PM
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I called my mom and told her to pump the break with the car off, and she said it stiffened on the first pump.

Can you do some circleing for me what i'm looking for/at?



I do not intend to do any kind of repairs or analysis myself because I am not that experienced. I'd just like to look at what you're talking about, I have absolutely no experience or knowledge on brakes.
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  #8  
Old 04-17-2003, 03:42 PM
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I believe you can see it in this photo - it's blue.
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brake problem on the 500E? anyone else?-92-500e.jpg  
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Last edited by Kestas; 04-17-2003 at 05:02 PM.
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  #9  
Old 04-17-2003, 03:46 PM
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Its behind right about here. You should see a reservoir ontop of it.
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  #10  
Old 04-17-2003, 03:46 PM
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DOH! Someone showed you already.
Thanks Kestas
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  #11  
Old 04-17-2003, 11:08 PM
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Ok so I got home to look at it, the fluid in the reservoir is bellow the minimum. But it's like right on the minimum mark. So that wouldn't cause the brakes to be completely gone right? There would still be some braking power? Or am i wrong? So I'm standing outside the car by the front left side with the hood open, and i tell my dad to press the brake, with the car on, just so he can feel it. He pushes it to the floor and i hear a blowing noise come from behind the front left wheel, basically under where the reservior is. It's a loud hissing noise, it only comes when you push down on the brake. He pushed it down again and it continued to make the hissing noise. It's sounds like if you take a air pump for a basketball, and without putting the needle in a ball or something, and you push all the way down on the pump, you hear the air hiss out. That's what it sounds like. Broken hose? Thanks for the help guys.
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  #12  
Old 04-18-2003, 08:56 AM
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Thats the sound I heard when mine went. Like someone letting the air out of tires. My mechanic is putting in my new mastercylinder (Thanks Fastlane) today so I'll let you know.
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  #13  
Old 04-18-2003, 10:03 AM
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how do you tell if the master cylinder is bad? Is there something i can check on it? Could the fluid being right on the min line be causing it too?

btw yal-ming (sorry its what it reminds me of ) Did your pedal stiffen when your car was turned off also?
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Last edited by hedpe; 04-18-2003 at 12:26 PM.
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  #14  
Old 04-19-2003, 08:41 PM
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yal man you out there?
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  #15  
Old 04-19-2003, 09:53 PM
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Check behind the wheel that you heard the hissing come from. See if it is wet with brake fluid. While you're at it check the other 3

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