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People who know shit about cars
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Karma: 17
Alright, so I let my buddy here at college borrow my car the other day just to go to Trader Joe's, which is less than 10 minutes away. It's been a couple days, and I haven't driven it since then. Tonight I went out to my car, and when I turned it on, the Emergency Brake light was on, but my Emergency Brake itself wasn't engaged or anything. Then, when I went to drive, I realized the brakes absoultely don't work at all until they're pressed to the ground, and even then it's a slow, jerky stop. So I'm fuckin pissed and freaking out at the same time here, and now I can't even get ahold of the guy. Does anyone know if there's anything he could have possibly done on such a small drive to do something like this, and what if anything I can do about it? I checked the brake fluid, and it looked full enough as far as I could tell, and I've been looking on the Internet and haven't found anything helpful. If anyone has any knowledge about this, that would be great.
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I wouldnt trust anything about a car to a bunch of 14 year olds. Take it to a shop or Car Talk on NPR?
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Yeah, I agree...I'm just hoping there's at least one knowledgeable person on here right now, cause I'm kind of freaking out. My parents ALWAYS told me never to let anyone borrow the car, and I guess they were right after all. I can't take it to a shop in this condition...I'd kill people along the way. I'll try the Car Talk site or whatever, so thanks for that bit of advice.
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drive it into a lake, report it stolen, insurance pays out, problem solved. You're welcome.
Posts: 1800
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Do you hear noise when you stop?
Most cars have an indicator that screeches if the brakes are actually completely worn down.
Otherwise, maybe there is somehow air in your brake lines, or something like that. I don't know why the e-brake light would be on though.
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if the brake pads are completly worn down the car will stop much better than normal.
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niggas gotta hit called out on you.
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If your pushing you foot all the way to the floor, like the brake pedal is going as far as it physically can, you've some how lost hydraulic pressure. Was there any fluid on the ground around your car? What about on the brake lines or anywhere near the break lines? It coouuuld just be air in the lines, but i don't see how that would just happen. You dont know anyone who knows anyone who knows anything about cars who could look at it for you? brakes are a little important.
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it may be air in the brake lines, but from the sound of it, your master cylinder is shot. if it is the master cylinder, you should be able to build up enough hydraulic pressure to stop if you repeatedly pump the brake pedal, then stomp it. I wouldn't try to drive it much further than the repair shop, tho.
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