PYOUJOE 306 Brake Light / issue

fatboypee

Hi,

Wife recently acquired a PYOUJOE 306 2.0 HDI, after driving it a little while the brake light came on and was flickering but now it is constant and the brakes are starting to act up by dropping low and more pressure hardens up the pedal but without much pressure on the pads.

Not knowing Pyoujoes or braking systems at all, is that I did the usual, checked round the pipes and wheels for a fluid leak but nothing I can visibly see ? The reservoir looks empty tho ?

So gonna try getting some fluid today and topping it off but need a bit of info, the manual says 4 dot, is that 4 dot quality or something ? Fluid is not specific to the car I guess but must be a 4 dot strength is it ?

Any other ideas where / what to check would be appreciated too, not much of a clue on new fandangled cars I only drive bangers...

Thanks

fbp.

JoeySully

Dot 4 is standard brake fluid that you will find in any petrol station.

If you don't have a clue about it then take it to a garage and have it fixed - working brakes should be your no 1 priority on a car. If the reservoir looks empty then It probably is

trad

As some one said in a previous post - I wouldn't drive a car I couldn't spell

colm_mcm

Sounds like a Chinese car!

fatboypee

trad wrote: »

As some one said in a previous post - I wouldn't drive a car I couldn't spell

Extremely irritating invariant pronunciation of the word 'Peugeot' here ?? Facetious reference?? Never mind...

Dot 4 is standard brake fluid that you will find in any petrol station.

If you don't have a clue about it then take it to a garage and have it fixed - working brakes should be your no 1 priority on a car. If the reservoir looks empty then It probably is

I topped off the reservoir, (V.difficult to see any level) while the was car running, pumping the accellerator the fluid level dropped, topped off til it didn't drop, no change in braking.

Something else seriously wrong then, off to the garage now.

Thanks for the help.

fbp.

Tea 1000

fatboypee wrote: »

Extremely irritating invariant pronunciation of the word 'Peugeot' here ?? Facetious reference?? Never mind...

How do you pronounce it?

Big Nasty

Tea 1000 wrote: »

How do you pronounce it?

PurrJoe!

dougie-lampkin

fatboypee wrote: »

I topped off the reservoir, (V.difficult to see any level) while the was car running, pumping the accellerator the fluid level dropped, topped off til it didn't drop, no change in braking.

Something else seriously wrong then, off to the garage now.

Thanks for the help.

fbp.

If the fluid went so low that it left the reservoir, you were just pumping air through the brake lines, and now have air locks, causing a spongy pedal. They're handy enough to bleed, but if you don't know what to do, definitely make sure it's done by someone competent.

fatboypee

MCMLXXV wrote: »

PurrJoe!

Nearly. As the French, in terms of un peu : - a little

No sign of a 'you' anywhere, or a joe.... is there....

If the fluid went so low that it left the reservoir, you were just pumping air through the brake lines, and now have air locks, causing a spongy pedal. They're handy enough to bleed, but if you don't know what to do, definitely make sure it's done by someone competent.

Thanks. its more than a spongy pedal tho, its a 'to the floor' pedal now. You do stop but dragged into the kerb. guessing vacuum or master cylinder. but dammit, more beans.... :mad:

Thanks for the help.

FBP.

dougie-lampkin

fatboypee wrote: »

Thanks. its more than a spongy pedal tho, its a 'to the floor' pedal now. You do stop but dragged into the kerb. guessing vacuum or master cylinder. but dammit, more beans.... :mad:

Thanks for the help.

FBP.

I'd put money on it just being an air lock. Air is quite easy to compress compared to brake fluid, so all you're doing is compressing air rather than moving the brake pistons when you press the brakes. Once the air is compressed the brakes are then working as normal, but your pedal is to the floor by then :P

A vacuum problem would be the total opposite of what you have, a solid (but still functional) pedal. Where the fluid managed to go is the problem. More than likely an unchecked leaky wheel cylinder, but you'll need a mechanic to take a good luck at the whole system. If you can get the brakes bled and keep a close eye on the reservoir level, it should be fine to drive on a temporary basis until you get the real problem fixed.

Avns1s

dougie-lampkin wrote: »

I'd put money on it just being an air lock. Air is quite easy to compress compared to brake fluid, so all you're doing is compressing air rather than moving the brake pistons when you press the brakes. Once the air is compressed the brakes are then working as normal, but your pedal is to the floor by then :P

A vacuum problem would be the total opposite of what you have, a solid (but still functional) pedal. Where the fluid managed to go is the problem. More than likely an unchecked leaky wheel cylinder, but you'll need a mechanic to take a good luck at the whole system. If you can get the brakes bled and keep a close eye on the reservoir level, it should be fine to drive on a temporary basis until you get the real problem fixed.

There's also the question of where the fluid went to in the first place.

fatboypee

I'd put money on it just being an air lock. Air is quite easy to compress compared to brake fluid, so all you're doing is compressing air rather than moving the brake pistons when you press the brakes. Once the air is compressed the brakes are then working as normal, but your pedal is to the floor by then

A vacuum problem would be the total opposite of what you have, a solid (but still functional) pedal. Where the fluid managed to go is the problem. More than likely an unchecked leaky wheel cylinder, but you'll need a mechanic to take a good luck at the whole system. If you can get the brakes bled and keep a close eye on the reservoir level, it should be fine to drive on a temporary basis until you get the real problem fixed.

Id'no whats going on. Went to check at lunchtime. Reservoir still full. Pumping the brake raises the level of it but when pressing to stop it goes straight to the floor (red light gone off at this point). A few hard stamps on the brake and the pedal is rigid and up but no brake pressure (red light returns then).

Not 100% convinced the fluid ever went anywhere tbh..

thanks again for the help.

fbp.