While backing out of my parking space at work.

CRISTIE37

MEMBER
2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
158,000 MILES

While backing out of my parking space at work, I felt normal pressure when applying the brake, but it didn't stop. The same thing happened when I pulled forward, but then brakes returned to normal. I drove around the empty parking lot before heading home to see if they were working, and they seemed back to normal except I began hearing three rythmic screeches everytime I applied the brakes. Probably shouldn't have driven the 10 miles home, but I did with the emergency brake at the ready. The sound continued about halfway home, and then stopped. Brakes worked fine all the way in light traffic. However, the next time I drove my car, the 3 rhythmic screeching sounds began again. I drove it to a repair shop and made the mistake of suggesting it might be the master cylinder. Of course that's what I was told it was, and the replacement part is $1299.99 plus $279 in labor. I don't really have any reason not to believe what they told me except that I am a woman with no experience with cars other than driving them. Should I get a second opinion? Is it safe to drive my car elsewhere? I didn't have any problem with the brakes other than the initial two momentary times they didn't work in the parking lot, but the repair guys told me they dropped straight to the floor when they tried them. They also advised I have the timing belt and water pump replaced ($685) as well as a few other things. Probably do, but I've been putting it off for no good reason. Any advice would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Cristie

6 Replies

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

SOMEBODY'S PLUM CRAZY!!!!

YOUR RIG MIGHT BE SOMETHING SPECIAL---IN THE MODERN CAR ARENA

I NO NOTHING ABOUT IT........................BUT I DO KNOW MY JEEP CJs!!!! AND OTHER OLDER VEHICLES

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2007-ford-taurus-tune-up

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE A "NORMAL TRADITIONAL TYPE MASTER CYLINDER" OR SOME SPACE AGE THINGAMAJIG----I MAY BE ABLE TO AID YOU IN FINDING A "KEEPER MECHANIC"---ONE THAT CARES ABOUT YOUR CAR---WHOM YOU "TRUST" TO CHANGE YOUR OIL CORRECTLY (NOT FAST AND FOR THE MONEY) EVEN IF HE CHARGES A LITTLE MORE THAN "SUPER DOOPER LUBE FOR THE STARS"AND YOU CAN TRUST TO PERFORM ANY MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR YOUR CAR NEEDS

CHEAPIN' OUT ON YOUR INVESTMENT AND SAFETY IS NOT A GOOD CHOICEBUT BUYIN' SOMEBODY A YACHT AIN'T THE ANSWER EITHER

THIS FELLER WOULD BE ONE WHOM COULD HAVE EZily BEEN A "MAYBERRY" CHARACTER----YOU MUST FIND HIM!----YOU MUST KEEP HIMMAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

'ROUND HERE, THERE'S 2 PLACES I'D SEND MY MAMA TOIF I DIDN'T DO THE MAINTAININ' MYSELF

HERE'S HOW--SEE THIS POST

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2001-hyundai-elantra-code-reader-such-one-auto-zone-advanced-diagnose-problem-tha

THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU IS TO RID YOURSELF OF THAT RIG---GET A JEEP CJ---I'LL AID YOU IN MAKING IT NEW AGAIN (SEE ALMOST ANY 2CARPROS JEEP CJ 5 OR CJ 7 QUESTION IN THEIR FORUMS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS)

https://www.2carpros.com/makes/jeep/cj7

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MY "AWESOME INFORMATION!!!" LOL!

THE MEDIC

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 AT 4:07 AM

CRISTIE37

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Please stop wasting my time.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 AT 5:29 AM

CADIEMAN

MECHANIC
3,544 POSTS

A bad master cyl. Will cause a low pedal. If so when u start the car and put in drive. Put pressure on the pedal. Sit there and hold the brakes down. Do you feel the petal sinking to the floorboard. This is what a bad master cylinder would do. Do you feel as if you need to pump the brake petal? You may have bad brake linings causing this noise that you hear. Taking and have the brakes inspected the pads the shoes and see if they are good. If the Petal isnt dropping to floor and holding the master may not be bad. Take it to any major auto shop franchise like Goodyear or Firestone and just tell them you would like for them to check your brakes they don't feel right.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 AT 5:48 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

ROGER

THAT!

I SPENT 30 MINUTES ALONE SEARCHING FOR A MASTER CYLINDER AT ONLINE PARTS STORES

I RECKON I COULDA LOGGED ON TO "MITCHELL I" TO INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER

I EVEN HUNT AND PECK REALLY SLOW

I DON'T CONSIDER USING UP MY TIME TO ASSIST ANOTHER PERSON WITH A PROBLEM, A WASTE.......I TAKE AND MAKE PICS..........AND I TRY TO "ANSWER" POSTS IN A "I USED TO BE IN YOUR SITUATION" MYSELF KINDA WAY

I'M NOT DAVID COPPERFIELD

I CAN "TEAR INTO-AND CORRECTLY FIX STUFF".......I HAVE SAVED MYSELF AND OTHERS LOTS OF $$$

WITH YOUR PRESENT SITUATION, I JUST GET THE HINT THAT EVEN IF YOU WERE GIVEN A "HOW TO FIX"---YOU WOULD LACK THE TOOLS AND EXPERIENCE..........ENTER IN MY "HOW TO GET IT DONE RIGHT, WITHOUT USING AN EXPENSIVE SHOP"

.......AND MY STUFF IS HAVING NO PROBLEMS (NOW)......I WAS PUTTING A CLUTCH IN ONE OF MINE FOR FOR A WHILE THERE......I WAS UNABLE TO HELP FOLKS ON HERE DURING THAT TIME

BUT SORTA SEE-UNS HOW IT DON'T LOOK LIKE IT COULD BE AN EZ "DIY" FIXWHICH I WOULD SLING OUT SOME GOOD INFO FOR IF IT LOOKED THIS EZ........LIKE FOR THIS GUY

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1979-jeep-cj7-front-disc-pads

IT'S NEW----THEY CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE---IT'S INTEGRATED INTO ANOTHER SYSTEM?IT JUST AIN'T "RUN OF THE MILL" CAR MECHANICS....AS I KNOW IT............SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW

I CAN'T FIX IT---YOU CAN'T FIX IT---AND YOU WANT TO GET OUT "LESS EXPENSIVE"........."FIXED CORRECTLY"............"DONE SAFELY"?

I NEVER DID LIKE THE "STEALERSHIP" OPTIONBUT IF YOU WILL REVIEW MY 1ST ANSWER---THIS WILL WORK AS FAR AS TALKING TO THE PARTS STORE MANAGER.....HAVE A COMPETENT/ INEXPENSIVE SHOP FIX YOUR PROBLEM

I MYSELF WORK AT ONE PART TIME AND I DELIVER PARTS, I SEE THE SHOPS, TALK TO THE OWNERS, OBSERVE THE SITUATIONS........I DO MY OWN WORK.......BUT THIS DOES GIVE ME A HEADS UP SHOULD I BE UNABLE TO

MAYBE I GOT OFF TRACK........WHAT ARE YOU WANTING EXACTLY?

BELOW IS A SCREENSHOT OF WHAT COMES UP A JUST ONE AUTO STORE WHEN I SEARCH FOR "MASTER CYLINDER"...............AND THE OTHER PICS ARE STUFF I DO--THIS IS STUFF I MAKE, NOT COPIED OUT OF A BOOK!

THE MEDIC

Images (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 AT 3:43 PM

CRISTIE37

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Let me try again. My car is currently at the shop where they are awaiting my instruction concerning how to proceed. What I really want to know is whether or not they are attempting to rip me off. I am the one that suggested it was the master cylinder, so if I hadn't said anything, I wonder what they would have found on their own. Because of the strange sound coming from the driver's side, but only momentary brake failure that didn't happen again, and no brake indicator lights coming on, I am wondering if the problem is the entire hydraulic system or just the accumulator. HUGE difference in price.

Would it be bad ettiquette to simple take my car to the repair shop across the street? Should I risk driving it there myself? I have no intention of making the repairs myself, but I neither want to pay for unnecessary repairs or overpay for repairs. Seems logical to me. Thanks to anyone with helpful advice.