2003 Ford Escape Brakes go hard

2003 FORD ESCAPE
170,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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DGNP1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
There is another person with the same problem as mine, It just started as well for me the last couple of weeks.
When the vehicle has been sitting, when started the brake pedal is hard. If I pump it for a while it seems to unlock or whatever is happeing
Jan 24, 2009 at 8:06 PM
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RASMATAZ
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 75,992 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
HARD BRAKE PEDAL

Lack of power assist may be due to low engine vacuum, a leaky vacuum hose or a defective booster. Sometimes a faulty check valve will allow vacuum to bleed out of the booster causing a hard pedal when the brakes are applied. This condition can be diagnosed by starting the engine (to build vacuum), shutting it off, waiting four or five minutes, then trying the brakes to see if there is power assist. No assist means a new check valve is needed.
Jan 24, 2009 at 8:35 PM
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