My brake pedal will not press to start the vehicle?

2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV
160,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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LIBBAYE87
My brake pedal won’t press to start the car. I can feel some slight mechanical movement in the pedal when I press the start button, but pedal won’t depress to start as normal. I ran codes and nothing came up.
Nov 23, 2024 at 11:29 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,193 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi,

When you try to press it, does it move at all? If not, I suspect there may be a problem with where the pedal and pushrod connect.

I attached a picture of the pushrod and brake pedal assembly below. Look under the dash to see if there is any evidence of damage or if something has come apart.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pic below.
Nov 23, 2024 at 9:31 PM
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LIBBAYE87
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
It moves slightly when I press hard. I also feel a little mechanical pedal movement when I press the start button.
Nov 24, 2024 at 7:19 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,193 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
If you can hardly move it at all, check under the dash where everything is mounted. See if there is anything damaged. If there isn't, we may have to remove the master cylinder and brake booster to see what is happening.

Let me know.

Joe
Nov 24, 2024 at 6:09 PM
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LIBBAYE87
  • MEMBER
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Another thing I forgot to add about when this first started. My wife was driving and the car alerted her it was overheating so she pulled over and shut off the car off. It has a coolant leak. After refilling the coolant reservoir, I attempted to start and brake pedal wouldn’t press in order to start.
Nov 26, 2024 at 3:13 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,193 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi,

When the vehicle is running and you press the brake, do you ever hear a clicking? Also, can you hear the power brake vacuum pump run?

Do me a favor. First, locate the brake booster vacuum pump. See pic 1. The arrow I placed in the pic will be a vacuum hose that goes to the power brake booster. See pic 2.

First, make sure that hose isn't damaged or disconnected. If everything appears okay, disconnect the hose either at the pump or the brake booster and see if there is evidence of oil in the hose.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pics below.
Nov 27, 2024 at 8:33 PM
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