1993 Saturn SL2 Brake Pedal Goes to the Floor

STJOHN

MEMBER
1993 SATURN SL2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
191,000 MILES

Hello, My Saturn dealership was repairing a stalling problem with my car. They did a safety inspection and said a rear wheel cylinder was leaking a little. At $575 I though I would take care of it myself.

After leaving the dealer and driving about 10 miles we found that we had lost the brakes and had to use the emergency brake to stop the car.

Indicators. Pedal goes to the floor. Brake reservor is still full. No visible leaks (without removing wheels).

I don't quite know what is causing this. I read up on the subject and understand that Auto brakes have TWO separate systems hooked up diagonally from each other. If one fails the other should still work.

The documents I read said the cause of the brake pedal going to the floor are: Master Cylinder bad or air in the system. If there we air in the system from the leak, shouldn't that only affect one side of the system? So am I looking at a bad M.C. Can they fail in this way? How or should I test it? I will have to fix the rear brakes anyway which will involve bleeding them.

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Do you have anti-lock brakes?
(ABS).

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+2

Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 6:55 PM

STJOHN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I'm sorry we just bought the car from a guy at work. I have not had it long enough to know that. We were about 15 miles from home when it failed and I had to leave it at my son's house. I just called him and asked him to check the front axcle for electrical wiring. He said it did. So I guess it does have ABS. He also told me he had to move the car a short distance and the brake were working again!
This car is a 1994 not 93 as I had reported.
The VIN is: 1G8ZK5571RZ129436

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, August 6th, 2009 AT 9:19 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Intermittant brake pedal loss can be a mastercylinder. Air getting into the system may be a problem.

Using plugs where the lines go into the master cylinder. If the pedal drops after it being plugged, then it the master is bad.

You can check for air getting into the system by isolating each wheel by pinching off the brake hoses.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Saturday, August 8th, 2009 AT 10:44 AM

STJOHN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Did not have anti-look brakes. Replaced wheel cylinders both. Replaced Master Cylinder. Bleed all brakes. Seems to be working fine again. My wife is nervous since the pedal had gone to the floor. Wants me to have a certified Mechanic check out brake system. Sounds reasonable
NEW ITEM:
Four way flashers will not work. Turn signals fine. All Lights seem to work okay. Turning on 4 way disables turn signals. 4 way and turn signal share same flasher module. Replaced module. Still have buzzing from module. Could it be that there is an incorrect type bulb in the system? If yes can you tell me bulb numbers for front and back? I do not have owners manual.
Thanks for your help.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 AT 8:42 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Not sure what a "Certified Mechanic" is going to tell you if they are working...but....

On the bulbs,
Front ones should be 3157 and the rears should be 1156, from the info I have.

I think this is a bad switch that you have going. The bulbs are just outputs. We have had luck in "reviving" a switch by rapidly turning on and off the hazard button. Not always, but nothing to lose.