5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
The wifes car has been loosing brake fluid. Like an idiot I have been just topping it off once a week for the past two weeks. Yesterday I drove the car and the pedal went all the way to the floor. I checked the brake fluid and it was nearly empty. I topped it up and the pedal still went to the floor. I stopped the car 2 miles later to discover that the reservoir was nearly empty again.
Would these symptons (severe loss of brake fluid) pedal going to the floor. Point to a leak or bad master cylinder or bad brake booster?
"Would these symptons (severe loss of brake fluid) pedal going to the floor. Point to a leak or bad master cylinder or bad brake booster?"
They definitely point to a leak, but the leak could be anywhere, including the master cylinder. You need to locate the source of the leak, fix it, and then properly bleed the entire brake hydraulic system. If this is something you don't feel comfortable doing yourself, follow TTM77's advice and tow it somewhere.
This is another example where you need to take a test before being allowed to drive a car. He had better hope his wife doesn't find out the level of risk he placed her. Totally inept is a mild comment.
Doesn't this bear upon a basic physics principle that matter can neither be created nor destroyed? So if the fluid was consistently going away, didn't it occur at some point that he might want to know where it was going??
a-flashlight under the car near all 4 wheels looking for fluid.
b-look under the car on the ground for any drips of fluid from a failed metal line.
If there is no indication of any fluid loss at all at any of the wheels, that the hydraulic lines are all sound, both the metal and rubber lines, then the loss is most likely from the seal on the end of the master cylinder and it is bleeding off into the brake servo.
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2007 V6 Camry LE, Built TMMK 27 September 06
"People who think they know it all are particularly irritating to those of us who do."
Wow. My hat is off to you, TTM. You made my point better than I ever could have. It is an unreasonable expectation that every motorist should be a certified mechanic, but everyone should have at least general knowledge about basic mechanical systems, like the BRAKES. Thanks for the input.
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2007 V6 Camry LE, Built TMMK 27 September 06
"People who think they know it all are particularly irritating to those of us who do."
An emergency brake is a backup braking system designed to function even when there is total brake failure. It works through purely mechanical means, and is independent of the hydraulic system which controls the brakes normally. In addition to being used in emergency situations, an emergency brake is also used as a parking brake, to prevent the car from rolling away, should it slip into gear.
Just be aware the the parking/emergency brake will provide very limited braking power when compared to the hydraulic system. If you need to drive the car like this to get it from point A to point B, do it in minimal traffic situations, drive at very slow speeds and try to plan your stops. Again, towing it would be the safest alternative. Do you have towing on your car's insurance plan?
One other thing about the E-brake... and someone correct me if I'm wrong please. DO NOT just pull it or step on it while driving. You MUST have the release activated or risk having the rear wheels lock which could put you into a skid.
In fact I would urge anyone who has never attempted to stop their car with the E-brake to find a large, deserted parking lot or other suitable area and give it a try. Start at low speed and build up until you feel comfortable with it's use. Students are trained in our flight simulators to handle every imaginable emergency just in case one day it might actually happen. Most will never see the problems in real life but figuring out what to do while heading into the ground is NOT the way to learn!
DO NOT just pull it or step on it while driving. You MUST have the release activated or risk having the rear wheels lock which could put you into a skid.
U mean the wheel lock up causing the car to skid? I had played with my leg brake and it's really not strong enough to slow down the car much (comparing to regular brake). It help add friction when the car is parked but when the car is rolling it only slow the car down a little. And use this parking brake with regular brake, that means using 2 brakes at once so double the braking power and likely to skid.
One other thing about the E-brake... and someone correct me if I'm wrong please. DO NOT just pull it or step on it while driving. You MUST have the release activated or risk having the rear wheels lock which could put you into a skid.
In fact I would urge anyone who has never attempted to stop their car with the E-brake to find a large, deserted parking lot or other suitable area and give it a try. Start at low speed and build up until you feel comfortable with it's use. Students are trained in our flight simulators to handle every imaginable emergency just in case one day it might actually happen. Most will never see the problems in real life but figuring out what to do while heading into the ground is NOT the way to learn!
If you have total brake failure and are going to hit something, a skid is the last thing you worry about.
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I only know 3 fluids at that time:
Linear Mode
