Brake Problem Help!!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tskelton1211 · 11-29-2004, 08:53 PM

Hey...i have a 98 toyota camry 5sfe...this is gonna sound stupid and im sure some people are gonna burn me about this but i REALLY need help!!!

I tried to drill a whole through the firewall to run some wires...i tried to drill it about 6 inches to the left of the steering column (driver side of the column) i started to get through and got stuck...so i stopped...no biggie...well

when i started my car it started making a wistling sound coming from the whole...i thinkn i may have punctured a hose going from the brake booster too the brake pedal...anyone know where i can find a diagram of the afea in the firewall dealing with the brake master cylinder, booster and pedal???

tskelton1211 · 11-29-2004, 09:18 PM

oh yea...when you press the brake pedal they work for a second then become hard as a rock...then there is the wistling sound...almost as if sucking air through a straw...coming through the hole...if you know whereto find any diagrams or have any experience being an idiot like me...PLEASE HELP!!! i have looked in my haynes manual and it is NO HELP!!!!

Hajoca · 11-29-2004, 09:30 PM

I really think that you should check the hose that is attached to the brake booster (looks like a 8inch flat can).

The hose is fed from the intake manifold.

CraigW · 11-29-2004, 09:42 PM

Just locate the hose, match the size and replace it. Dont try to patch hole get new hose. Should be simple fix.

tskelton1211 · 11-29-2004, 09:43 PM

but it sounds like its coming from inside the firewall...how could it be fed from the intake manifold to the brake booster...also wher does this hose attatch to the brake booster???

tskelton1211 · 11-29-2004, 09:44 PM

i dont know how to get to the hose and i dont even know if it is a hose...

tskelton1211 · 11-29-2004, 11:08 PM

ok i have looked on my car and i have no idea what this hose that is attached to the brake booster (8 inch flat can) looks like...is it behind the brake booster in the firewall??? i know how to take the master cylinder off but i dont see a way to take the brake booster off to potentially get to this hose...i would really like to find some diagrams!!! help please!!!

awmccready · 11-30-2004, 06:10 AM

Unless you drilled from the interior of the car through the firewall into the brake booster hose in the engine compartment, I don't see how you would have punctured the brake booster hose from the intake manifold, which is probably entirely in the engine compartment. If that hose is in the engine compartment, it would not directly account for the whistling sound coming from the hole you drilled.

However, from what you said, you now have a loss of power brake boosting.

Another possibility is that if you drilled from the engine compartment, you punctured another hose behind the firewall that is also hooked to the intake manifold. As a result, there is not enough vacuum to power the brake booster. What such a hose inside the firewall would be I don't know, other than a sensor, guage, etc. However, if you did puncture such a hose, the vacuum drop is probably noticeable elsewhere, e.g., at the intake manifold. An auto vacuum guage may help to determine this.

A more remote possibility is that you somehow punctured the booster hose in the engine compartment and just think the sound is coming from the hole.

Temporarily removing the booster hose, once you find it, would normally cause a large increase in brake pedal pressure needed. If your brake symptoms remain the same, then it is a lot more likely your hole damaged a hose connected to the intake manifold.

If you are very sure the sound is coming from behind the firewall, in the passenger compartment and your power brakes are definitely gone, then you need to look into getting access to that area behind the dashboard. Once you get access to that area, the sound you are describing may easily guide you to what you punctured. I hate to say this, but I have removed the dashboard from other manufacturer's vehicles and it was difficult, due to the cramped conditions. An auto shop, especially a dealer may have better and faster ways of getting access and know where and what they are looking for.

What you punctured is the kind of question a dealer service manager may be willing to answer for you on the telephone, if you can't pin it down otherwise.

Wish I could be more help.

tskelton1211 · 11-30-2004, 06:34 AM

hey thanks so much...yea i did drill the hole from inside the car....freakin rocket scientist huh...that helps a lot! thanks again

Hajoca · 11-30-2004, 11:07 AM

Hate to write theis... I looked at mine today and I think you punctured the brake booster / vacuum assist chamber there with the exploration hole.

Tough lesson eh? next time I guess mark a layout line and then look at it through the engine compartment.

What kind of wires did you want to run????

Cyorke · 11-30-2004, 01:07 PM

I agree with Hajoca. Sounds like you may have actually gotten the broake booster if so, find one in junk yard and go to town. Been a while since I replaced one but once you get the master cylinder off you should have a better idea. Or I am sure someone on here has a manual or you could get a Haynes and go to town with it.

tskelton1211 · 11-30-2004, 01:46 PM

hey...its official i did puncture the brake booster...found one at a junkyard for 100...toyota was gonna charge me 1100...assholes...whatever...the guy told me it would be easy to replace...thanks guys

Hajoca · 11-30-2004, 07:15 PM

What wires did you want to run through????
Can you find the rubber plug next to the booster unit?? (more towards fender side)

tskelton1211 · 11-30-2004, 10:47 PM

hey...i was trying to run some wires through for some auxilery lights that i was actually going to wire inside the dash...i dont have a rubber plug next toe the booster...i have on that runs in the far right hand corner...fender side of the unit...but it is stuffed full of wires...i tried to run then through that but it wouldnt go through...get this...had i been 1/2 an inch...not even...down or to the passenger side...i would have completely missed the booster...haha...the booster was ridiculously easy to get out...i have to go pick up the part tomorrow when i get off work...im just thankful i didnt have to disconnect any brake lines to get the booster off so i wont have to bleed them at all...just curiious...im getting a booster from a junkyard...i checkedo out the vehicle and actually know the guy who owns the junkyard...if the booster is coming off of a car that did run ok...i shouldnt have to adjust the plunger at all should i???i had having to adjust those damn things u know...lemme know what you think...and where else i could possibly run some wires through...thanks

Hajoca · 12-09-2004, 02:38 PM

I am sorry for being silent all this time... but I really do not have a clue.