Hard Brake Pedal

[mikiee]

I've got a 2010 Nissan Versa with about 3200 miles on it. Last week i noticed that the brake pedal was kind of hard when braking. In fact, when I would start the car with my foot on the pedal, nothing changed when the car started. No power assist kicked in. I was all set to run it by the dealer, when this week the brakes started acting normal again. I could feel the assist come on when the car was started and braking was back to normal. I talked to the service tech and he said that without the problem occurring at the moment it would be hard to tell what was going on. He suggested I make an appointment and they could check into the problem. What would cause this to happen and then suddenly cure itself? The car has anti-lock brakes but no traction control.

 

[adamjeeps]

Manual transmission?

 

[mikiee]

It is a regular automatic transmission, not the CVT.

 

[adamjeeps]

Why are you holding the brake during startup? I would go for a week or so without doing that and see if you still have a problem. You may be fooling the brake system since an automatic is not designed to be started with the brakes engaged.

 

[NateDN10]

Originally Posted By: adamjeeps
Why are you holding the brake during startup? I would go for a week or so without doing that and see if you still have a problem. You may be fooling the brake system since an automatic is not designed to be started with the brakes engaged.

What? I've always felt that it's good practice to start any vehicle with your foot on the brake. Just in case you missed something, or something malfunctioned.

How would doing so "fool the brake system"?

 

[adamjeeps]

Does your owners manual say to hit the brake before you start the engine? The only reason might be if it had a push-button start. The power brakes are designed to have 1 or 2 applications in reserve after you shut down the engine. After this is used up, the pedal become very difficult to push. I back my cars out of the garage all the time without starting the engine since I just want the space and am not going anywhere. I have to make sure I stop just where I want because it is hard to get it stopped after the power assist is gone.

I am not an expert, but you it certainly will not hurt to not do it for awhile and see if it helps. I don't know of anyone who starts an automatic with foot on the brake.

Hope you get it figured out.

 

[mechtech2]

There sure seems to be a fault [although maybe intermittent] in the vacuum line , booster assembly, or check valve.

A vacuum leak elsewhere [not the actual brake line] can also cause poor braking. Because low vacuum is low vacuum -for whatever reason.

 

[Maritime Storm]

With 3200 miles on it? You're under warranty, visit your local dealer. Sounds like a bad booster to me.