help! cold weather brake-failure!!!

[i(heart)delis]

hi,

i have the deli up in the chilly windswept northwest territories.... i have been meaning to post pics etc with all the epic trials i've had here... anyway here is today's urgent issue:

minus 52 C today with wind chill.... started up the deli well, no problem (was plugged in over night w/ battery blanket and block-heater blanket thingy, crappy tire here was unable to install the block heater sent up from japanoid but that's another story)... drove a couple blocks and tried to stop at a stop sign and BOOM! no brakes. the pedal hit the floor!

i sailed through the intersection. luckily no-one was around.

sooooooo.... has anyone heard of this happening because of cold weather? did my brake fluid somehow go somewhere else other than where it was supposed to go? the brakes were replaced in BC (all new) in august....

thanks.... keep in mind my understanding of mechanical things in general is questionable :)

yours frozen solid,

jen

[after oil]

if i understand correctly, the brakes are assisted by a vacuum pump attached to the alternator. so if your brake fluid is full, then perhaps theres a problem with the vacuum pump

either that or you just slid through the intersection on ice

[konadog]

-52!? Ouch! Wish I could offer some advice on your brake issue. It's good to see you are still motoring about in your deli though - didya ever get those curtains made? Looking forward to pictures and tales of your adventures in the Great White North! Good luck with the brakes!

[jessef]

check your fluid and master cylinder to see if you popped the seal.

check your brake lines at the rear axle, link on the fuel tank and at the calipers to see if they ruptured.

Sounds like it popped a wide open hole along the lines somewhere or at the mas cyl.

in really cold weather, i like to warm up the deli for a 5-10 mins and pump the brakes during the warm up. they are stiff as heck if you wait until you start driving to apply them.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Jen,

EDIT to my post: I meant to write we do NOT we get much chat about problems with brakes, speaking for the greater Vancouver active group members (we all meet regularly so I hear all the delii chat).

Coincidentally though, Sasquatch Hunter had his suddenly fail yesterday (while sitting in parking lot pumping brakes to test the rear lights), but our weather was not cold -- he thinks the metal line itself has corrosion, as he has a bit of corrosion in the area (from salty roads in Japan probably).

I would suggest you contact Glen at CC Autos (email ccautos@telus.net) for advice on fixing brakes, and troubleshooting, he's The Supreme Mechanic. He is good at talking one thru troubleshooting via phone or internet. He also has new and used parts, he mails frequently to other delii owners.

Let us know how you get on, please ask us for more help or advice.

I'm glad the intersection was clear, how was your heart rate? Take Care.

Christine.

[i(heart)delis]

thanks for the advice-

i think i'll wait til at least -30C to really check it out :)

the trick will be getting someone here in the NWT to fix it! they don't seem to want to touch them with a 10-foot pole.

also of note, NWT DOT has randomly decided to stop registering RHDs-
http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wp ... icles.aspx

i love the north, but the deli and i can't wait to get back to revelstoke, land of warmth, close to mechanics, and where the deli is actually registered....

[jessef]

wherever you take it, just tell them it is a mitsubishi montero (except engine work)

its north-american equivalent for the drivetrain/brakes,etc...

[MardyDelica]

its all came with the age. of the hose & when we used it here. mostly in japan they dont usually used salt not like here.its just when the brake rubber lines go even the brake line dont have crack not much we can do. to avoid this.
is just to check all the time when doing oil change.
cheers;

[i(heart)delis]

thanks, turtlecamper!

the montero bit is great to know- that might ease their anxiety just enough to get them to look at it :)

[Erebus]

I've blown a brake line, and I still had a couple of stops left after the pedal went really bad.

Also, everyone, don't forget the handbrake!!!! It used to be called the emergency brake, not parking brake like nowadays. Not sure how quickly I would think of it, mind you. It works on the back wheels, so you have to hank pretty hard. And don't forget to hold the button in the whole time.

Brake systems are pretty much the same regardless of the vehicle, until the ABS/traction control new stuff. Any mechanic shouldn't have a problem with the Delica.

As mentioned, the vacuum pump is on the back of the alternator, that's the only weird part.

[Erebus]

also of note, NWT DOT has randomly decided to stop registering RHDs

Where in the NWT are you? I did Inuvik last year, loved it.

"Imported right-hand-drive vehicles were never built for or intended to be driven on North American roads. Therefore, they may have equipment and parts that pose a danger to the driver, passengers, and the public." Yup, NA roads are so different from the rest of the world's roads. Then there is the 40% higher accident rate crap.

Scaremongering. I just hatesssss it.

[i(heart)delis]

erebus:

right! using the e-brake is how i eventually came to a stop! i was quite pleased with myself- i always wondered if it all went south (i.e. no brakes) if i would remember to use the e-brake- well, i did, all those neuroses were worth it. the e-brake and gearing down of course.

i am in Yellowknife for the moment, am going to work in Behchoko tomorrow. am considering going to inuvik in the near future...

[Green1]

right! using the e-brake is how i eventually came to a stop! i was quite pleased with myself- i always wondered if it all went south (i.e. no brakes) if i would remember to use the e-brake- well, i did, all those neuroses were worth it. the e-brake and gearing down of course.

I was at the auto-show last year and was quite disturbed to see that on many new vehicles the parking brake is a simple electronic button... obviously no longer useful in an emergency!

new vehicles are so computerized and complicated that they scare me, if something is to go wrong, you are truly screwed!

[strada-caster]

right! using the e-brake is how i eventually came to a stop! i was quite pleased with myself- i always wondered if it all went south (i.e. no brakes) if i would remember to use the e-brake- well, i did, all those neuroses were worth it. the e-brake and gearing down of course.

I was at the auto-show last year and was quite disturbed to see that on many new vehicles the parking brake is a simple electronic button... obviously no longer useful in an emergency!

new vehicles are so computerized and complicated that they scare me, if something is to go wrong, you are truly screwed!

Yah, Before I realized that I need a 4x4 for my lifestyle I purchased a 2006 VW Passat. It came with the electronic e-brake button which does nothing in a real emergency. During my ownership I also had the motor it operates fail on me. I remember having to take off the negative terminal to reset everything and it took 3 visits to the Victoria Dealership for them to finally fix it even with me telling them the motor was dying on the first visit. They gave me an electronic upgrade (my girlfriend called it 'e-brake 2.0').

Anyways I'm done with the new vehicles. They are just a hassle and you never know what part does what anymore. Truly love my Strada.

Happy to hear there was no accident.

Cheers.