Need Troubleshooting Help

Bad99Olds · 10-13-2009, 07:30 PM

So this isn't alero related, but you all are a smart group of individuals, so i feel like you can manage.

My mom was driving her van the other day and when she tried to come to a stop, the car was fighting the brakes. She is very sure she was pressing the brake, but the car kept going and tapped into the car in front of her. That being said, the shop said the brakes are fine and wouldn't have failed. My two front running guesses at the moment are the TPS and the butterfly plate on the throttle body. Is there anything I could be overlooking, maybe something with the transmission? The mechanics don't seem to believe what she told them, and are just inclined to do a brake job and call it a day. Oh, last thing, the car is a 1997 Dodge Caravan automatic. I appreciate the input.

CactusWill · 10-13-2009, 08:08 PM

Might be the brake booster line. But are you saying the brakes wouldn't work, or the engine rpms wouldn't subside?

jackal2000 · 10-13-2009, 08:36 PM

time for a new van lulz

you know what my two front running guesses are though lol

Vic28 · 10-13-2009, 08:52 PM

From trying to brake... to a butterfly at the throtlebody to a transmission?? not making sence.. What do you mean by "the car fighting the brakes"?? I think your brake booster is failing so far or the vaccum line that goes to the brake booster. If the car is fighting the brakes tho, it might be ABS related idk(explain what you mean by that term).. Or unless the engine was off when she tried to stop the car and had no booster, doubt this happened

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jackal2000 · 10-13-2009, 09:22 PM

she hit the brakes and the engine revved thereby accelerating the van vice stopping it as it was in gear ('D')...

jayson_waltz · 10-13-2009, 09:24 PM

i'm gonna go ahead and guess she lost power brakes for a bit. have her get in the van and puch the brakes with it off, ask her if thats how they felt.

paul ron · 10-13-2009, 09:27 PM

2 foot driver, or the mat was pressing the gas pedal.

Why didn't she pop into neutral?

A57 · 10-13-2009, 09:34 PM

From what you said sounds like she had whats called brake pad fading.. the pads might be heated to point the seam like the just dont stop like they should .. you can take the pads off and hit the with 60 grit sandpaper to scuff them up and then drive around to see if they stop better.. if not then you might want to do a brake job..turn the rotors and install new pads..

clutch1 · 10-14-2009, 07:48 PM

Hole in the booster hose causing both a hard brake pedal and vacuum leak... smoke test it and check it out.