swedishskoda

Took SWMBO's Octy to work this morning - or rather, we intended to do so.

First strange thing: clock said 1 am instead of 8 am, and the odometer was reset at 0.0. (radio settings still there, though). It started OK, and no warning/indicator lamps were flashing.

I reveresed out from our driveway, and braked gently - the pedal went all the way down . Pumping restored it to normality (almost), but a bit "spongy".

We were in a bit of a hurry and I didn't want to risk anything, so we took my trusty Felicia instead.

When I'm back home this evening I'll check brake fluid, of course (but as said above, no warning lamps on dashboard).

We last ran the car Sunday, perfectly normal. Since then it has just stood there in the rain (not too heavy).

Suggestions, anyone? Could the reset clock/odo and the brake failure be connected somehow? In my imagination, the brake light contact is the only connection between brake system and electricity, but my mental map of cars is rather oldfashioned - today i guess that everything and anything has to do with electricity...

KenONeill

The Octy will have anti-lock, which uses electrical control circuits on the hydraulics.

swedishskoda

Thanks, Ken, I've learnt something new - still do not understand what happened this morning since the electricity was there when the brakes failed

Well, maybe it's just a coincidence. Will check for leaks front, back and master cylinder when I'm back home.

Query: I guess that the master cylinder can fail internally, so to speak - i.e. no pressure but still no (visible) leaks?

Well, my garage has promised to check it on Friday, hope I can get enough pressure to get it there safely.

KenONeill

A hydraulic leak is possible, but most unlikely. My reasoning is that the hydraulic clutch still worked correctly, and its take-off is higher on the shared fluid reservoir.

I'd suspect a co-incidental failure of the master cylinder or servo, or something weird going on in the electronics, and opening the returns on the ABS. There might be a fault code, but I'd not be at all surprised if you tried the brakes again tonight and they were fine.

On a related note, I sometimes have an "I don't want to stop" moment with my car (Elegance with 5-spoekes as per avitar) which I'm pretty sure is a water film on the discs after standing in rain.

swedishskoda

How right you were.

Came home, lifted the bonnet: brake fluid level OK, master cylinder and surrounding areas perfectly dry. Crawled on the ground, couldn't find any signs of leaks around the brakes. Started, and yes: everything's normal!

Opening the returns of the ABS, yes, I guess anything can happen in electronics. Its just that we don't have ABS - it's an absolute basic Octavia 1.6 2000 and besides I don't believe in those fanciful novelties

(to be truthful I wouldn't mind having ABS but what the **** - I've done without it for 35 years so will probably do so till next car)

But fallacious brakes make me nervous, so it will still go to the garage Friday for a thorough check (including VAG-COM for fault codes although probably not of any use). New brake fluid 15 months ago (at least I paid for it) so probably should have anything to do with water (but there hasn't been any frost these last few days so that doesn't sound plausible either).