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Can brake problems mimic transmission problems
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HBHO
New User
Apr 15, 2013, 8:16 AM
Post #1 of 2
(4178 views)
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Can brake problems mimic transmission problems
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I drive a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan (184,537 miles) and about 6 months ago, very suddenly, the car lost pickup. It seemed to take a huge effort for the car to gain any pickup, starting from a stop would take a few seconds. At first, we thought the problem was that the emergency brake was stuck, as it did seem to be down. We fiddled with the brake (externally, we are not mechanics AT ALL) and it seemed to help the problem. The problem returned though and intensified. It felt like the car would try and try to move and then it would "kick" and take off very quickly. Eventually we took the car to a mechanic and he said that he could feel the gears slipping and we would need a new transmission. He didn't bill us for the assessment, saying he didn't want to be the bearer of bad news AND make us pay for it.
For several months after, we would put in an anti-slip transmission fluid and that carried us over. The car could also run better in second gear, rather than drive. A few weeks ago, our brakes started acting up. The pedal would go down to the floor and we would hear a "whooshing" sound. It still stopped, but the brake going down to the floor was obviously unsettling. We took it into a mechanic and he repaired some of the system (we told him to do the basics because we are strapped for cash.) He told us that he fixed the major problem, but there were more repairs to be done at a later time. He said the bottom of the car was so rusted out that it took quite a while to fix the problem. The mechanic replaced 26 feet of brake line, put in a new right rear cylinder and bled the brakes. When we got the car back, not only did the brakes work so much better, but the transmission problems seemed to vanish.
I am wondering if there ever really was a transmission problem to begin with, or if the brake problems we had were affecting the car in some other ways. I have never seen anything about a connection between the two problems, but I thought I would ask and see if any of you had heard anything similar? Thank you so much in advance!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 15, 2013, 8:49 AM
Post #2 of 2
(4148 views)
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Re: Can brake problems mimic transmission problems
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Real brake issues at the wheels MUST be tended to budget or not accident cost lives or tons more that silly brake work.
The clue in the power and "whoosh" with brakes is very telling. You said you were not mechanics at all so needs attention. There's a vacuum hose to manifold to a check valve at the round booster behind the master cylinder. Something is wrong there, probably the booster. If that leaked vacuum the info sent by assorted things all over the vehicle would be confused, not run or shift properly perhaps too.
Let a shop of you choosing do a final diagnosis with you just stating what it does and that noise. Get quote on the fix.
Another clue is that power assisted brakes will have another power assisted brake action after engine is off/not running. If pedal is hard quickly after turning it off that is more help for a clue to the right fix.
Money and budgets are strained with tons of folks. This has to be up front and soon/now as it's brakes. If a vehicle doesn't run, is one thing. If it can't stop that's unsafe to use at all.
(one more on edit) Parking brake cables may not be able to realease. Anything from sligh dragging to hard dragging can result so put those on the check list also)
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Apr 15, 2013, 9:28 AM)
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