Was trying to get my chevy astro van(ya ya I know) out of the ice snow and I kept going back and forward slamming on the breaks too..the breaks were fine then all of a sudden break light on the dash went on and the pedal goes all the way down..

Can it be a cable or some shit? I can't believe they could just go out like that..anything I can look at on my end to save a few bucks taking it into the shop?

Sounds like the brake master cylinder has gone.

Ofc they can go out like that.

Any kind of leak in a hydraulic system will do that.

There's no brake cables in your car unless it's 80 years old. :D

Either the master cylinder has gone catastrophically, or more likely you've managed to tear off a brake line somewhere, causing loss of all pressure.

Nose around under the car and check for any broken pipes, especially on the back of the brake plates (behind the wheels) and the rubber flexi-tube which connects the rear axle's brakes to the rest of the system.

Yeah, you might have just bursted one open if it was old, thin and rusty.

First things first, check your fluid level. If it's low, you probably have a leak.

master cylinder seals failing wont set off your brake light. a low brake fluid level and or a failure of one of your two hydraulic brake channels would. like everyone one else has said, you blew a brake line. add some fluid, press the pedal and see where the puddle is forming.

the repair can range anywhere from an easy .5 hr job ( if you are lucky, know what you are doing, have the tools, and are magically rust free.) to a lot of knuckle cutting pain in the ass.

judging by the fact that it is and astro van (a long since discontinued model) and you are in a place with snow, ill bet you have a good and rusty brake line that finally let go. if you have never done anything like this before i would have to recommend you have a (trusted) professional do it.

I don't know SHIT about cars, so I HAVE to take it in. IT's a 92 so yes theres rust, and probably rusted ass lines or whatever...I'm fuckin pissed. If it's a line or whatever, will I be charged an arm and a leg? will it be under $200?

Fucking learn then, it's not rocket science. I hate that attitude - take a venture into the unknown and pick up a new skill.

And then kill yourself as you're cruising along boppin your head to the beat at a cool 70 mph and then the brakes give out because of the experimental job you did.

Though I agree.

It's not as easy as you make it sound..Most guys I know, their fathers taught them, well I didn't have that luxury to be taught as a kid..I know basic shit, like changing oil and doing a tune up, oh and change a tire. I don't know how to do brake jobs.

And nobody noticed that I spelled brake wrong in the subject.

Oh and today I went out to test out the van..Fuckin shit won't even go forward..I thought I was stuck again, wheels are fuckin spinnin, goes a little bit(which is why I thought I was stuck), but goes in reverse no problem. So more problems to deal with.

And nobody noticed that I spelled brake wrong in the subject.


I did!...I thought you did it on purpose trying to put your point across that your brakes were fucked.

And nobody noticed that I spelled brake wrong in the subject.

No, we just get used to the noobs mispelling it. :p

BUMP. Got a new problem and was wondering what the fuck could have happened...So like I said earlier when I went out to test my van today I thought I was stuck in the snow again...I was revvin and my tired were spinnin, the car would go a little slow as if I were stuck in snow..but I put it in reverse and all is fine...I can reverse just fine but when I put the bitch in drive it is like I am stuck or some shit..the mother fucker moves a little bit and I can hear the wheels...any ideas? can the cold mess with my tranny(probaby stupid question) but it is like 0 degrees here and it's a 92

Wheels spinning and car not moving is not a symptom of something wrong with your car.

It's a traction issue. The fact that it went in reverse makes me think there was a rock or slight incline towards the front. If it's FWD it's possible it would have more traction in reverse but I doubt that is the issue here.

So what could be the solution?

grab a shovel homie.

So what could be the solution?

Put something under/infront of the tires. Sand or a door mat or something.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Hangmans_Noose_Final.jpg
Loop over the tow ball of the tow vehicle and tie the other end to the centre of the grille.... yeah that should do it.

There's no brake cables in your car unless it's 80 years old. :D

Apart from the handbrake (if you want to be a smartarse).

Hi this is Mike's mother. I found my son dead outside of his van with a noose around his neck and the whole family is in dissaray..I can't believe he killed himself. I logged on to his email and found this thread. HOW COULD YOU??????????????

Put something under/infront of the tires. Sand or a door mat or something.

huh???

wtf...

Hi this is Mike's mother. I found my son dead outside of his van with a noose around his neck and the whole family is in dissaray..I can't believe he killed himself. I logged on to his email and found this thread. HOW COULD YOU??????????????
Easily!;)

huh???

If your car is bogged in sand or snow or something, you can put a rubber mat (my personal choice) right in front of the drive wheels, and try to wedge it in as far as possible towards them. If the car can't get onto the actual mat on its own, have someone give it a few pushes from behind, as soon as the tyres get some weight on the rubber, you're free.

Apart from the handbrake (if you want to be a smartarse).

My handbrake is hydraulic.......

My handbrake is hydraulic.......

lolengland

If your car is bogged in sand or snow or something, you can put a rubber mat (my personal choice) right in front of the drive wheels, and try to wedge it in as far as possible towards them. If the car can't get onto the actual mat on its own, have someone give it a few pushes from behind, as soon as the tyres get some weight on the rubber, you're free.

Oh, I think I typed that wrong or something. It's not stuck in snow anymore, the car goes in reverse no problem but won't go forward, it goes real slow as if I were stuck in snow but im not, as the car goes reverse to probs.

Oh, I think I typed that wrong or something. It's not stuck in snow anymore, the car goes in reverse no problem but won't go forward, it goes real slow as if I were stuck in snow but im not, as the car goes reverse to probs.
Sounds like your auto has major issues. :(

Oh, I think I typed that wrong or something. It's not stuck in snow anymore, the car goes in reverse no problem but won't go forward, it goes real slow as if I were stuck in snow but im not, as the car goes reverse to probs.

You said the tyres were spinning, right? Do you stand by that?

You said the tyres were spinning, right? Do you stand by that?Hell Nereth! he can stand in front of it the forward in his autos fucked.

Hell Nereth! he can stand in front of it the forward in his autos fucked.

What?

You said the tyres were spinning, right? Do you stand by that?

Yes I hear them..but it's not really stuck in any snow...I havent been out to my van in 2 days though because the brakes are fucked anyways/too depressed to face the fact that I have a piece of shit ride

Yes I hear them..but it's not really stuck in any snow...I havent been out to my van in 2 days though because the brakes are fucked anyways/too depressed to face the fact that I have a piece of shit ride

I don't know what bornkiller is on about but if the tyres are spinning then this is not a problem with the car. Obviously the power is getting to the wheels or they wouldn't be spinning.

Problem exists between tyre tread and ground.

Yes I hear them..but it's not really stuck in any snow...I havent been out to my van in 2 days though because the brakes are fucked anyways/too depressed to face the fact that I have a piece of shit ride

Then be proactive, and sort the damn problem. Get under the van, have a look at the brake lines, if necessary get some piping, cut to length, bend, and connect it up. Jobs a good 'un.

I don't know what bornkiller is on about but if the tyres are spinning then this is not a problem with the car. Obviously the power is getting to the wheels or they wouldn't be spinning.

Problem exists between tyre tread and ground.
"Do you stand by that" " he can stand in front of it" either way he's not gonna get run over, do you see a pattern forming here? meh..... ignore me Nereth
if you can move in reverse, why not reverse out of there on to solid ground? and you should get someone to look at the wheels while trying to move forward, so you can verify the wheels are spinning instead of putting all your faith in your ears.
Also seems strange you can move in reverse but not forward, almost like you had chunky ass directional tires on back to front.
If your wheels aren't spinning?
I can only put that down to the forward bands in your autos fucked or there is not enough fluid getting to forward.
Honestly! verify those wheels are spinning because if the forward in the autos playing up it'd rev like fuck but wont go nowhere, except for reverse of course because the issue isn't there.
Merry Christmas! in a non believer type way. :D

Honestly! verify those wheels are spinning

There's truth there.

It isn't very likely you will get traction in reverse and non in drive. What I meant by 'do you stand by that' is 'are you sure'.

There's truth there.

It isn't very likely you will get traction in reverse and non in drive. What I meant by 'do you stand by that' is 'are you sure'.
I know, I was just being
Alcohol & Totse don't mix.
Sorry for the confusing post Dad :)

another icy ass fucking eve...plow pretty much nailed me in on the side street but I turned on the van and had my gf look at the right back wheel, spinnin in drive, the left, not, but could be ice issue..why nothin moved a few days ago is beyond fuckin me..got under the van and saw break cable was rusted as fuck..possible chunk eaten out

Imagine here are back tires..

O- -O <--on ice right now
|
^moves |
Rusty line, possble breakage
|
|
O- - O


As soon as a I can will reverse the fuck out and see whats up

One wheel spinning other stationary is pretty much what to expect with an open differential.

One wheel spinning other stationary is pretty much what to expect with an open differential.
qft! :o

sorry but I just don't know what you mean by that? lol

sorry but I just don't know what you mean by that? lolGoogle "limited slip differential" or "posi traction".........well yours isn't any of those! :D

Got the van to actually move, after putting some brake fluid in, also looked under and saw the busted line..Anyways, I sold the van to some nigger with a tow..I'm going back to a smal 4 cyl when I get my tax money

How much did you sell it for?

$200..YA I know it's cheap but van needed too much work and don't have that much money right now to put into it.

Needs:

tires
windshield
muffler
radiator
brake lines
suspension bar link pins



Plus van needed to be towed so I was in a bind. Can't wait to get an upgrade.

$200..YA I know it's cheap but van needed too much work and don't have that much money right now to put into it.


Needs:

tires
windshield
muffler
radiator
brake lines
suspension bar link pins
and some



Plus van needed to be towed
$200? and it needs all of that.......Wow! your a Rogue.

$200? and it needs all of that.......Wow! your a Rogue.

I don't understand this post or your adding of "and some."

$200 is dirt fucking cheap for any vehicle though. I've never seen anything listed below $500 'round here, even when not running.

$200 is dirt fucking cheap for any vehicle though. I've never seen anything listed below $500 'round here, even when not running.
My car cost the equivalent of just under $200, in running working condition. :D

Well, the fuel tank dripped, but £3 worth of repair putty soon sorted that.

I don't understand this post or your adding of "and some."

$200 is dirt fucking cheap for any vehicle though. I've never seen anything listed below $500 'round here, even when not running.

He means that he ripped the nignog off - and fair play to him for doing that.

Referring to a black man as a wog used to actually be a compliment - it stands for Western Oriental Gentleman.

I think it was an ok deal. I bought the thing for $500 a year ago, never did any work on it, so I got what I paid for. I don't think anyone got ripped off, he will probably fix shit up and have a van to get around in..maybe throw a nice paint job on it because the paint was fucked up, oh and the bottom was rusting up bad.

I just dont have the money to fix the damn thing up, or else obviously I would have kept it..so im savin up for a car because I was tired of not being able to pick up chicks in a van lol.

I don't understand this post or your adding of "and some."

$200 is dirt fucking cheap for any vehicle though. I've never seen anything listed below $500 'round here, even when not running.

$200 is cheap for any running vehicle, but you lose in negotiations when the breaks don't work and any other shit wrong with it. I bought it for 500 a year ago.

I don't understand this post or your adding of "and some."

$200 is dirt fucking cheap for any vehicle though. I've never seen anything listed below $500 'round here, even when not running.
At least here you can drive a $200 car away.
It may be a bit hard on the eye, but at least you won't be pushing it home.
Dependant on its year/model of course.
Prices vary everywhere I guess. ;)
_________
$200 in your back pocket before New Years is always a good thing Mike hope you pissed it against the wall. (got drunk)