Brake problem?

Question

I have a '97 Outback. It's been really cold here, and I've noticed when I first hit the brakes, like when backing out of the driveway, the pedal is very hard and nothing happens. If I keep pushing it eventually gives and I have brakes again. Either that or let the car warm up quite a bit. Pedal is a bit mushy otherwise, but that seems to be pretty normal in this group from what I've read so far.

Anybody know what's causing this?

Thanks.

Sheldon

Ragnar · Accepted Answer

A previous poster had a similar problem.  Probably the check valve in the vacuum line was the diagnosis.  Here's the original thread:clare at snyder. >  > > >> I've got a problem with my 97 Legacy wagon: in really cold weather >> (10F/-12C or below) the brakes are very hard for at least a few seconds.  The colder it is, the longer it takes the brakes to work. I've been out in 0F/-18C and had to warm up the car for at least a minute before the brakes are normal. >> It would be a simple solution to just warm up the car each cold morning, except that I'm a firefighter/emt, and need to be on the road within as few seconds as possible, for those charming 3:00 AM calls. (Very bad form to crash the car on the way to a call, too.) >> And it's not just my car, either.  A fellow firefighter has an '03 Outback, that does the same thing.  My mother's '03 Forester also does it, but at least she never needs to be on the road within >> seconds. >> > >> From what little I've seen online, it sounds...

Brake problem?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?