Frim brakes when frigid

Dec 22, 2004 2 Replies

On my 1997 4Runner, I have noticed something since I've moved from the deep South to upsate NY. When we get particularly cold days, single digits or below, I'm having a loss of power brakes for about the first



30 seconds of using the car. The brake pedal hardly depresses at all, and it takes a very strong pressure l to stop the car. After pumping it for a bit, things seem to normalize and work OK. This is worrying for 2 reasons; if it occurs at another time, it would be BAD, and if someone borrows the car, they may not expect it. The reservoir is full and the car is regularly maintained. Can someone advise?

Everything is stiffer in the cold. You'll notice that your power steering is harder to turn, too. Once it warms up - ie, after you drive for a bit - it will go back to normal.

Susan

2000 Tacoma Ottawa, Canada (where the temperature was -30C (-22F) last week)

Suspect the system hasn't beuilt up a vacuum yet (for the assist) . In cold weather you need to let it idle a minute or two to get the lubrication moving - so sit there vice moving off after turning the key. You say regular maintenance - but have you ever flushed the entire brake system (take fluid out of reservoir, add new and then bleed brakes to remove old water laden fluid)?

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