It is recommended that you have your brakes checked every 20,000-60,000 miles. On most cars pumping the brake pedal while the car is off builds up pressure in the line and that pressure doesn't release until the car is started. The error message said "depress brake pedal and push start". Another cause of a hard brake pedal is faulty power brakes. Regardless, eventually you will get used to the "push button" (slight pause) (car starts) sequence. Unfortunately, it seems like a difficult issue to fix since it can't be reproduced on demand. If that doesn't work, this article goes over other possible issues: A forum community dedicated to Ford Focus owners and enthusiasts. When they don't know or they can't fix then they will tell you that's the design, nothing wrong. The safety of yourself, other drivers, and pedestrians are at risk when you drive with faulty brakes. Fortunately, this problem can usually be solved on your own with a little bit of knowledge. It's due for a service anyway. Check the basics and, if necessary, tow your vehicle to an auto repair shop or mechanic to have it diagnosed by a professional. Its annoying when your car doesnt start. Thanks. Hi all, I have a 2007 ES 350. Pasted as rich text. Good to know, thanks Tom - that was probably it! This method is not very reliable, and you can go ahead to try the next method. The voltage required to create the zaps in the spark plug is generated by ignition switches This created spark ignites the air and fuel combination. I understand that this is a vacuum "boost" system issue. If the vehicle doesn't start, press the START/STOP button using the key fob. I have a 2014 IS 250 and yesterday the brakes also froze up. Replace any missing or blown fuses and try again to start the car. Prius Won't Turn Off - Unexpected Reasons and Solutions for the Issue. Started Yesterday at 03:02 PM, By BTW around a week ago the car I was renting (a Ford Fusion hybrid) did the same thing two or three times, OAT around 30 F. Very scaring, expecially when one did not buy the premium road . Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. If your vehicle displays Depress Brake To Start Engine, ensure the gear selector is in the Park position,press the brake pedal down hard, and thenpush the engine switch to startthe engine. I had a very similar issue while leaving work. It happens after the car sits for several days. You can post now and register later. Stock HU -> Modded ACM code -> Audiocontrol LC6i -> Planet Audio 4-Chan -> JBL Comps -> ID8 V4. Well the brake pedal should get harder to push when the car is no running because there is no vacuum. Read full answer. There is an adjustment on the brake pedal position switch that can be adjusted so you do not have to press the pedal down so far and hard. The pressure in the brake servo system is dropping. You might suddenly find yourself unable to start your engine one morning. Privacy Policy Just to close the loop, the technician didn't find anything wrong with the brake or the vacuum booster and he thought the hard brake was just coincidence. so, first check your brake booster. The gear selector can prevent the vehicle from starting. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Careers I see that this discussion is a year old but it really helped me out yesterday. Answer (1 of 16): In newer cars - the car refuses to start. If the battery needs to be replaced, it could cost $100-$200 for a new one. Press and hold the start button next time and see if that works. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Could a low key battery cause the boost to not engage? Check the fuse box for missing fuses. It's the same switch the brake lights use. Most auto parts stores, such as Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone, can test your battery and charging system free of charge. Now, for whatever reason. Its back in the dealership for a week now and they haven't duplicated the problem. Lets discuss those-. So if you depress the brake pedal just once after the engine is turned off the booster loses all of its vacuum and the brake pedal is hard to push. The problem is that the brake booster doesn't hold vacuum for three or 4 applications of the brakes after the engine is turned off. Many, including my 14MDX have the hard brake pedal issue only during cold temps like below 30F. Powered by Invision Community, Lexus ES250 / ES300 / ES330 / ES350 / ES300h Club, Brake Pedal Very Hard To Depress In Startup, Lexus Model: 2004 RX330 , 2008 , 2011 now a 2016 ES350. 2017 Prius Prime. 2022 Volkswagen Taos 1.5 TSI Engine: Longevity, Problems, and Specs. Terms of Service - You might also find that your brake has become stiff or hard to press down. First, you need to make sure that you are not pressing down the brake anymore. If you're absolutely certain that nobody is depleting the vacuum supply in the brake booster by pressing the brake pedal after shutting the engine off . When beginning to start the car the brake is rigid and will not depress no matter how hard it is pushed. Now you know how to deal with it, but you can also save yourself the hassle of having to fix the problem again by learning how to prevent it from coming up in the first place. The fuse may not be in the fuse box but be inline between the fuse box and the starter. You'll need to take your car to a mechanic to figure out what exactly is wrong. If your Optima won't start because you can't get the brakes down far enough, then you have the option of overriding the ignition and starting the engine without the brakes. He said he couldn't start the car when the pedal was stiff. At first it was believed to be a bad battery. Oftentimes, the loss of vacuum that leads to a stiff brake pedal is caused by a broken vacuum hose. You cannot paste images directly. Content on mdxers.org is generated by its users. Wondering why your brake locked car wont start? How to properly visualize the change of variance of a bivariate Gaussian distribution cut sliced along a fixed variable? Manage Preferences - Don't let this go - dealer should fix it - I paid the $30 out of my pocket for the switch and did it myself because I didn't want to drop my car off and all the hassle. Donna Chaput The extremely stiff brake pedal wont depress at all. Read codes from CAS and DME modules on a BMW before you replace the starter. I'll report back if I find anything if it's of help to anyone else. Most modern cars require you to press the brake to start the car. By The brake pedal was also unable to move, even in neutral. Tap the brakes shortly before you push the ignition in your car, and you won't run the risk of disabling your brake booster. Be sure you have a fully charged battery that passes a load test. It only takes a minute to sign up. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. . This vacuum is generated by the engine's vacuum pump, so the brake booster only has a vacuum when the car is on. Some of these are relatively easy to diagnose while some will require a mechanic with specialized tools. Submit! I work away from home, so I'm not close to the car, but I was wondering if there's something . If I hold my foot down firmly it will compress just enough to allow the start function, but takes a couple of seconds and a pretty . It doesn't seem right. Clear editor. Make sure to inspect the battery carefully. Damaged ignition switch: If you have an older car, it could be that your ignition switch is going bad. So have you had the dealer check your car or you just relying on stories? Adding to the above, the brake booster can fail at the internal diaphrgm from leaking brake fluid at the rear of the brake master cylinder or the one way check vale on the line going to the booster from the intake. Its best to replace the ignition switch if your ignition switch goes bad. Vehicles with automatic transmission require you to pressthe brake pedal beforepushing the START/STOP button orstarting the engine. Every other time I start it, including a number of times since this, the brake pedal is soft to depress before starting. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Labor costs will not increase much, however. We suggest you take professional help in that case. So many questions on here are asked and never completed by those who want answers - while they may have benefited from some of the answers Is it an automatic? It is not merely a quirk of the car. (I realize I may have used the wrong terminology above.). When the brake pedal is stiff and won't respond, there are reasons behind this concerning situation: 1. Donna Chaput Best of luck and have a good day! Manage Settings You wont be able to start the car due to the brake getting stiff. The causes are the brake pedal is not being pressed far enough to engage the brake light switch, the brake light switch is bad, the battery is dead or low, the neutral safety switch is bad, bad starter, blown fuse, a broken or corroded wire, vacuum leak, or a bad brake booster. Generally, you can get one or two assisted pushes after the engine is off. A common reason is that your ignition lock cylinder or ignition switch is broken and must be replaced. For more expensive assemblies containing the lock the part cost increases to between $75 and $125. To begin, look at the ignition switch. You are somehow losing vacuum in your brake booster. She was at the grocery store and couldn't start the car to come home. One is that the engine wont start unless you press the brake pedal. 1. 2016 CRV brake pedal occasionally won't depress to start the car, https://www.youcanic.com/wiki/depress-brake-start-engine, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Make sure nothing is under the brake pedal because if there is something under the brake pedal, the brake pedal won't depress completely. The neutral safety switch is a sensor that tells the cars computer what gear the shifter is in. Don't push like you are panic stopping, but simply hold pressure like you are sitting at a . Also break pedal is very hard to press when this is happening Answered in 5 minutes by: Lexus Mechanic: AMD AMD : Many repeated attempts do not depress it, but finally, it will, and all seems well. We participate in the Amazon, Advance Auto Parts, eBayaffiliate programs and may earn a commission when you purchase using links on this site. You will be left with a dead car that wont start at all. Advertising - Lets not waste any more precious seconds and jump right into it-. We have had five instances where the TH will not start due to the brake pedal not depressing. Once in a while the pedal is soft (normal) and the car starts without stumbling. When I'd turn the key is sounded like it was going to start but it just wouldn't "catch". BrianP Yes. https://www.youcanic.com/wiki/depress-brake-start-engine. JavaScript is disabled. Vacuum is generated when the engine is running. Since Published at 21 03 2013 - 01:48:12 This video has been viewed [VIEW] times. Your saying you can't push the brake pedal to engage the safety switch and allow the starting sequence? First check the voltage. In older cars - you could start it no problem - although you'd need to be in neutral. Just to check my own curiosity, I went out to my car, pumped the brakes like 15 or 20 times, and yes, it got a bit firmer, but was still able to move the brake pedal about 2-3 inches with little more then the weight of my foot, and started the car with no problem. However, this morning my wife tries to start it, in the garage, and the brake pedal, again, will not depress, but this time the parking brake . Lexus Ask an Expert Car Questions Lexus Troubleshooting This answer was rated: Lexus won't start the brake pedal is depressed and it's very Answered in 5 minutes by: Lexus Mechanic: Internal88 Ask Your Own Lexus Question First, you need to make sure that you are not pressing down the brake anymore. Using wrong brake fluids, or damaged components can be blamed for this issue too. On the surface, it might seem like your car won't start because there's something wrong with your engine. Or maybe the difference is the sublte nuances of a vehicle build from the factory, where your brake pedal push rod may be adjusted to have more leverage than J Jones. Troubleshooting the Stop/Start button requires a professional-level scanner. had something similar happen to my 2016 mdx. Keep the brake pedal pressed, then start the engine. I'm not asking for someone to solve the problem without bringing it to a repair place. VIN Decoder. Start by checking the Ignition switch. This goes for your brakes as well. She drove the 1 month old Ascent to the store, came back out and couldn't start the car. Normal condition is easy to push, works fine if I drive every day. Other earlier symptoms are the car stalls. Because the brakes are vacuum-assisted, and vacuum is only generated when the engine is running, it is normal for the brakes to feel hard when the car is off. While not a common problem, we have seen BMWs that wont start due to a bad starter. I wondered if I had turned the car off incorrectly or something previously that left the brake pedal feeling jammed. my.is is not in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Corporation, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. OK I tried the brake thing this morning after car sat all night. How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter? I also agree that you should simply ignore it. From my troubleshooting I've found: 1.) Archive - If you have a vehicle with a manual transmission, you may need to press the clutch and brake pedal to start the engine. That's what makes me believe it was a result of simply depressing the brake after the engine was turned off. 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