My idle drops low almost to the point of dying out and dash lights dims, when I press the brake pedal. Thought it was my altenator going bad so I had my charging stystem check under load. Everything was good so its not my alt. A budy of mine told me that it might be the brake booster going bad or the one way valve on the booster. Anyone had this issue?

 

Sounds like the brake booster.

Take off the big vacuum hose & plug the port on the intake manifold. Try it, but remember you'll have to really stand on the brakes (don't have an accident). IF it still screws up, then I'd say it's the charging system.

Put the hose back onto the manifold, & disconnect it at the booster, plug the hose. This will check to see if the hose & valve are OK.

 

start the car and feel for air leaks around the brake booster. It pulls vaccum so you might need a gasket between the wall and booster.

 

My idle also drops when I press the brakes. The car has almost kicked out once or twice at a stop but other than that it is good. I most notice it when going into gear from being parked.

Now when my alternator went out and the car was low on juice, using the brakes would almost kill the car. Eventually, using the brakes DID kill the car. A brake booster problem sounds plausible.

Give that method above a try and see what happens.

 

good info. definatly gonna check the valve and the booster. I do hear a vaccum sound in the IM area just couldn't find the source of it. I will follow the booster line and see if there are any leaks. Most people I talk to definatly feels its booster related.


Modified by swiftstyles at 4:45 AM 1/13/2004