200 20v strange multiple hyd failures.

[Brett Dikeman]

On Aug 28, 2005, at 9:22 AM, Kent McLean wrote:

> The burst lines could be due to old age, but it is possible the
> hydraulic pump is putting out too much pressure (I don't know
> how or why it would)

...or how it could affect the brake system, which is only linked to  
the pump's output by mechanical linkage.  The booster just amplifies  
force put on the MC, so the booster would have to fail as well.  I've  
never heard of a booster failing.

> . Just speculation on my part. But that doesn't explain
> the ABS wires being cut/broken.

Nope, it doesn't, particularly since the lines generally show signs  
of aging before they burst- they look dried out, they crack, they  
bulge out, they feel soft-ish.  Granted stock lines on a 200q20v are  
well past when they should have been replaced outright (I replaced  
mine), but they should still show signs.

   Vandalism does explain things, however.  Cars don't just  
spontaneously burst multiple brake lines on different ends of the  
car, ABS sensor wires, etc sitting in the driveway. If the bursts had  
happened while the car was being driven, David probably wouldn't be  
talking to us right now- or would have a 200q20v-sized hole in his  
garage door, at the least.

Talk to the cops, and let them decide if the lines were tampered  
with; tell them it was too coincidental, and you're not sure, but you  
can't think of any other valid explanation for simultaneous failure  
of multiple brake lines, including that of components you just  
inspected recently, that if they had failed while being driven the  
car wouldn't have stopped...and given the potential, you wanted to  
report it and given how serious this would be if they were tampered  
with, you'd like to have someone take a look- someone who could judge  
whether the lines were tampered with or not.

Even the simplest signs will be telling- are there pools of fluid by  
where the wheels are, or a trail of brake fluid off the street?   
It'll stain the concrete/pavement, even if you've had some rain  
recently; at the least you'll see a different look to the driveway  
when it is wet.  Is there brake fluid all over the wheels, the wheel  
well liner, etc?(any leaking brake fluid will make a complete mess of  
the undercarriage 'down stream' if the car was being driven, as the  
fluid will get blown all over everything).

That said, you'd have to be fairly determined (and thin) to get to  
the clutch hose from under the car...or open the hood, obviously not  
possible with the car alarmed (yes, there's a hood switch for the  
alarm).  Still, I have no explanation for how you could have these  
failures in your driveway; if the car was being driven when all this  
happened, obviously you would have, um...noticed.

Brett
-- 
"They that give up essential liberty to obtain temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
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