Re: kaboom!

[Orin Eman <orin@wolfenet.com>]

> >Start car.  Brake light is on.  "Huh?"  Wait a few seconds.  Light goes
> >out.  Press brake pedal, hard.  Sinks to the floor, while pulsing at the
> >end, and brake light comes on, then goes off again.  Repeat.  Light comes
> >on each time, then goes right out again.

> Sure sounds like a bad bomb, but one other statement bothers me - 'Sinks to
> the floor'.  Brake pedal should never sink to the floor unless something is
> wrong....sounds like either a leak in the brake system somewhere, bad
> rubber hose, or bad master cylinder.  Not to be an alarmist, but your
> situation sounds rather dangerous brake-wise..........SLM

Actually, that is a very good description of the feel of a completely
dead bomb.  You step on the pedal really hard because there is no
assist... a pulse of pressure from the PS pump reaches the hydraulic
booster and the pedal falls a bit and goes really hard again...
this process repeats as the pedal falls.

To guage the effect, with the engine off, pump the pedal until it goes
hard.  See how hard you can press the pedal without it moving significantly...
Turn on the engine, let the bomb recharge and try pressing the pedal
with the same force... bet it goes _a long way_ towards the floor.

I agree that the situation is dangerous.
Orin.