Failed hydraulics system whilst driving....

[Anonymous]

From my research this evening after a very close call on the north circular today, it looks like no one else has had their clutch and brakes fail whilst driving. No indication that this might happen, no warning lights, nothing. Just a pop sound as I took my foot off the brake reaching the bottom of the Kenninghil underpass before going to change gear to go up the underpass. Clutch pedal sank, gear stick flipped in to neutral and wouldn't move no matter how much force I put on it and brakes failed so had to stop car with handbreak. Rescued by a wonderful RAC man called John who just happened to be passing as I was phoning the RAC. Turns out he couldn't tow me because RAC didn't have the RCZ logged on their system so Technical Dept sent out a flatbed (another wonderful RAC man called Malcolm) to tow me the 45 miles home. My lovely grey Pug is now sitting sadly in the dealers now awaiting diagnosis and I have requested that whatever they find, a recall is issued to ensure that no one else is put in such a scary situation. Will give you an update once my poorly Pug is looked at. I am so sad cos I absolutely love this car but my confidence in this paricular one is knocked at the moment and I'll have to see what the dealer finds. I'll see if I need to take the issue higher after that.

 

[Anonymous]

Oooaaahh !!! Thats not good at all. :thumbdown: No-one should find themselves in that situation.

It sounds like the computer took over. It will be interesting to see what fault allows that to happen. Just as well you weren't in a more critical situation like passing another vehicle, crossing an intersection or braking heavily. Glad that everything worked out right for you in this instance. :thumbup:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi RCZooM, It wasn't computer failure, RAC man said it was hydraulics failure in the purest sense: fluid all over the road gave that away and none in the pipes. Will let you know what caused it. Yes, the situation was fortunate in one way in it occured on the uphill part if the inside lane of the underpass. I came to a stop at the top of the underpass. Just didn't have enough momentum to get the extra 10 feet into the relative safety of the white triangle lines between the main carriageway and the slip road joinging it. However, considering it was rush hour, my 4 year sleeping in the back, every car flashing and beeping me as they tried to avoid hitting me because they were accelerating up and out of the underpass, it was the ultimate nightmare.

 

[Anonymous]

that must have been scary hope it is resolved to your satisfaction oh by the way did they sort out a hire car for you and what type

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds very not good at all!!

What model/engine do you have?

Keep us posted as you hear more, and hope this gets sorted out for you

 

[FGRob]

Yes please confirm which engine you have, interesting that both the clutch and brakes failed, normally they are seperate systems.
Glad you managed the situation, not nice when this sort of thing happens especially when your kids are around as well.

Rob

 

[Anonymous]

Yes please confirm which engine you have, interesting that both the clutch and brakes failed, normally they are seperate systems.
Glad you managed the situation, not nice when this sort of thing happens especially when your kids are around as well.

Rob

And brakes are supposed to have dual independent circuits (so in the event of a failure you might have to press the pedal harder but you don't lose braking altogether)

Something untoward has clearly happened (as you say, the fluid all over the road is evidence of that)

 

[Anonymous]

Here's an update now that I've collected my pug. The garage's senior engineer, Don, showed me the part that had failed which was the seal on the slave cylinder. This is very unusual and accounts for the popping sound I heard just before I found my gear stick in neutral and my clutch pedal sinking to the floor as I depressed it. Don tells me that he has been working on cars for ten years and never seen this before at this very low mileage, as did the Service Manager (in fact there's very little about this subject in this context for any vehicle). Almost all of the hydraulic fluid for the system (as the clutch and brake slave cylinders share the hydraulic fluid) had drained out. There should have been enough for at least the front brakes to work, even if just a little and the garage can't really explain why the brakes didn't work. All I could tell them was the brake pedal did not want to depress and barely moved and as my car was beginning to roll down in to the underpass, I had to use the handbrake. They're not sure if the servo cut out or the computer that runs it shut down... At the time the incident happened and for up an hour after it happened whilst I sat waiting for recovery, there were no warning lights of any kind showing on the dash. The garage tell me that the warning lights were all showing when they started up the car the next morning to investigate. The upshot is that the slave cylinder, and to be on the safe side, the clutch system has been renewed. The brakes system and the car's management system have been checked over fully and are functioning correctly. I have got to rebuild my confidence in driving this car and I'm sure in the a couple of days, I'll feel fine about it. The garage have assured me that this will be taken to HeadOffice because it's unusual and hopefully this won't happen to anyone else.
To answer some of the other points asked about in reply posts: the loan car was a 207 Envy which was a demo car covered in 'Just add fuel' stickers which gave me some funny moments as people thought I must be a Pug salesperson. My spec is GT THP 156 petrol, 60 reg.

 

[Anonymous]

Christ dawnch, that is one hell of a scary experience. Well done on your driving skills & quick thinking, without which the possible consequencies don't bare thinking about. No wonder your confidence has been shaken.

I must confess, the 'Technical' section on this forum is something I often try to avoid looking at, as it un-nerves me a little simply reading about other peoples problems with their Pugs, & there are times when I find myself instinctively fearing the worst when 'I've' stalled car,....... coz I've forgotten to change gear....I usually drive an Auto, my wife usually drives the RCZ!

I'm absolutely sure your dealership will want to make doubly sure that your baby cames out of the workshop in 'perfect' working order, as this one is very serious, & you will soon regain your confidence & once again be thrilled with your beauty! :thumbup:

The very best of luck to you & I'm so pleased you & your 4 year were unharmed!!!