Hyundai Santa Fe brake pedal low

I have a 2004 Santa Fe with 35k on the clock. The brake pedal has become low
and requires two pumps to bring it back up to the top. A garage has checked
the brake pads and says that there is still 50% pad left and they are not
the problem.

Before I tackle the Hyundai dealer can anyone point me in the direction of
what he should be checking as I don't necessarily trust his judgment and
diagnosis powers from previous experiences with him.


Steve

 

I'd suspect a problem in the master cylinder.


Matt

 

Dude, you're talking about your brakes. If you don't trust this guy's
diagnostic capabilities, take it to someone whose abilities you trust.
I'm being completely serious. The problem could be anything from
misadjusted rear brakes to fluid leakage to a faulty master cylinder.
Don't play around with this one. It could kill you.

 

Totally and utterley agree with you there hyundaitech!.

It's booked in with another dealer for looking at now.

Life's too without shortening the odds with dodgy brakes - or dealers!

Steve

 

Well,

went to another dealer today. He looked at the brakes and agreed the pads
were OK, they bled the system and said they couldnt find any leaks etc.
Master cylinder seems OK? they said so take it away and try it.

Then they tried to charge me for the labour which after a while they saw my
point of view and cancelled the charge.

Driving home and the pedal's still no different, sometimes high sometimes
low when used - so back it goes this week for further investigation.

My first real issue with the Santa Fe after 35k and 2 years - the cars are
great but the service dealers in the UK are really going downhill. I thought
Renault service was crap but these guys are getting near now. This is the
second one that I am losing face with.
And their coffee was crap in the service reception!

On a 5 year warranty that excluded wear and tear on parts faults such as
this are surely included and covered?

Steve

 

The pads themselves aren't covered. Just about anything else that's a
defect (not normal wear and tear) should be covered. If you've got 35k on
an '04, you shouldn't have any issues with rust or dirt buildup, etc.

 

PERHAPS...

if you have checked for
...fluid leakage
....master cylinder
....pads.
then,
I would check the brake booster. I'm almost certain it could be that. I have
a Nissan 280Zx with the same problem. (bad brake booster)
I would also check the systems vacuum.