Frozen Brakes/Parking Brake

[Aaron]

Got in my ’04 RX330 this morning and all pressure seemed to be gone
from the brakes. They would work if you pushed on them very hard.
Parking brake light was also on on the dash, but the parking brake was
not engaged. I tried to engage and release it a couple of times but
that didn’t seem to help. Brake fluid level seems to be ok (if not a
bit high). Presently it is approximately 10 degrees F and I had the
trickle charger on the battery all last night due to a dead battery
yesterday morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ray O]

Got in my '04 RX330 this morning and all pressure seemed to be gone
from the brakes. They would work if you pushed on them very hard.
Parking brake light was also on on the dash, but the parking brake was
not engaged. I tried to engage and release it a couple of times but
that didn't seem to help. Brake fluid level seems to be ok (if not a
bit high). Presently it is approximately 10 degrees F and I had the
trickle charger on the battery all last night due to a dead battery
yesterday morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

When you say that all pressure seems to be gone from the brakes, do you mean
that the pedal drops to the floor when depressed or do you mean that the
pedal takes a lot of effort to depress?

Did you check the brake fluid level with the vehicle on level ground? Is
the fluid level above the "min" mark on the reservoir? Has the reservoir
cap ever been left off for more than 30 minutes?

How many miles on the vehicle now? How many miles since the brake linings
were replaced?

By any chance did you get a car wash the day before?

[Aaron]

It was really hard to depress and was very ’jerky’ coming to a stop
when the brakes did catch. By the time I made it to town, I could
smell them.

Nope, brake fluid as noted, is good and probably a tad bit over the
Max line.

Nope, no car washes within the last month or so.

It has approximately 62,000 miles.

Thanks for the reply

Post by Aaron

Got in my '04 RX330 this morning and all pressure seemed to

be gone

from the brakes. They would work if you pushed on them very

hard.

Parking brake light was also on on the dash, but the parking

brake was

not engaged. I tried to engage and release it a couple of

times but

that didn't seem to help. Brake fluid level seems to be ok

(if not a

bit high). Presently it is approximately 10 degrees F and I

had the

trickle charger on the battery all last night due to a dead

battery

yesterday morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

When you say that all pressure seems to be gone from the
brakes, do you mean
that the pedal drops to the floor when depressed or do you
mean that the
pedal takes a lot of effort to depress?
Did you check the brake fluid level with the vehicle on level
ground? Is
the fluid level above the "min" mark on the reservoir? Has
the reservoir
cap ever been left off for more than 30 minutes?
How many miles on the vehicle now? How many miles since the
brake linings
were replaced?
By any chance did you get a car wash the day before?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[Ray O]

It was really hard to depress and was very 'jerky' coming to a stop
when the brakes did catch. By the time I made it to town, I could
smell them.
Nope, brake fluid as noted, is good and probably a tad bit over the
Max line.
Nope, no car washes within the last month or so.
It has approximately 62,000 miles.
Thanks for the reply!

I would have the brakes inspected ASAP. If the front brake linings are
original, they are probably worn down and if there is metal to metal
contact, that would account for the jerky sensation and burning smell. The
high pedal effort can also indicate a stuck caliper slide.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Post by Aaron

Got in my '04 RX330 this morning and all pressure seemed to

be gone

from the brakes. They would work if you pushed on them very

hard.

Parking brake light was also on on the dash, but the parking

brake was

not engaged. I tried to engage and release it a couple of

times but

that didn't seem to help. Brake fluid level seems to be ok

(if not a

bit high). Presently it is approximately 10 degrees F and I

had the

trickle charger on the battery all last night due to a dead

battery

yesterday morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

When you say that all pressure seems to be gone from the
brakes, do you mean
that the pedal drops to the floor when depressed or do you
mean that the
pedal takes a lot of effort to depress?
Did you check the brake fluid level with the vehicle on level ground? Is
the fluid level above the "min" mark on the reservoir? Has
the reservoir
cap ever been left off for more than 30 minutes?
How many miles on the vehicle now? How many miles since the
brake linings
were replaced?
By any chance did you get a car wash the day before?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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