1996 FORD E-150 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TWICE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE ENGINE, ENGINE THROTTLE, AND CABLES. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT RECURRED AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS LUBRICATED PROPERLY. THE SHOP DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Mileage: 150,000

1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB

1996 FORD E150 EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES.*MR THE FAILED PART WERE AT THE ABS CONTROL VALVE AND EXTENDED TO THE FRONT BRAKES. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *NM

1. I WAS TRAVELING A 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I APPROACHED STANDING TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY WITH ENGINE BRAKING. AS I APPOACHED THE STOPPED CAR I BEGAN TO TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NO BRAKING EFFECT. I THAN PRESSED THE PEDAL A COUPLE MORE INCHES, AND STILL THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT. I THEN PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE STANDING VEHICLE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING SO SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN TO ANTICIPATE THE STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME. HAVING BEEN AN AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC IN YEARS PAST, I DETERMINED THAT THE FAULT WAS IN THE VACUUM BOOSTER OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED. THEY EXAMINED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MOMENTARY FAILURE OF THE ABS OR VACUUM BOOSTER SYSTEMS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAULT UNLESS IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THEY WERE TESTING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.*AK

Mileage: 144,000

1. I WAS TRAVELING A 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I APPROACHED STANDING TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY WITH ENGINE BRAKING. AS I APPOACHED THE STOPPED CAR I BEGAN TO TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NO BRAKING EFFECT. I THAN PRESSED THE PEDAL A COUPLE MORE INCHES, AND STILL THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT. I THEN PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE STANDING VEHICLE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING SO SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN TO ANTICIPATE THE STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME. HAVING BEEN AN AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC IN YEARS PAST, I DETERMINED THAT THE FAULT WAS IN THE VACUUM BOOSTER OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED. THEY EXAMINED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MOMENTARY FAILURE OF THE ABS OR VACUUM BOOSTER SYSTEMS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAULT UNLESS IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THEY WERE TESTING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.*AK

Mileage: 144,000

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE CHANGES LANES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC.*AK

CONSUMER HEARS A CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, THE SOLENOID VALVE BLOCK, AND THE ROTORS BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL OCCUR, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE SOUND IS STILL HEARD, THE BRAKE PADS CONTINUE TO DRAG AGAINST THE ROTOR, AND THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND LIKE IT SHOULD, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY 19,000 MILES, AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT, REAR BRAKES STILL APPEARED LIKE NEW; ALSO, EXPERIENCED FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY 19,000 MILES, AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT, REAR BRAKES STILL APPEARED LIKE NEW; ALSO, EXPERIENCED FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON AND OFF, INDICATATING A PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NOISY ABS; DID WE AND DO WE HAVE WORKING ABS? NO HELP FROM FORD. DON DAVIS FORD INVOICE 202541 12/15/97, MIDDLEKAUFF INV. 404267 12/18/97 & 436463 2/2/99, FIVE STAR INV. C05234 6/2/98 PD FOR BRAKE FLUID FLUSHING WITH BRAKE JOB (5STAR RUINED CALIPER TOO), KARL KLEMENT INV. 36021 8/19/98. MY HUSBAND & I FLUSHED THE BRAKES - LOOKED LIKE DIRTY MOTOR OIL. 3 SECOND WHEE BECAME A CHIRP, PD. UTTER FORD INV. C02461 5/19/99 TO BLEED ABS CONTROL UNIT - WHEE IS GONE BUT DOES OUR ABS WORK? IT'S NEVER ENGAGED AND DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL. WE ARE ALSO NOW WORKING WITH AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO SOLVE OUR SUMMER STALLING OUT PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO STOPPED SUDDENLLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD MY FOOT WAS NOT FULLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE BRAKE I JUST PIVOT MY FOOT KEEPING THE HEEL SATATIONARY. I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ENOUGH THAT PART OF MY RIGHT PUT DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME AS I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT STOPPING. EITHER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOCATED TO CLOSELY TO THE GAS PEDAL OR THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE.

BRAKES ON TRAILER FAILED.