*Urgent* car won't start. Brake pedal very very stiff!!!

Jmore92 · 06-10-2018, 01:09 PM

I needs some assistance guys. My car won't start and the brake pedal is extremely stiff, when I press the star button nothing happens . No sounds or anything it just dosent start. It appears it won't let me push down tue brake pedal to activate the switch or wat not to start the car.

I found a vacum line that broke off that runs of the brake booster main line. so I replaced it.

What can I do to start my car. It's my only means of transportation

Please lmk asap!

Ty!

Jmore92 · 06-10-2018, 01:21 PM

Ok guys after mutiple attempts to start it. It finally started. I let it sit for about 10-15 mins after replacing the vacum. I pumped the brakes alot.

Out of no where I went to start it and it started.

What does this mean? Has anyone had similar issues?

Kevinl · 06-11-2018, 12:31 AM

I would be looking at the starter

Jmore92 · 06-11-2018, 08:08 AM

The starter starts up instantly. There's no signs of it failing as far as turning over. Is that how these starters typically act? Out of nowhere they just stop? Car started up perfrctly mutiple times last night and today morning. But I will swap It out to rule it out. Lmk

Also could it be a bad ground?

Jaronbwall · 06-11-2018, 01:22 PM

Swapping the starter will be a huge waste of time. That's not your issue. Are you auto box or manual?
I'm guessing you have a sensor or switch going bad.

GoRomeo · 06-11-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmore92

Ok guys after mutiple attempts to start it. It finally started. I let it sit for about 10-15 mins after replacing the vacum. I pumped the brakes alot.

Out of no where I went to start it and it started.

What does this mean? Has anyone had similar issues?

You probably have a vacuum leak on your master cylinder line.

Jmore92 · 06-11-2018, 04:00 PM

Car is auto. Yes the vacum line to the brake system was the first thing I addressed. So far the car has been cranking over fine. But I don't know if a simple vacum line is causing my issue. I will look at grounds as I read it's also a possibility

As far as the brakes go, I will say there still a bit of the stiff side . Sometimes they are very soft when starting the car. But still the car has been able to crank over with no problem.

roadkillrob · 06-11-2018, 08:10 PM

Mine has been like this for years, very common issue with the booster vacuum line getting a leak, fixed twice, now just used it it. It bleeds down overnight, brake is very hard to press in the morning as there is no vacuum left and if you don't press really hard, you don't hit the interlock switch and then the car will not turn over, just press the brakes harder and hit the button.

Jmore92 · 06-11-2018, 10:09 PM

When it didn't want to start, it got to the point where I used all my force with my back pushing against the seat and still it wouldn't start. I think there's a switch or electrical issue.

msjt · 06-12-2018, 05:08 AM

You need to check the gasket for the brake booster line. It is known to leak.

Jmore92 · 06-12-2018, 05:42 AM

Are you referring to this small gasket?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ate-part...336765316~ate/

msjt · 06-12-2018, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmore92

Are you referring to this small gasket?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ate-part...336765316~ate/

Yes, you have a vacuum issue which is causing the brake pedal to get stiff. Make sure there are no leaks.

roadkillrob · 06-12-2018, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmore92

When it didn't want to start, it got to the point where I used all my force with my back pushing against the seat and still it wouldn't start. I think there's a switch or electrical issue.

There is a switch and if you don’t move the pedal far enough to hit the switch it can’t start. I would fix the vacuum line issue first and see if you ever have any starting issues after that as i suspect it is not being able to move the pedal far enough to hit the interlock switch.

officer140 · 06-13-2018, 02:03 AM

Your brake switch needs to be activated in order to start the car. This is done by depressing the brake pedal (obviously). Once you depress the brake pedal far enough, you can engage the brake switch and engage your starter and start the car. Your issue, however, sounds like you're unable to activate that brake switch because your brake pedal does not go down far enough. The starter has nothing to do with this at this point of the process. Your issue sounds like a vacuum issue. You may have corrected one part of the vacuum issue right now but there may be additional vacuum problems along that system... why not just replace the lines. They're not expensive at all.

06-10-2018, 01:09 PM	#1
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	Urgent car won't start. Brake pedal very very stiff!!! I needs some assistance guys. My car won't start and the brake pedal is extremely stiff, when I press the star button nothing happens . No sounds or anything it just dosent start. It appears it won't let me push down tue brake pedal to activate the switch or wat not to start the car. I found a vacum line that broke off that runs of the brake booster main line. so I replaced it. What can I do to start my car. It's my only means of transportation Please lmk asap! Ty! Last edited by Jmore92; 06-10-2018 at 02:08 PM..
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06-10-2018, 01:21 PM	#2
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	Ok guys after mutiple attempts to start it. It finally started. I let it sit for about 10-15 mins after replacing the vacum. I pumped the brakes alot. Out of no where I went to start it and it started. What does this mean? Has anyone had similar issues? Last edited by Jmore92; 06-10-2018 at 03:07 PM..
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06-11-2018, 12:31 AM	#3
Kevinl Lieutenant 210 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M3 Alpine White 6MT Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Phoenix iTrader: (0)	I would be looking at the starter
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06-11-2018, 08:08 AM	#4
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	The starter starts up instantly. There's no signs of it failing as far as turning over. Is that how these starters typically act? Out of nowhere they just stop? Car started up perfrctly mutiple times last night and today morning. But I will swap It out to rule it out. Lmk Also could it be a bad ground? Last edited by Jmore92; 06-11-2018 at 08:39 AM..
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06-11-2018, 01:22 PM	#5
Jaronbwall Driving cars and riding bikes really fast 285 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (0)	Swapping the starter will be a huge waste of time. That's not your issue. Are you auto box or manual? I'm guessing you have a sensor or switch going bad. __________________ 335i, sport pkg, 3 pedals, Blacked out, LED markers, OZ Ultraleggera wheels, Firestone Indy 500s, x-pipe, vibrant 1792, PE mod MHD stage 2+, BMS DPs, ARM charge pipe, Tial BOV, ARM FMIC, dual cone, CSF radiator, M3 control arms, sways, HAWK pads. https://www.strava.com/athletes/8309149 Follow me on Strava
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06-11-2018, 04:00 PM	#7
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	Car is auto. Yes the vacum line to the brake system was the first thing I addressed. So far the car has been cranking over fine. But I don't know if a simple vacum line is causing my issue. I will look at grounds as I read it's also a possibility As far as the brakes go, I will say there still a bit of the stiff side . Sometimes they are very soft when starting the car. But still the car has been able to crank over with no problem.
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06-11-2018, 08:10 PM	#8
roadkillrob Major General 860 Rep 5,447 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (15)	Mine has been like this for years, very common issue with the booster vacuum line getting a leak, fixed twice, now just used it it. It bleeds down overnight, brake is very hard to press in the morning as there is no vacuum left and if you don't press really hard, you don't hit the interlock switch and then the car will not turn over, just press the brakes harder and hit the button. __________________ 2022 X3M Brooklyn Grey 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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06-11-2018, 10:09 PM	#9
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	When it didn't want to start, it got to the point where I used all my force with my back pushing against the seat and still it wouldn't start. I think there's a switch or electrical issue.
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06-12-2018, 05:08 AM	#10
msjt First Lieutenant 160 Rep 305 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: queens, nyc iTrader: (0)	You need to check the gasket for the brake booster line. It is known to leak.
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06-12-2018, 05:42 AM	#11
Jmore92 Private First Class 48 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 08 titanium silver e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	Are you referring to this small gasket? https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ate-part...336765316~ate/
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06-13-2018, 02:03 AM	#14
officer140 Private 6 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2007 Convertible Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	Your brake switch needs to be activated in order to start the car. This is done by depressing the brake pedal (obviously). Once you depress the brake pedal far enough, you can engage the brake switch and engage your starter and start the car. Your issue, however, sounds like you're unable to activate that brake switch because your brake pedal does not go down far enough. The starter has nothing to do with this at this point of the process. Your issue sounds like a vacuum issue. You may have corrected one part of the vacuum issue right now but there may be additional vacuum problems along that system... why not just replace the lines. They're not expensive at all.
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