Renault Megane brakes locked up

[Deleted User]

I was driving down my street this evening going about 10mph or so and suddenly the brakes just locked up and pulled car to a stop. The ABS and SERV lights came on the dash.

I managed to drive the car a few yards down my street to my house but it was a hard job as it felt that the brake was still locked on one of the wheels. I switched off the engine and started it again and tried moving the car, brakes still locked on with ABS and SERV lights illuminated.

Anyone got any idea what has happened? I've only had the car just over a month, its a 2001 Megane 1.6. I'm just so glad this didn't happen on a busy road with traffic behind.

arcon5

Code reader

gilbert_and_sullivan

Does it have electric parking brake?

[Deleted User]

Don't know about electronic parking brake. It has a normal hand brake that you pull up.

Haven't got a code reader either.

arcon5

An absolute wild stab in the dark...(as a non- mechanic)

Master brake cylinder --- fluid not returning to brake fluid tank so pistons remaining full, thus brakes engaged.

Does brake fluid level look lower than usual?

[Deleted User]

I will check brake fluid level this morning. Didn't do anything with car last night as it was getting dark.

AdrianC

Deleted_User wrote: »

Haven't got a code reader either.

You'd need a Renault-specific one anyway - the standard EOBD only covers a subset of the engine codes, not ABS etc.

It does sound as if the braking ECU has decided there's a major issue and you shouldn't go any further. Yet it's old enough that I'm surprised if it's got ESP/EBA and the rest of the electronic braking alphabetti spaghetti. ABS should only selectively _release_ the brakes, not apply 'em.

Jack it up, and see if there's one or more wheels which aren't rotating, whilst others are? It might be as simple and old-fashioned as a brake shoe's come delaminated and separated from the backing plate.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, I will jack up the car today and try the wheels.

[Deleted User]

Definity the front nearside that is stuck on.

arcon5

Just the one wheel?
Perhaps the wheel calipers piston is stuck then. New caliper should reesolve it. Not a big job either. Couple of bolts, unbolt flexipipe, reverse and bleed.

[Deleted User]

Had a garage come and recover car, turns out the shoes on one of the rear wheels were knackered.

Replaced shoes, wheel cylinder, and brake pipe as it was rotting. Also shoes on other side were changed too.

£98 lighter