Hi I am new here, and like all newbies to a forum I have a issue the dealer(s) can not seem to figure out.

Vehicle
2006 t&c 84,000 miles dealer serviced since new

1 year ago my wife said brakes locked up on her while driving, all four. By the time I got home from work, they seemed fine. Took it to the dealer and they said it was fine?.... I started driving her t&c at least once a week after that event, and nothing strange ever happened since.

Fast forward to last week. We are on vacation, I was driving and WTF! The brakes lock up. We were 2 miles from our hotel so I press on. After we check in and get settled, 30 minutes maybe, I go to park the car. Heat is still very apparent eminateing from all four brakes, but issue is gone? Like it never even happened????

Took it too the local dealership, they keep it and drive it for 2 days. They can not make issue re appear, and say " go fish". The only good thing is that the diagnosis also came with no bill.

Obviously there is something going on here. Any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated!!
Eric

 

Bump

Bueller? Bueller?

anybody?

 

Should be the brake master cylinder...
The brake pedal is free? The next time you'll have the problem, try to pull up the brake pedal: it might be stuck.
Ever changed brake fluid?

 

is it that you apply the brakes and they fail to release or do the brakes suddenly apply without you pressing the pedal (like Merc's brake assist faults)

If the brakes fail to release after you apply it can only be as Joker said the master cylinder piston seizing - don't think it could be the ABS module. They are the only items that are common to all 4 brakes.

Regards

Richard

 

The brakes fail to release, after a hard break is the symptom. I grew up driving old trucks with bad clutches, so yes I tried to pull the pedal back up to release to no availl. I agree that the master cylinder is the only componant in the system that would affect all 4 wheels equally. I was hopeing for a cheaper fix..... Oh well master cylinder it is, unless someone else comes up with something better.
Eric

 

it's rare but it could be the brake booster too.

 

I had the same problem with my Aspen for 8 months. I replaced the booster, cylinder, calipers, rotors, and pads. At the end of the day, it was the brake lines. They were not flowing and collapsing. I had to replace all of them. It cost a pretty penny, but there was no more problem.