I bought a Y reg Omega estate a year ago When I took it back for a service recently, just within the Network Q 1 year warranty I complained that the pedal travel had become worse and that I was concerned that there was something wrong.
I collected it this evening for the FIFTH time, still being told that there is nothing wrong, that "they are all like that" - despite a new master cylinder having been fitted at the third visit - apparently to humour me despite there being "nothing wrong" and today new rear brake pads (don't ask why, I don't know either!)
After the first rejection of my complaint I happened to have to bleed the brakes of my 1939 Lagonda (a marvellously firm pedal!), involving of course pushing down firmly on the pedal to remove air as the bleed valves were opened in turn.
When I got back in the Vauxhall I did the same - and realised that with very firm pressure, after the initial soggyness was taken up, the pedal continued to move down quite slowly, without any increase of pressure - just like when a bleed valve has not been closed properly and fluid is still leaking out.
I checked the fluid level - no problem - so if there is a fluid leak, it must be internal not to the outside world. When I took it back they changed the master cylinder - no different.
But in the very few miles I have driven (carefully) between these five visits this symptom has got steadily worse, to the point that if I brake fairly hard to stop at red lights that have changed at the last moment, and keep the same pressure on the pedal while I wait for the green light - by the time the green does light up the pedal is effectively on the floor! That is, the pedal has moved several inches more, without any increase in pedal pressure - until it hits the mechanical limit of travel.
Yet this one mile from the Vauxhall main dealer who, having had the car for two days, insists there is nothing wrong with it! As it happened they had another Omega in for service - and the same "creep" symptom is evident on that - though not as bad as mine.
When I collected the car this time I said, after trying it, "OK, joke's over - which one of you is Jeremy Beadle? Where are the cameras?" - but they seem to be serious!
The best mechanic I know confirmed on the phone what my opinon has been for some time - this fault is potentially dangerous and I dare not use the car until it is fixed. It must surely be due to fluid leaking through a small hole
So a few questions:
Anyone have, or had, an Omega with similar symptoms? If so, how were they fixed?
Is there any pattern of problems of this type (a) with Omegas (b) with Vauxhalls generally?
and in detail:
Is it possible for the fault to be at a wheel cylinder without the leak being to the outside world leading to a drop of fluid level?
I wondered whether clamping of each of the 4 flexible hoses in turn might isolate the problem.
Given that the master cylinder has been changed, could the fault lie in the brake servo? It would seem to me that it could not, unless the brake fluid in the main system also circulates within the servo. (In other words I do not know whether the link between the servo and the main brakes is entirely mechanical, or done through a shared hydraulic system.)
Any recommendations for anyone who might know how to fix this problem? (I have put the dealer on notice that after they have failed 5 times to fix it I reserve the right to get it fixed elsewhere and pass the bill to them.)
Thanks in advance
Idris
irfrancis:onetel.com