What to Do When the Brakes Suddenly Become Hard and Cannot Be Depressed?

[KendraLynn]

Reasons and solutions for brakes suddenly becoming hard and unable to be depressed are as follows: 1. Dead battery: This may be caused by a drained battery due to reasons such as leaving headlights on for a long time or the battery reaching the end of its lifespan. It is generally recommended to replace the battery every 2 years. Additionally, installing xenon headlights, high-power audio systems, or DVD players can also cause vehicle circuit failures. 2. Lack of antifreeze: Some car owners add water or low-quality antifreeze, which can result in the entire cooling system freezing in extremely cold winter conditions, leading to a cracked engine, inoperable water pump, failure to start, and damage to other engine components. 3. Wrong gear selection: When starting an automatic transmission vehicle, the gear must be placed in P or N. If it is in R or D, the car will not start. Some manual transmission vehicles also will not start if the clutch is not depressed.

[SanEmerson]

I've been driving for thirty years and have encountered the situation where the brakes suddenly become hard three or four times. The first time was on the highway, and I immediately realized it was a problem with the vacuum booster. I used all my strength to press down. Don't be fooled by the stiff pedal—the braking system still works, it just requires more than twice the usual effort. I gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands and pushed down on the pedal with my foot as if in a tug-of-war, and the speed gradually decreased. After coming to a complete stop, I restarted the engine to test it, and everything returned to normal. Later, at the repair shop, it was confirmed that the vacuum hose had aged and was leaking. I advise drivers who encounter this situation not to release the throttle and to keep pressing the brake pedal firmly until the car stops. During regular maintenance, remember to ask the mechanic to thoroughly inspect the brake booster system, especially for cars over five years old.

[AshleyAnn]

Last week I was driving to the countryside when suddenly the brake pedal became as hard as iron and barely movable. This was most likely due to brake booster failure, possibly caused by engine stalling or vacuum pump malfunction. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and used all my strength to press down on the pedal. Remember to use your whole foot to press, not just your toes. Although it required more effort, the car could still be stopped gradually. After successfully pulling over, I tried restarting the engine but the issue persisted, so I directly called for roadside assistance. The mechanic said it was caused by a loose vacuum hose connection, which cost 200 yuan to fix. Reminder: it's best to memorize roadside assistance numbers in advance and keep warning triangles in your car.

[McAdalynn]

As a mother of three, I dread encountering emergencies while driving the most. Last time when the brake pedal became stiff, I first reminded the kids in the backseat to hold on tight, then used all my strength to press the pedal down. Although it was much harder than usual, the car still managed to stop. After safely pulling over, I immediately turned on the hazard lights and got out to place the warning triangle. Calling the 4S store for consultation revealed it might have been a vacuum tube leak. Later, the car was towed for repairs, taking half a day to replace the parts. Now, I check the engine bay pipes monthly myself, replacing any cracked rubber hoses early. I recommend all car owners test their brake sensitivity before every long trip.