Friend almost got killed by his car 3 times...HELP!

jetblk328i · 02-18-2009, 03:19 PM

Hey guys, one of my friends drives a 99-00ish volvo V40 station wagon. He has NOT been maintaining it in a timely fashion.

Today, it was a bit slushy and wet today. He told me that on 3 separate occasions, upon depressing the brakes, he felt thumping and pulsating but the car refused to stop. All 3 times were on WET but not slippery roads. and all 3 times they were at stop lights and intersections where possible accidents could have occurred.

My first thought was that the ABS had gone wrong as he noted that there was pulsating and "thumping". But the brakes had 0 stopping power.

He also noted that when turning his steering wheel would constantly fight him and try to go back to the neutral straight position. All of this happened today.
This i dont think is an ABS problem.

Honestly, todays roads were not bad at all, they were only wet and in certain places(very small patches) there was some snow.

I already told him to go to the dealership and have them fix it but i want to get an idea of what his car's problem is because he is seriously car-retarded...

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

Crimson92 · 02-18-2009, 03:24 PM

abs pump could be going going gone

the steering rack could be damaged

a linkage could be damaged....did the steering wheel get locked ? if so the lock mechanism may be going

jetblk328i · 02-18-2009, 03:28 PM

no didnt get locked as he was able to drive home without restarting or tow truck...

gadget · 02-18-2009, 03:46 PM

The thread's title is a little bit exaggerated- don't you think ?

jetblk328i · 02-18-2009, 03:50 PM

a bit, but failing to stop at stop signs and intersections put his life in real danger.

dbramley · 08-09-2012, 04:31 AM

I have been looking at the Volvo V40 but got the impression it was a new car?
Volvo V40 Forums
Didn't know they had old Volvo V40's or is that only in the US?

Either way - hope he got it fixed!

Artmasterx · 08-09-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson92

abs pump could be going going gone

the steering rack could be damaged

a linkage could be damaged....did the steering wheel get locked ? if so the lock mechanism may be going

Yeah, it possible that it could be something in the hydraulics systems, especially if the car has hydraulic assisted power steering. I don't know if or how the steering and braking hydraulics are connected, but if there are then it makes sense that the braking and steering problems would be related.

A weak hydraulic pump may not have the power to create power brakes or power steering, which could be the issues he felt.

02-18-2009, 03:19 PM	#1
jetblk328i Colonel 307 Rep 2,458 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central PA iTrader: (1)	Friend almost got killed by his car 3 times...HELP! Hey guys, one of my friends drives a 99-00ish volvo V40 station wagon. He has NOT been maintaining it in a timely fashion. Today, it was a bit slushy and wet today. He told me that on 3 separate occasions, upon depressing the brakes, he felt thumping and pulsating but the car refused to stop. All 3 times were on WET but not slippery roads. and all 3 times they were at stop lights and intersections where possible accidents could have occurred. My first thought was that the ABS had gone wrong as he noted that there was pulsating and "thumping". But the brakes had 0 stopping power. He also noted that when turning his steering wheel would constantly fight him and try to go back to the neutral straight position. All of this happened today. This i dont think is an ABS problem. Honestly, todays roads were not bad at all, they were only wet and in certain places(very small patches) there was some snow. I already told him to go to the dealership and have them fix it but i want to get an idea of what his car's problem is because he is seriously car-retarded... Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
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02-18-2009, 03:28 PM	#3
jetblk328i Colonel 307 Rep 2,458 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central PA iTrader: (1)	no didnt get locked as he was able to drive home without restarting or tow truck...
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02-18-2009, 03:46 PM	#4
gadget Major 108 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: 09 e92///M SSII DCT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: US iTrader: (0)	The thread's title is a little bit exaggerated- don't you think ?
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02-18-2009, 03:50 PM	#5
jetblk328i Colonel 307 Rep 2,458 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central PA iTrader: (1)	a bit, but failing to stop at stop signs and intersections put his life in real danger.
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08-09-2012, 04:31 AM	#6
dbramley 320d M-Sport 88 Rep 335 Posts Drives: BMW 320si Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hartlepool, UK iTrader: (0)	I have been looking at the Volvo V40 but got the impression it was a new car? Volvo V40 Forums Didn't know they had old Volvo V40's or is that only in the US? Either way - hope he got it fixed! __________________ Previous: BMW 320si E90 Le Mans Blue. \| BMW 320d E92 LCI Alpine White \| F10 520d Alpine White Now: F30 320d X-Drive Alpine White
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