brake booster noise

FATCATITANMAN · 01-20-2006, 08:55 PM

Since I'm the FNG( FU*%^NG NEW GUY) here I'll try and keep this short.
I have a 04 Titan, and love it to death, but it's driving me nuts, I have had the brakes done, door latch issue, and an extremely annoying squeaking from the suiside door latch that was ultimatley fixed by myself and some lithium grease and a bit of a lose of temper, but that's not why I'm writing.
I recently have started to hear what sounds like a vacuum leak coming from under the dash. When the brake pedal is pushed it sounds normal. all brake operations are normal as well, when I take my foot off the brake it starts making the noise, I have 33,000 miles on the truck now, and have had it since Dec 04, when I bought it new. I have taken it to the dealer twice, both times it was making the noise from S.San Fran to my home about 50 miles away, threw normal screwed up Calif Bay Area traffic and the noise was present virtually the entire time, whenever the brake pedal was pressed the noise disappeared, then when released it returned, driving down the freeway and stopped at lights. The annoying thing is it stopped when I went to the dealer everytime. They humored me and took the truck in today 1/20/06 and of course could not duplicate. Does anyone have any ideas?
Many Thanks,
GO BEARS !!! ( I'M SO TIRED OF WAITING TIL NEXT YEAR)
FATCATITANMAN

TitanTech659 · 01-20-2006, 10:42 PM

Why don't they take your word for it and replace the brake booster? It's obvious that that is the problem. I've heard that noise come from others and replacing it fixes the issue.

FATCATITANMAN · 01-21-2006, 07:08 AM

I would really like them to just replace it, but I'm sure that I'll have to see them at least 2 or 3 more times before they replace anything.

TitanTech659 · 01-21-2006, 11:02 AM

This noise is intermitant? Weird that you can't duplicate it when you get to the dealership. What's the weather like there? I've seen some check valves in the brake booster vacuum line freeze up due to cold weather. When that happens the brake pedal is very hard to press down for a few minutes then it will go back to normal. I wonder if something is freezing up in your brake booster. Does the noise happen in the morning when cold or just whenever? Maybe have to let the dealer have it over night.

FATCATITANMAN · 01-21-2006, 01:06 PM

Yes it is intermitant, it hasn't made the noise since Thursday right before I pulled into the dealership.It's Saturday and I just drove it about 80 miles and not a peep out of it. It doesn't get really get cold here in the Bay Area, the lowest it's been this last week is about in the low 40's and that was before the sun came up,day time temps not lower than in the upper 50's. the noise was present even after I got to work about 50 miles from home, then after it was parked for a few hours, then drove it to lunch and it was present, even after I turned the truck off it still made the noise for about 30 seconds, then stopped, I immediately started the truck when the noise stopped and it began again. Then was present all the way back to the dealership, about 50 miles and most of that was stop and go traffic.
I hope this helps,
and many thanks for your assistance, it is greatly appreciated!!

FATCATITANMAN · 01-23-2006, 08:36 PM

It's Monday And The Noise Is Back And Getting Worse. Is There Some Kind Of Chech Valve That Could Be Sticking? I Haven't Seen The Inner Workings Of A Brake Booster And Was Just Wondering.

TitanTech659 · 01-24-2006, 01:05 PM

I'm not sure if there is a check valve or a diaphram or what it consists of. I know of the check valve that is in the line that goes to the booster itself. It doesn't seem that cold weather has anything to do with it. I know heat can also cause vacuum leaks when rubber expands and contracts. Like a head gasket leak. It will run like crap untill it warms up then start to run good. You might have to part with your truck for a couple days so they can figure it out. You don't want your brake booster to go bad when you're driving. The brake pedal will get really hard to push and you might not get stopped in time. Sorry I couldn't help you any further. I haven't had a Titan in with this problem yet but if I do, I will let you know what if anything we find out.

TitanTech659 · 01-24-2006, 01:10 PM

Just checked with my shop supervisor and he says that there is a diaphram, a spring and a MAYBE a check valve in the booster. Hope this helps.

FATCATITANMAN · 01-24-2006, 06:38 PM

Thanks For All Your Help, It's Tuesday Now And I Didn't Make It In Time To The Dealer To Take The Tech For A Ride, So I'll Be Doing That Tomorrow. I'm Leaning Towards The Diaphram Or Maybe The Spring May Be The Culprit, I'll Keep You Posted.
Thanks Again For Your Help

FATCATITANMAN · 01-28-2006, 01:57 PM

Can not get an appointment to get my truck in until 1/31, what a bunch of crap. Also dealer did FREE oil change for me when it was in last time and the day after I had picked up the truck I noticed something was hanging from the bottom front of the vehicle, IT WAS THE DAMN SKIP PLATE!!!! THE BASTARDS DIDN'T EVEN BOLT IT BACK ON! Now I am having reservations about taking it back to them again, when the 30,000 mile maintenance was done I picked up the truck after the servoce dept was closed and noticed I had no parking brake! It worked fine before they touched it. When the opened on Monday I was there waiting, and not happy, the "TECH" said he must not have properly sucured the bolt that adjusts the cable, NO REALLY?!?
Then after I waited for them to fix it, I left the dealership, went about a block and realized that they didn't give me back the wheel lock key, so I returned and teh "TECH" just laughed it off and looked about like goofy when he handed me the lock key. Should I try another dealer? or just stay where they at least know me ?

TitanTech659 · 01-28-2006, 02:08 PM

Do you have the same tech each time you take in your truck? You should just ask them to have a veteran Nissan tech work on it. If they are all like that then I would find somewhere else to take it. I can't believe that guy adjusted your parking brake and did not even check to see if it worked. That's the point of fixing something isn't it. I wouldn't take it there anymore if you have other options.

FATCATITANMAN · 02-02-2006, 09:06 PM

here's the latest, Finally got the tech to go for a ride and low and behold the noise was quite baffling to him, dropped off the truck on wednesday morning, called to check on it and now it's not safe to drive! which is what I told them
a couple of weeks ago. They say it's the brake booster, wow isn't that amazing, just like I told them. And now the kicker, the damn brake booster is on back order!! I was given the run around about when it will be off of backorder, and was given a sorry excuse that they have no way of finding out when it may be in. When pressed even more, one service guy said they may have to take one off of a new truck. I would be ok with that, but how common is it to strip a new truck of parts to fix something in service?

FATCATITANMAN · 02-02-2006, 09:09 PM

as for the tech question, I wasn't sure who worked on it before, but now, thankfully, an old dirtbike riding and racing buddy just got a job there, he's been working as a tech as long as I have known him, probably longer, so now at least I have confidence in the man working on my truck. I informed the service manager that I only wanted him to work on my truck from now on.

TitanTech659 · 02-06-2006, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATCATITANMAN

here's the latest, Finally got the tech to go for a ride and low and behold the noise was quite baffling to him, dropped off the truck on wednesday morning, called to check on it and now it's not safe to drive! which is what I told them
a couple of weeks ago. They say it's the brake booster, wow isn't that amazing, just like I told them. And now the kicker, the damn brake booster is on back order!! I was given the run around about when it will be off of backorder, and was given a sorry excuse that they have no way of finding out when it may be in. When pressed even more, one service guy said they may have to take one off of a new truck. I would be ok with that, but how common is it to strip a new truck of parts to fix something in service?

It's fairly common for us and other dealerships to rob parts from lot vehicles. We don't like to but we will do it so the customer doesn't have to be without their vehicle for a long period of time. Glad to hear that you got something done with this issue. You also got lucky that your buddy works thier now. If he developes any pull thier you shouldn't get the run around anymore.

FATCATITANMAN · 02-06-2006, 08:32 PM

Thanks For All Your Insite, It's Greatly Appreciated.
Hopefully All Those Years Of Splashing Through Mud Puddles And Crashing Into Tree's With Brian Will Help Matters, Hopefully He Will Get Some Pull There, He's A Pretty Sharp Guy. I Wonder If I Really Made Him Mad The Time I Made Him Crash On That Gnarly Downhill At The Race In Hollister? Racing Is Racing!!
Thanks Again For Your Help