Second Generation Low pedal after brake fluid change

[MTUJOHN]

2012 3.8/40k miles.

Had the fluid changed (recall) Jan 14, nothing replaced beyond that. Brakes were terrific until I had to make a hard stop recently & immediately got a low pedal and what seems to be reduced braking power. Pedal remains low after 2-3 short neighborhood test drives.

Any ideas?

Would the corrosion lead to the ECU failing 18 months after the fluid was changed?

 

[amartz]

How much is left in the pads?

 

[Mark_888]

2012 3.8/40k miles.

Had the fluid changed (recall) Jan 14, nothing replaced beyond that. Brakes were terrific until I had to make a hard stop recently & immediately got a low pedal and what seems to be reduced braking power. Pedal remains low after 2-3 short neighborhood test drives.

Any ideas?

Would the corrosion lead to the ECU failing 18 months after the fluid was changed?

First, you byline says "Drives a Hyundai 2G Genesis 3.8 V6 Sedan." The 2G (2nd generation) did not start until 2015 and it looks like you have a 2012, which is first generation.

Yes, it is alarmingly common for the HECU (not ECU) to fail even if the brake fluid was replaced with DOT-4. This is because the early HECU's (anti-lock braking system) were prone to valve corrosion, and because they can continue to corrode after the brake fluid was replaced. In other words, even though the DOT-4 brake fluid helps, that was not the root cause of the problem.

I would strongly urge you take 5 minutes and record your experience at the following NHTSA website:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml
The life you save may be your own.

If your car is still under warranty, take it to a dealer ASAP, especially if the brakes are still weak (they will not fix anything under warranty unless they can reproduce the problem).

 

[Bill K]

Sounds like they got some air in the brake line. If so, they need to do a better job bleeding the brakes..(I wouldn't have left the dealer with my car like that)

 

[Mark_888]

Sounds like they got some air in the brake line. If so, they need to do a better job bleeding the brakes..(I wouldn't have left the dealer with my car like that)

MTUJOHN posted the following above:

"Had the fluid changed (recall) Jan 14, nothing replaced beyond that. Brakes were terrific until I had to make a hard stop recently..."​

So doesn't sound like there was a problem caused by fluid change on Jan 14. OTOH, when a "hard stop" is made, that is when the anti-lock mechanism in the HECU is activated, and that is when he noticed his brakes did not work well after that.