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finnnacht8

Seat Altea brake pedal feels numb

I'm having trouble with my 2007 Seat Altea, gasoline engine. The brakes are giving me unsettling feedback through the pedal. It feels numb and sometimes spongy. I've inspected the brake calipers and disc brakes visually, and everything seems okay. I've read that undervoltage can cause havoc with the braking system, especially with the hydraulic brakes. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Could this be the cause?

6 comment(s)

florian_weiss1

Strange brake pedal feedback, huh? I had something similar with my Altea. Have you checked the ABS sensors? Could be a faulty sensor messing with the braking system.

finnnacht8 (Author)

ABS sensors, you say? Interesting. But wouldn't that trigger an ABS warning light on the dashboard? And what about the disc brakes themselves? Could worn brake rotors or even squeaky brakes contribute to this weird pedal feel? Is there any specific test I could perform to rule out the ABS?

florian_weiss1

No, an ABS light doesn't always mean the sensor is fine. However, in my case, undervoltage was definitely the issue. I'd get it checked at a workshop, they'll pinpoint it quickly.

finnnacht8 (Author)

Good news, undervoltage was the problem. The workshop guys confirmed it and replaced some corroded wiring. The brake pedal feels normal again, and the hydraulic brakes are working as they should. The repair set me back 240€. Thanks again for your help, it saved me a lot of time.

Miklas

Quotation:

@finnnacht8 wrote on

Good news, undervoltage was the problem. The workshop guys confirmed it and replaced some corroded wiring. The brake pedal feels normal again, and the hydraulic brakes are working as they should. The repair set me back 240€. Thanks again for your help, it saved me a lot of time.

Hi! I'm having a similar problem, but I didn't understand if in your case, this brake anomaly was constant or only occasionally? In my case, it happened twice, in August 2024, and then again in April 2025. The rest of the time, they work fine...Could this be the same problem?

(Translated from Portuguese)

CarlyMechanic

Quotation:

@Miklas wrote on

Hi! I'm having a similar problem, but I didn't understand if in your case, this brake anomaly was constant or only occasionally? In my case, it happened twice, in August 2024, and then again in April 2025. The rest of the time, they work fine...Could this be the same problem?

Intermittent brake issues can be tricky. Since your problem is not constant, it might be related to environmental factors like moisture affecting electrical connections or wiring. I recommend checking for any signs of corrosion or loose connections in the brake system wiring, especially around the ABS sensors and the battery. If you're unsure, it's best to have a professional inspect it, as brake issues can be safety-critical. Let me know how it goes or if you have more questions!

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