my car ran well on the interstate, I got off at an exit and pulled close to a car stopped at a red light. My car responded to the brakes, and all of a sudden it like stopped working. I think I had to pump the brakes again, panicking I put the car in park.( I think it stopped before I put it in park, It happened so fast I really cannot remember) Immediately, the engine raced and the rpm shot up to about 3000 and then quickly settled back to about 800!. Car ran fine then to home, and at subsequent lights the brakes worked fine.

Any ideas ?? I guess I came close to a brake failure ... but how does that tie to the increase in rpm as put the car in park .

Any think I should check for ??

thanks

zakir

automatic 240, 1990

This does not sound like a brake failure at all (based on what you said, and did NOT say).

Somehow, the throttle stuck partly open or you had your foot across both pedals without realizing it. When you slowed down on the exit ramp, you did were not aware that you were fighting the engine until you were almost stopped. That's when you got scared and pumped the brake (you said nothing about the pedal dropping to the floor or being hard as a rock) followed by throwing it into Park and hearing the engine race up. If you lost a vacuum hose or valve to the brake booster, the brakes would have been performing poorly after the incident. The racing engine is the key clue - whatever caused it also caused your "brake failure".

Did you have the cruise control on at highway speed before this happened? Don't forget to check simple things like floor mat bunching under the pedal.

I am going to check what Paul says, but you are right in your email about the other things that can go wrong.

thanks

Paul is on it. Check the little white valve that plugs into the booster too. They break and you won't (brake). Cheap generic part.

Sounds like a failing master cylinder and PB booster...but check the vac. hose to the booster as well.