Water around the brake booster.

FYI-

With all of the recent rain on the east coast keep in mind that clogged drains around the brake booster can cause the area to fill with water and ruin the booster.

Yesterday my wife reported a hard brake pedal and rough idle when she started the car, my mind immediately thought water around the booster. I checked it I literally pulled 2 handfuls of dead leaves and debris out and had to poke a stick down the drain to clear it out. There was water just touching the bottom of the booster so I hope it wasn't damaged.

Thanks for sharing. There are other drains to be cleared periodically as well. When you lift out the filter housing on either side there is a 2.5 inch oval-shaped drain against the fender too. Stick a hangar down there until it pops out the bottom.

Yep that's the one, you have to remove the cabin air filter housing to get to it.

.

BigCo,


The root cause is:

Small leaves (locust trees etc.) enter the narrow space between the Cabin Filter Housing and the body work. There is a small gap there that allows small leaves to enter.
Locust tree leaves are the worst because they are very small leaves. Oak and Maple Trees leaves are much bigger. So:
1. Avoid parking under trees if possible.
2. Make sure the Cabin Filter Housing is installed properly and use black electrical tape to seal the junction between CFH and the body work.
3. Clean this area once a year.

1st pic shows my finger where leaves can enter.





Once you remove the Cabin Filter Housing, look under the Brake Booster, you will feel the drain passages. Clean any debris there. Pour 1 gallon of water to clean all the junk.

2nd pic shows the Drain Passages.

Drains are clear and no water is sitting in the compartment.

I'm more of a "glass half full type of person" so I won't kiss it goodbye until it actually doesn't work anymore, right now its still working and a day or two of 100 degree temps should dry any water.

Your glass will be half empty or worse if the booster decides to quit working at your inconvenience. This is a safety component: don't wait for it to fail but replace it now that you know that it is on its way out.