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2013 Kia Optima Brake Booster and Pump Module issue (please help!)

1059 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  lockit4u
I just got a $1955 estimate to fix a problem with the brakes on my son's 2013 Kia Optima.
The pressure in the pedal was almost 100% gone last night, and thank goodness we were in a spot to stop safely.

Does anyone have thoughts on how to take care of this for less money?

I know almost nothing about brake boosters and pump modules, so any assistance to get my boy back on the road safely and without emptying our savings would be
much appreciated.
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TIA,
Matt's Dad.
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I just got a $1955 estimate to fix a problem with the brakes on my son's 2013 Kia Optima.
The pressure in the pedal was almost 100% gone last night, and thank goodness we were in a spot to stop safely.

Does anyone have thoughts on how to take care of this for less money?

I know almost nothing about brake boosters and pump modules, so any assistance to get my boy back on the road safely and without emptying our savings would be
much appreciated.
View attachment 252214
TIA,
Matt's Dad.
ABS light on? I highly doubt that a booster and a pump are both bad. what are the symptoms?
No ABS light. Should we do the booster and see if that works?
ABS light on? I highly doubt that a booster and a pump are both bad. what are the symptoms?
The pedal was going straight to the floor, it was braking, but seemingly with no help from the hydraulic system.
The pedal was going straight to the floor, it was braking, but seemingly with no help from the hydraulic system.
If it was the booster it would take both of your feet with very hard pressure to try to brake because you will have no power assist from the booster. It sounds to me hydraulic system. brake fluid leaking anywhere? the cheapest thing to fix may be the master cylinder first. if it's not that then it may be the pump but thought it was just to prevent skidding while braking plus you have no ABS light on.
I have the same car, 2012 model. Does the pedal go to the floor with the engine off? I would then suspect a master cylinder failure.
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I just got a $1955 estimate to fix a problem with the brakes on my son's 2013 Kia Optima. The pressure in the pedal was almost 100% gone last night, and thank goodness we were in a spot to stop safely. Does anyone have thoughts on how to take care of this for less money? I know almost nothing about brake boosters and pump modules, so any assistance to get my boy back on the road safely and without emptying our savings would be much appreciated. View attachment 252214 TIA, Matt's Dad.
Hey Matt's Dad, I had that problem with my Optima. Not the booster or master cylinder. There was a recall on the electronic hydraulic control unit that shorts as the result of brake fluid leaking into it. I ended up having to contact Kia Customer Support at the Corporate office in Irvine. Took some effort, but they finally covered it. It's a $6,000+ job. A Kia dealership took me it was the brake booster as well.
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You never mentioned if that quote was from a KIA dealer. If it was, the recall that flying.james001 mentions above should have been checked out. If it wasn't a reputable dealer, take it to one for another check.
Three things will make a pedal go to the floor air in line or a fluid leak or bad master any other parts like booster or pump would not cause a pedal to go to floor. sounds like a bad brake master cly. it cost new a autozone 108.00 buck plus a 4 buck bottle of brake fliud. you can do it your self . done in less then a hour!!!!!! or 100 dollars labor to install it . 32 year master mechanic here. In 32 years never seen a brake booster go bad.👨‍🔧
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See if the booster hold vacuum if it does then its good . When you say pedal is 100% do you mean soft or hard?
Ya you should call Kia dealership near you make an appointment and take it in to them. There's a recall on the Kia brake system because the hydraulics are going out itprobably gonna be done for free my car's going into kia next Wednesday for 4 recalls. I have a 2013 Kia optima LX 2.4L. I do everything on my car I replaced the brakes they entire suspension vvt,map sensor,throttle body.tons of stuff these cars are not hard to fix you can watch YouTube and do it yourself that's what I do.
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BEFORE you spend more money, check this forum I believe that there is a Brake class action lawsuit settlement, your vehicle may be in the VIN range. Check before you do anything, its pretty new so Google it too.
The pedal was going straight to the floor, it was braking, but seemingly with no help from the hydraulic system.
If pedal going to floor replace only brake master cylinder and bled brakes DONE. BOOSTER IS FINE! Parts are 106 dollars plus a bottle of brake fluid.
your master when out . when they go out they just stop working.
So what was the fix? Don't leave us hanging.
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