Odd Brake problem

[TimRoz]

Hi All - new member here!
Hope the primary gifting period was fine for you all.
I have a 2000 406 HDi X-plate that has been great - no major issues, but recently there have been a few problems:
1) When the ignition key is turned (but not started), the Recirculated Air light comes on. Any clues as to what this means?
2) It sometimes takes up to 3 minutes with the engine running before I can depress the brake pedal. After this the brakes are fine whilst driving, but after an hour or so of leaving the car, the brake pedal is hard to work again.
Any clues as to what I can do to the braking system (fluid change etc) before my wallet starts crying.
Cheers
Tim

[mjb]

I take it your brake fluid is at the proper level? Might be a bosted abs pump?

[puggy]

first one no idea, does it go of when you start the car ??

second one sounds like you have a leak somewhere in the servo assist system
either pipe work or pump or servo itself


welcome by the way

[steve_earwig]

Wouldn't a faulty pump/air leak cause a drop off in performance because of servos/egr etc?

[Welly]

Brakes could be a vacuum problem either a leaking tube or the vac pump itself. With the engine running if you pump the brake a few times the pedal will go a bit hard but then will slowly sink down again as the vacuum recovers.

If the vac pump was knackered then you'd also have no turbo boost either so maybe the main brake servo itself is to blame?

[TimRoz]

Thanks for the replies guys!
Lots for me to tinker with at the weekend - as most of you suggest it could be the servo vacuum. I'll have a quick shufty at all the hoses tonight.
I've owned the car for 4 years and never changed the brake fluid (holds head in shame!), but regularly check the level, and it's OK. Even if the servo is fooked, I think a fluid change would be a Good Idea.
Re: the recirc light : my car has A/C which has ceased to function - perhaps this is Peugeot's mad way of letting you know there is a problem?
Thanks again chaps,
Tim

[Welly]

Do you mean you get the picture of the car up on the screen with the curved airflow arrow above it?

The recirc damper motor can stick on these (it's under the pollen filter) not sure if this is the cause but it's worth a look?

Being a 2000MY you could also try disconnecting the battery for 30 mins to see if that resets anything

[mark21TD]

Brakes could be a vacuum problem either a leaking tube or the vac pump itself. With the engine running if you pump the brake a few times the pedal will go a bit hard but then will slowly sink down again as the vacuum recovers.

If the vac pump was knackered then you'd also have no turbo boost either so maybe the main brake servo itself is to blame?

Does the turbo need a vacume the work then ?