Brake problem! What could it be?
 

2007 Saturn Ion with 2.2 liter engine. Daughter's car.

Three weeks ago I replaced the front and rear brake systems: all new rotors, drums, calipers, brackets, pads, shoes, etc. The only thing I did not replace were the rear wheel cylinders. They were not leaking and looked O.K., so I didn't mess with them.

I bled all four brakes when I was finished. Daughter drove it for a week. Brake light was on the whole time, for some reason. She also said the brake pedal felt "spongy."

So last weekend I AGAIN bled all four brakes. Brake light went out! 😇 But I must admit, the brake pedal still felt a bit spongy to me.

Yesterday she told me the brake pedal went to the floor a couple times when she tried to stop. I checked out her car. The brake light is back on! 😡 Brake pedal feels spongy. Fluid level looks fine.

I am not sure what the problem is at this point. Could there still be air in the sysetm? Or might the master cylinder be bad?

How do the brakes feel with the parking brake applied? Does the parking brake work correctly? A newer car with antilock brakes often has special bleeding procedures that require a scanner not a code reader to bleed the system. I have a factory service manual set for a different series of Saturn. We will be able to help you.

Thanks for the response. I haven't tried the brakes with the parking brake applied.

Does this car have ABS?

If you have an Ion 3, you probably have ABS. Check to see if you have an ABS light when you first turn the ignition on, located just below the coolant temperature gauge.

Brakes in the non abs ions are a bit softer feeling than abs ions. But pedal shouldn't be going to the floor.
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Assuming drum rear brakes (since you said wheel cylinders) have they been adjusted correctly?
If they have not then the spongy pedal could be from the slack from them being too loose.