Chrysler Repair: Endless Car Problems..., chrysler sebring jxi, power brake booster

Question
My 1996 Chrysler Sebring JXI is having many, many problems! It has about 98,000 miles on it (at least, that's my guess.. the miles appear from time to time) so it's pretty warn out, but it feels like it's going to break! I just had the brakes replaced, but I still have to press the pedal all the way to the floor before getting it to stop.I checked the brake fluid, which it full.. pumped the break pedal forever, but nothing seems to make a difference. The car also shakes and vibrates from time to time, I notice it most when I'm on the freeway or idling. Do you have an idea of what could be wrong and about how much it will cost to fix it? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Britnie,
On the brakes, it is possible that the brake lines/cylinders still have some air trapped in them (particularly if the pedal feels spongy). If the pedal feels firm but the brakes aren't effective, then the problem may be that the vacuum hose that operates the power brake booster is not firmly attached at the brake servo can or at the engine intake manifold end of the hose, so the power assist is not happening. I would go back to the shop that did the work and ask them to verify that what you say is true and determine if either of these possibilities may explain why. But don't authorize any more expensive work unless you get a second opinion from another shop, unless you trust these guys.
The car shaking/vibrating may be due to an engine control problem which should be diagnosable quickly by reading out the computer for the presence of any fault codes it might have stored that would give an indication of why the engine is vibrating. You might check out www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html
and read that page about how to do a self-readout of the codes (They will probably show up on the odometer if it works). Then write me for an explanation and some suggestions about what the codes mean. If the self-read doesn't work, then go to a reliable shop that has a code reader and ask them to read out the codes, tell you what they are, and what they estimate the repair will cost. Then let me know what they say. Alternatively, there are three engine mounts that have rubber bushings which can wear out. You might observe the degree of flexibility that the engine maifests when you have a colleague shift from neutral to drive and to reverse to see if the engine rocks badly. Any worn mount can be replaced inexpensively, I believe.
Roland