vagluv

Quick question: should I hear my hydraulic pump kick on every time I touch the brake pedal? Even a light touch will trigger it. Is this normal or indicative of a problem?

spartansix

I assume this is a C4.
The hydraulic pump should come on after a number of brake activations, but a light touch shouldn't always turn it on.
The first step I'd take is to do a full 14 point bleed of your hydraulic system.

Goughary

Should be after 3-4 hard presses- that would be normal.

The bladder in your pressure bomb could be blown- sound like it.

With the car off, pump the brake pedal until it goes rock hard. Then turn the key on but don't start the car. You'll hear the pump turn on. Time the pressurization. It should be approx one minute. If it's significantly longer then your bomb should be replaced.

But- as was stated above. Bleed the system first so you can accurate diagnose.

vagluv

Thanks guys. Yes, its a C4. When I'm starting the car I always turn key to on and wait for pump to stop before starting. Usually the car has been sitting for a while, and this will take up to, but probably never longer than, a minute. The last time I started it, but before I drove at all, I noticed that any time I touched the pedal the pump would briefly re pressurize.