A320
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Procedure; MEL; Human Factors
This event occurred during preflight at the gate. The aircraft arrived at ZZZ gate XX from the maintenance hanger eight minutes before boarding time. After review of the AML; I confirmed the aircraft had a couple of MEL items including a #2 engine thrust reverser inoperative. We contacted maintenance for three additional items; including excessively high wheel brake temperatures on wheels three and four.  Those temperatures were 340 degrees C and 270 degrees C; respectively. When the mechanic arrived at the aircraft; I asked him for the reason the brakes were so hot after a tow or taxi delivery from the hanger. He inspected the brakes and found them to be 'very warm.'  He also ran a few diagnostic tests. Unfortunately the mechanic could not give an adequate explanation for the high wheel brake temperatures; nor could he verify the proper functioning of the wheel brakes on the right main gear. I refused the aircraft on the basis of safety-of-flight because I felt the aircraft was unsafe to operate with an unknown wheel brake issue coupled with an inoperative thrust reverser.The primary causal factor for refusing the aircraft was the unknown reason for the hot brakes. This issue was not resolved to my satisfaction. The risk of operating the aircraft with both a brake issue and inoperative reverser was too high to warrant continuation of the flight.Maintenance personnel should resolve obvious aircraft issues before releasing the aircraft to the flight crew.
A320 Captain reported refusing the aircraft due to a deferred thrust reverser and high brake temperatures that maintenance could not explain.