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Re: brake problems..... Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 19 Dec 2001 11:17:22 In Reply to: brake problems....., morg12, Tue, 18 Dec 2001 15:44:06 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
It sounds like a bad ABS pump. The pump provides pressure for both ABS and Brake Boost. If the pressure is too low, you'll get the ABS AND Brake Fluid lights.
My guess is that the pump is pulling too much current and blowing the fuse. Since the pump isn't running, the pressure drops, and you get both lights on. A few more brake pedal pushes, and you use up all the pressure and lose brake boost.
Of course, make sure the fuse is the right size. Next, make sure you've got the proper amount of brake fluid. If the car has been sitting overnight, the brake fluid should be near the top of the reservoir. Start the car, and the level should drop as the ABS pump runs. After a few seconds the ABS and Brake Fluid lights will go out, but the pump will continue to run and the level to drop. A few seconds more, and the pump should shut off, and the fluid level should be at the "FULL WITH CHARGED ACCUMULATOR" line. If the fluid level is lower than that, add fluid.
The ABS pump should shut off by itself when the pressure reaches the proper level. It's possible the pump isn't shutting off because the pressure sensor is bad, and the overheating pump blows the fuse. If the brake fluid hasn't been flushed in the past two or three years, get it flushed. Old brake fluid has water and air in it, and that makes the ABS pump work harder.
If the pump is bad, that is bad news. It's not easy to change, and a new one isn't cheap. So first off, find out why it's blowing the fuse- is it running all the time, and if so, why? The pump should run for about 30 seconds or so at car startup, and then only run for a few seconds to replenish the pressure after you've used the brakes a few times, or to cover the normal pressure leak-down of the system. But it should be running all the time.
Good luck!
posted by 140.157....
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