another ABS question

[hypostang]

My pump runs for about 2 seconds every time I step on the pedal today i was stuck in stop and go traffic and I briefly lost power assist.
When that happened i could hear the relay buzzing.
Now for what I have already done about 4 months ago my pump went out completely so I hit the wrecking yard and got an assembly from a 106k 89model .I replace the whole unit and it was working great , till about 3 weeks ago . I noticed after I started the car first thing in the morning the pump would run like it's supposed to and then when I stepped on the brake the red and amber lights would light for a split second then all was ok . well it started to get worse so I put a "new" accumulator in The light stopped coming on but today I had the problem of no power assist . so when I got home I swapped back to the "old" accumulator and it still runs every time . I also put a new relay in because I think it over heated the old one when it runs I get no lights or anything I just don't want to smoke out another pump OR lose my brakes
Is the pump supposed to run every time ? Everything I have read tells me no .could it be the pressure switch starting to fail ?
Any ideas on what to check would be greatly appreciated
This car is my daily driver and I tote my youngsters to school every day . so getting proper brakes is very important to me
thanks

[joeythefixer]

When I had this problem the accumliator was bad. the pump should come on abour every third time you step on the brakes.

[hypostang]

Could I have 2 bad accumulators ? it does Exactly the same thing with both of them .. they are expensive little bugger to keep trying :eek:

[joeythefixer]

When you remove the accumlimator does brake fluid pour out or drip out?

[hypostang]

Oh yeah I replaced the reservoir also just in case that filter in the bottom of it was bad

[hypostang]

I get just a few drips out

[joeythefixer]

A few drips, I'm pretty sure the accumliator is ok. dumb question did you bleed the brakes, furthest to the closest to make sure all the air was out?

[hypostang]

I did. I actually was thinking That I might have done something wrong there so i went and actually read a few tech articles and tried it again . Could air in the system cause this symptom? it didn't seem like the fronts bled out like a normal car would

[joeythefixer]

If i remember correctly all you need to do is have someone touch the brake pedal so the pump starts. then open the bleeder valve until the fluid is clear.Keep pressure on the pedal while you are bleeding. I use a piece of clear tubing pushed on the bleeder valve and have it drain into a clear container. you don't have to pump the brakes while you bleed.

[hypostang]

Ok I will try and rebleed them in the morning . wish me luck :)
I'll post one way or the other thank you

[1989LSC]

Age is the major factor for the accumulator not miles of use. It has a pressurized bladder inside that fails. I went through 3 or 4 from the wrecker that were all bad. I ended up buying one from prior reman in texas. It was a new accumulator not a reman and was about 150.00. You need to bleed the rear brakes by turning the key on between pedal pushes to pressurize the system then bleed normally by holding the pedal down while the bleeder is open and close the bleeder before releasing the pedal. The fronts you bleed like any other car. I submerge the end of the tubing going to the bleeder in brake fluid in a bottle so that if it does suck back it wont get any air. If your pedal isn't soft air in the system probably isn't your problem.

[hypostang]

Thanks for the info . did the bad ones cause the symptoms I am having ?

[hypostang]

To be honest this is my first Mark and I have had it less than a year So I really don't know what a good pedal is supposed to feel like:o i will bleed it according g to the instructions Y'all gave me then i will post the results

[gadget73]

When its working right, the pedal feels like any other car. Its not mushy or hard, just a typical power brake feeling. My pump runs every few brake applications, which is how its supposed to. The ABS doesn't function in my car currently, just haven't gotten around to diagnosing it but the brakes do function OK otherwise.

[Smokee]

I dont mean to jump in on your thread, but I am having simular brake troubles, plus i just discovered wiring that could be bad too. I have a constant red and amber light on the dash, but I have a desent brake pedal and reasonable braking distance. I have never heard the pump run, but then I am hard of hearing and my suspension pump runs a lot and could be covering up the motor running. Just my several cents worth of trouble simular to yours.

[hypostang]

Ok ..... I re bled the system according to the instructions Y'all gave me , I have a firmer pedal (and all new fluid too , man that makes a mess) now the pump runs every other push of the pedal . So just for giggles I went over to a friends house where there is a parts a parts 7, I swapped the control unit in the trunk ... same ... I replaced the pressure switch ( damn home depot is proud of those 1 7/16 sockets )same situation the only thing that has changed is I step on the pedal the pump runs about 2 seconds I can step on it again and it does not run one more time and it runs again .now I never get any lights on when the pump runs only if I pump the pedal 9 or 10 times then I get lights I have no problem with the way everything is working EXCEPT that I over heated the relay and lost my power assist ...
I don't know if anyone here has ever been to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park , but there is a place in the park they call "Cades Cove" it is an 11 mile loop through a beautiful valley in the mountains ,well it is also bumper to bumper traffic so I was on and off the pedal continuously for about 2 hours
Normal driving even panic stops I have not had any issues am I fretting for no reason? could Both accumulators have the exact same problem ?

[hypostang]

New accumulator A- OK:D
thanks to prior reman in Texas

[joeythefixer]

how much did the accumlator cost you? was it new?

[hypostang]

125.00 plus shipping, and it was new , only issue I had was no "hex head" so I had to tighten it with an oil filter wrench instead of a socket