After 8 years, thinking of selling.

meltboy11 · June 03, 2015, 06:00:57 AM

8 years later, I never thought I would want to get rid of this car. But with my ABS issue (most probably an accumulator which I have been unable to track down) and not being able to drive the car. Also I really don't having the desire to butcher the car to swap to a non ABS system, I am thinking of selling. I love this car but it is so depressing to see it just sit in my garage and not be driven.

Also today on the way to work, I passed by a shop where I saw a white grand prix. As I look I see it doesn't have the traditional badge, but the sticker on the door. I nearly shit myself as I say, Richard Petty Edition??? So I turn around and look and sure enough it was. To make it even sweeter, a 5 speed! White with charcoal interior, HUD and 160k miles. I left my number because the shop owner said the owner would probably be selling it.

I would also hate for some toolbag 16 year old to get this car (RP edition) and just beat the shit out of it. If I don't end up getting the RP I will post the information about it, cuz I would love for (one of us...lol) to get it.

Heartbeat1991 · June 03, 2015, 08:53:56 AM

Don't sell it. I will help you find an accumulator, assuming that is what it needs. I have a couple spares, but I am not sure of their condition. I'm within driving distance of you. I have a Tech 1 scanner. PM me and maybe we can work something out to get yours going again. I have another member's car here right now from the Rochester, NY area that I am almost done with.

meltboy11 · June 03, 2015, 09:43:36 AM

That would be awesome. I am really leaning towards accumulator. The pump does at least pump. Whether it works or not (enough pressure) is another story. I'm just F'd for money now, I have 3 trees I need to get cut down and just discovered I need a new septic tank last night and I need to buy another car in a few months cuz my wrangler won't support 2 car seats for kid #2 coming in September. I'm just so stressed and distraught right now it's not even funny.

I've emailed a couple sites that have the accumulator listed, but they say they don't have one. I was so close to buying a 92 Prix the other day for $400 just so I could drive a Prix again...lol All it needs, according to seller, is intake manifold gasket.

Heartbeat1991 · June 03, 2015, 11:02:42 AM

You can fit 2 car seats in a wrangler, it's just tight. They fit in the TGP, too. Do the brakes work? Is the car drivable at all? Remind me what exactly the brakes are doing. I don't remember.

meltboy11 · June 03, 2015, 11:18:52 AM

well if I wasn't 6'4" it wouldn't be so bad...lol

Also with the TGP, I don't drive it in the winter, so either way I need a vehicle for the winter. That's another reason I considered that $400 one I saw the other day. I know I could fit them both in that since it had a bench back seat and not AQ9s.

Ok, so I do have brakes. But it kinda takes a couple seconds. When I press the brake pedal, it's really stiff to about halfway and it doesn't seem to apply too much pressure. Then after a couple seconds it's as if pressure builds up and the pedal softens up and will go down further. At that point the brakes feel normal.... until the next time I have to brake... rinse and repeat.

I can hear the pump when I press the brakes. Every time I press the brakes the red brake light on the dash comes on. When it goes off is about the time that I have "normal" feeling brakes after the couple seconds it's really stiff.

ABS light has pretty much flashed since I bought the car. But has never presented a problem until last year.

Heartbeat1991 · June 03, 2015, 01:26:57 PM

Does the pump run every time you push the pedal? If you just turn the key on and push the pedal, how long does the pump run?

By normal, do you mean TGP normal? A working PMIII should have a fairly firm pedal. Have you ever noticed any fluid on the ground? It sounds like it could be an accumulator. It also sounds a little like a leaking PMIII. If you can, jack it up and look around with a light below the PMIII. See if anything is wet.

meltboy11 · June 03, 2015, 01:44:31 PM

Quote from: Heartbeat1991 on June 03, 2015, 01:26:57 PM
Does the pump run every time you push the pedal? If you just turn the key on and push the pedal, how long does the pump run?

By normal, do you mean TGP normal? A working PMIII should have a fairly firm pedal. Have you ever noticed any fluid on the ground? It sounds like it could be an accumulator. It also sounds a little like a leaking PMIII. If you can, jack it up and look around with a light below the PMIII. See if anything is wet.

Currently I have the motor rotated and all the heat shielding etc. off from looking things over last week.

But yes every time I press it. A couple of seconds, 1-3 max. I'm not sure off hand about just pushing the pedal with the key on.

I actually don't know if I know what TGP normal is, but it used to be fairly firm before it really started acting up.

Fluid on the ground... yea, all sorts of fluid...lol But brake fluid, no I don't think so. I also don't recall ever being low and having to add any.

My fluid did however get like whiteish and foamy. Which is why I decided to change it last year. I figured it was probably 25 years old and it wouldn't be a bad idea to change it with new fluid.

I don't know when I will have a chance to more closely inspect the PM3 unit to see, but if I recall from looking the other day, it didn't appear to be leaking directly from the PM3.

mfewtrail · June 04, 2015, 08:43:34 PM

These cars always have somewhat foamy fluid after depressurizing the unit, that's normal.

If you think a vacuum brake swap is too involved check out the W-body board and search the brake section for posts by "shurup." He did a vacuum brake swap without having to remove the dash. What he did was cut up a firewall plate from a vacuum brake car and used the portion of it where the booster locks into place on his car along with drilling a hole in his original firewall + fabricating new brake lines. If you can find a car with rust free lines in the junkyard, you could save yourself some time on not having to make new brake lines. If you can't locate that post, let me know and I'll link you to it.