Brake light and flashing ABS

bmktrexpro · March 16, 2003, 07:08:03 PM

When you hit the brake pedal the brake light comes on then goes back off. It does it everytime the pedal is hit. Then the ABS light flashes. I just bleed the brakes the proper way. When I bleed the back, brake fluid was flowing out. When I bleed the front, I got one good squirt and then nothing. Happened on both sides. Bleed the master and the fluid flowed freely. Have any ideas? Been told accumulator. And do you think car is drivable?

Chris A · March 16, 2003, 08:17:36 PM

Sounds like it bled properly. The rear brakes are supplied fluid from the pump/accumulator and are not activated by a piston like the front brakes are.

You probably do need an accumulator. When it goes bad, there is no reserve pressure left, and system pressure drops below 1800 psi with one pedal press. The ABS ECM senses this frequent cycling of the pump motor and turns on the abs light.

Chris

bmktrexpro · March 20, 2003, 06:44:04 AM

Thanks for getting back with me. Do you have any idea on the cost of new accumulator?

The Burning Rom · March 20, 2003, 10:49:54 AM

$89 from GMPartsdirect.com

Chris A · March 20, 2003, 04:26:08 PM

Hmm, Dal hasn't even been that low. Even if they do charge $20 for shipping its not a bad price!

bmktrexpro · March 29, 2003, 11:47:40 AM

Is the accumulator easy to replace? How much stuff needs to be removed to get it off and back on? To me it looks like I'll have to remove a lot of stuff, and if I can do this without having to remove the pmiii I'm going to do it myself and save a ton to have a garage do it.

Chris A · March 29, 2003, 08:11:51 PM

As long as you have the accumulator with the hex nut on the end its not that bad. Youneed an extension swivel and socket to get to it. You will also have to remove the heatshield, and possibly tilt the engine forward to make some more room. It can be done without removing a bunch of junkm. Lol on removing the powermaster. Its easier than changing the oil on some cars to me, but I've had PMIII's in and out at least 2 dozen times now! ;)

bmktrexpro · March 30, 2003, 08:19:00 AM

Thanks Chris.
I'll probably try to put a new one on then, sometime in the near future. Then I'm gonna relist the car for sale and hopefully sell it.
Thanks again

1trucavalier · April 21, 2003, 11:10:47 AM

if for some reason you jammed you pedal and your brake light switch was really old the little metal pointer that goes inside the grooves will move or slip. This will cause a anti-lock (yellow) flash and the (red) brake light will come on. You will also get an intermittant brake lamps not going off when you let go of the pedal. Its located above your steering column and its a free check :D