talipp Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 i have a 90 convertible i inherited from my father. it has 107,000 miles. the car sat in his garage for the past 3 to 4 years and i recently brought it out to drive. i noticed when applying the brakes the abs light comes on briefly. i have brakes and the car does stop but i notice when i hit the brakes for a quick stop/panicstop i get a feel as if the brakes are going to go to the floor!!!!! took the brake test and from the results it appears that the accumulator is bad. just need to verify the diagnosis with your help.....test 1 resulted in 1 pump for the yellow light to come on and 3 for the red light to turn on. test 2 took 2 pumps for the pedal to get hard. test 3 took 3 seconds for the brake light to go out and 1 second for the yellow light to go out. test 4 took 2 seconds for the pump to stop running. test 5 took only 1 pedal pump for the pump to come on. test 6 was funny in that i did not see a noticible movement in the fluid. the fluid remained at the fill line.test 7 also resulted in a weak pulse and lift. when i depressed the pedal the pump came on and slight lift resulted from the pedal. anyway any advice at this point will be appreciated. it would appear that the accumulator is bad????? new brakes were recently installed about 7000 miles with new lining. also i noticed other vehicles also have the same accumulator any advice regarding looking for one a the pick a part????? or just buy a new one and move on....thanks talipp..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 ...took the brake test and from the results it appears that the accumulator is bad. just need to verify the diagnosis with your help.....test 1 resulted in 1 pump for the yellow light to come on and 3 for the red light to turn on. test 2 took 2 pumps for the pedal to get hard. test 3 took 3 seconds for the brake light to go out and 1 second for the yellow light to go out. test 4 took 2 seconds for the pump to stop running. test 5 took only 1 pedal pump for the pump to come on. test 6 was funny in that i did not see a noticible movement in the fluid. the fluid remained at the fill line.test 7 also resulted in a weak pulse and lift. when i depressed the pedal the pump came on and slight lift resulted from the pedal. anyway any advice at this point will be appreciated. it would appear that the accumulator is bad????? new brakes were recently installed about 7000 miles with new lining. also i noticed other vehicles also have the same accumulator any advice regarding looking for one a the pick a part????? or just buy a new one and move on....thanks talipp.....I think you need new accumulator but test 1 results makes me think that something else is going on with the ABS portion of the brake system. It's odd that the yellow light would come on each time you press the brake pedal. Are you sure of the results of that test?The accumulators are in The Reatta Store at one of the best prices you will find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 If the pedal is going to the floor, you may also have a problem if your pressure switch. I would replace both the pressure switch and accumulator. Both are available in the Reatta store I believe. I would get your normal brakes working with the aforementioned parts and then hunt down the ABS problems (if any). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted October 26, 2012 Author Share Posted October 26, 2012 thanks for the quick response!!!! yes the abs yellow light goes on everytime i step on the brake pedal and then it immediately goes out. i do have brakes and the car stops fine however in a quick panic type stop it feels like its pulsating or pumping and a very low pedal????? but it will stop. occasionally when i start the car the yellow light will come on and stay on. i am able to turn it off by restarting the car then it goes back to a brief flash and off and again i do have brakes. im going to check out the pressure switch and it looks like im going to have purchase the accumulator.....regarding the abs yellow light do you think that is a separate issue??? wheel sensor or.....thanks again...talipp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 The yellow light is a warning for the ABS portion (valve block) of the brake system but it is dependent on the power booster portion (pump etc.) operating properly. Low boost pressure can cause the yellow light to come on but there are a lot of separate issues that will cause it to come on as well. As NC said. You should get the power booster working properly before troubleshooting the ABS portion of the brake system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawja Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 I'd start with the accumulator as you certainly need it. As perviously mentioned you should get it from Ronnie's "Reatta Store" for the best price.There's a high probability that that is all you will need, and it is easy for even a non-mechanic to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Instructions for changing the accumulator are on my website. It is a pretty easy job that most people can do themselves.Accumulator Replacement Instructions - Reatta Owners Journal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 okay i just purchased the accumulator from the reatta store and waiting to get it going....thanks for the advice and help but a few more questions if you will regarding two other items i am in need of. the fuel door is missing the part that keeps it closed and i need the clips for the sun visors. are the also available at the reatta store or where do i go to get those items...thanks again talipp.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 okay i just purchased the accumulator from the reatta store and waiting to get it going....thanks for the advice and help but a few more questions if you will regarding two other items i am in need of. the fuel door is missing the part that keeps it closed and i need the clips for the sun visors. are the also available at the reatta store or where do i go to get those items...thanks again talipp....I don't think the fuel door parts are in the Reatta Store. Getting them used might be your best bet. You can get the sun visor clips from Reatta Specialty Parts. I highly recommend them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I've got a box full of the fuel door latches. I sell them for $15, or mostly include them free with orders of other parts.Lemme know, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 received and just installed the new accumulator!!!!! however when i screwed in the accumulator the brake fluid was at full. after turning the pump on and checking for leaks i noticed that the brake fluid level went down about a half an inch. do i fill it back up or is this ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 received and just installed the new accumulator!!!!! however when i screwed in the accumulator the brake fluid was at full. after turning the pump on and checking for leaks i noticed that the brake fluid level went down about a half an inch. do i fill it back up or is this ok?No, don't fill the reservoir with the system pressurized. Fill the reservoir to the full mark after pumping the brake pedal about 25 times with the key off. You will feel the brake pedal get hard when the pressure is relieved The level going down after the pump runs is normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 cool so i am going to relieve ther brake pressure and check the fluid. when i removed the old accumulator i noticed some brake fluid leak out...not much but it did have some fluid in the accumulator. anyway i going to check and see the results!!! thanks !!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 ok i go out and turn the key and the engine starts, the pump whirs and there in front of me is the red brake light on?????? step on brakes turn engine off and back on the red light is still on??????turn engine off and still puzzled i reach down and release the emergency brake.........red light goes off!!!!!! HA........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 looks like the brakes work fine now....no yellow or red brake lights when im driving and stopping. thanks to everyone for your help....sincerly talipp.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 It's good to hear the accumulator solved you brake problem. Thanks for letting us know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Sounds like you have the brake parts needed to solve the YELLOW and RED light problems. It has not been mentioned but you should also have the old brake fluid flushed out and new DOT 3 fluid installed.From your first post, we know the car sat for 3-4 years and before that unless you have some records, the fluid has probably never been changed. Brake fluid absorbs between 1-2 % moisture per year, do the math. Your name header does not indicate where you live, but if you are near water or other humid areas, it is mandentory that the fluid get changed every 3-5 years. If you live in hilly or mountainous country, you can boil the fluid with 3% moisture. Another reason for changing the fluid is damage to the ABS components. Moisture in the fluid will rust ferrus metal and corrode aluminum and zinc. All thise rust and corrosion particles are floating in the fluid and every time fluid goes thru seals, and especially the ABS solenoid valves, it can damage the seal material. Changing the fluid is cheap insurance against future compontent failure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Barney is correct. One of the most important things a person can do with an '88-90 Reatta is change the brake fluid every five years regardless where you live as moisture and dirt can build up and cause major problems in a panic stop with no prewarning.Here are the instructions on how to change all the fluid.1. It is HIGHLY recommended that all the fluid in the whole system be changed with new fluid to eliminate any built up moisture in the system. 2. Any time the brake hydraulic system is to be opened the brake pedal should be pumped 25 times with the key off to bleed off the 2600 pounds of pressure in the accumulator. 3. Siphon out as much of the old fluid as possible from the reservoir and refill with clean fluid to the top. Another good way is to cut the rubber hose that comes from the reservoir right where it attaches to the ABS pump and let all the fluid in the reservoir run out. Then remove the piece of hose still attached to the pump and reinstall the rubber hose. It is long enough to do this. I like to cut it rather than try and remove it because the hose sticks really hard to the plastic fitting and you might break the fitting trying to take the hose off. Doing it this way you get all the fluid out of the reservoir before putting in new clean fluid. 4. When doing the rear wheels only let out about a half of a cup and then refill the reservoir. This is to make sure you don't take out too much and get air into the system. 5. To bleed the front brakes have the key off and bleed in a conventional method. Have someone pump the pedal a few times and hold it down while the other person opens the front bleeders. 6. To bleed the rear brakes A. Turn on the key and allow the system to pressurize B. Have an assistant slightly depress the pedal and hold it. C. Open each rear bleeder, one at a time, and hold open until clear fluid comes out. (The pump and motor will do the bleeding) When you are done there are high and low marks on the reservoir and after the system pump and motor has run and the lights are out the level should be at the low mark. When you have pumped the brakes with the key off 25 times the level will be at the high mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talipp Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thanks for the info regarding brake fluid change. thats the next thing to do, however another issue involves using the parking brake causes the abs light to come on. the light remains on until i turn the engine off and then restart it. any ideas as to what the problem is or how to proceed and fix it? thanks talipp.....so far the reatta runs and stops very well thanks to the info received and the new accumulator!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 ABS only or ABS and Brake ? If ABS you should be able to pull the trouble code(s). Se section 5E in the FSM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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