I have the infamous ABS light on my 95 Accord EX. Its been on for about a year. Modulator used to attempt pressurization and then the light would kick on within a minute. I believe it had a small leak because I needed to add fluid every couple of months. The ABS light would go out for a while...until the fluid got low. Finally it stopped working all together (no pressurizing). Now the ABS light always turns on within a minute of driving and i dont have ABS. I've checked fuses, fluid, etc.

Im 95% sure it's the infamous ABS modulator/pump/seal problem. I havent been too concerned with it but it's kind of nice to have ABS during slippery Michigan winters. I've kept an eye open at possibly finding a used unit on ebay or junk yard. A new modulator is $1000+ dollars.

Well...the other day i was at my local junk yard exchanging a defective switch for a new power antenna out of a 94 or 95 accord similar to mine. The replacement power antenna worked just fine. The car had alot of good parts still on it ...with the exception of the engine. I noticed that the modulator was still on the car and somewhat covered from the elements (with the hood down). It appeared to be in good shape.

Question: They quoted a price of $100 with a money back warranty for the used pump. The cap is still on the reseviour and there appears to be brake fluid in there. Is this a good price or shall i offer alot less? Also, how difficult is it to install this part? Is it simply the bolts holding it in place plus flare wrenches for the brake lines? I've heard that this part is usually under pressure. Can i remove the brake lines from the pump without messing things up or losing pressure?

Would i be better off buying the used part, going to a brake shop and taking a bite on labor or is it simple enough to attempt the repair myself. Ive done brake pads, alternators, water pumps, power steering pumps,and other minor repairs on different cars over the years. Ive never replaced a modulator.

Any advise is appreciated. I need to save money since im a proud daddy to twin infants

 

That is a pretty good price for the unit, Nothing too tough about changing it out and then bleeding the system.
There will be a lot of brake fluid spilled and you need to clean it up with brake clean spray and shop towelsASAP or it will eat the paint.
Probably best to have a quart of DOT3 brake fluid on hand; one of the lines you take off will drain the master cylinder so empty it before breaking any lines loose if you can.
Like a turkey baster sucker tool or big syringe from the farm supply place.

To let off any pressure you can open the bleed screw on the top of the unit, I like to have a small hose on it so you can squirt the fluid into a bottle.

It would be a great idea to replace the accumulator 'O' ring on the replacement unit while it is on the bench; 2-10mm bolts hold it on from underneath.
Most Honda parts depts have them in stock

So you just barely open the bleed screw with the line wrench and close it gently, then slip the hose, going to the catch bottle,on the nipple and use a regular wrench to open the bleed screw.

Same method for bleeding the system, after the replacement unit is installed, just keep the reservoir full when bleeding.
A little tiny funnel is a handy item, as well as a jumper for jumping the contacts of the relay in the underhood ABS panel.

 

Hi and thank you for the instructions. Seems somewhat straight forward and not terribly difficult. When i remove the two 10mm bolts for the O ring (ive read about the oring), will i lose pressure in the unit? Ive heard that it's both dangerous to lose pressure and that it messes up the unitl I havent looked but i assume the bleeding nipple you speak of is on the ABS pump/modulator?

The only thing i didnt understand was the following: "a jumper for jumping the contacts of the relay in the underhood ABS panel". Ok, ive seen the abs fusepanelunder the hood but what do i need to"jumper" and why do i need to jumper it?

Thanks in advance

 

In the DIY section, open the thread ACC 5th gen..., click on that link and you can download the pdfs to change the fluid on the abs.

Jumpering the ABS relay will turn on the abs unit, because the procedure has you turn on the car to have the pump to build up pressure. It just makes changing the abs fluid quicker.

There are two TSBs about 5th gen accord abs modulators leaking. Google search 94-029 tsb and 96-050 tsb to look at the procedures.

Good luck.

 

I purchased a used modulator and found the motor had frozen due to water draining on the unit. I swapped motor from non-working to replacement and it worked fine. Just be sure you have that "working unit garuntee". It helps to release the brake tube guides to allow more flexibility to manuever the tubes during removal/replacement.

good luck

 

Hey and thanks for all of your help. I found a great link in the DIY section on replacing ABS parts. It looks like it's the TSB you were talking about. Here is a link to the PDF file: http://www.dhost.info/accordinfo/hon.../brakesabs.pdf

Everything looks fairly straight forward, it discusses the "jumper" wire, replacement, bleeding, testing, codes, etc ...great document.

I may try and "lowball" the junkyard and see if they'll let it go for less than $100. Not alot of hondas in these areas so it probably wont sell. Also, winter is coming to an end ....so probably not much need for ABS until next year. I may just wait until right before winter next year. Why replace a part that you probably wont need with a car that old. Besides, been driving with no ABS for the last 2 seasons ..... and prior to this car ...never had ABS.

However, it is nice for that one time as you slide into an interesection