Anti-lock Brakes Bad? - Need Info

[rwatson]

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about the anti-lock brakes (ABS) on a 1996
Integra LS? The ABS light is goes on intermittantly. There is an intermittant grrr -rrr -rrr sound from the front right under the hood for about 1 year.

What is the ABS pump? accumulator? modulator?
Why are they so expensive at the dealer? Estimate is $1800.00!!!
Can I safely get this fixed at a non-dealer repair shop?
What questions should I ask?
Please help.

Thanks much!!

[90gs]

i'd never go to a dealer, just about any local repair shop will do just as good of a job for less $$

[loesch8102]

The same problem happend to me. I would act soon if I were you. It's dangerous not to know what your brakes are doing. One day you may need to stop and your car will just slide because the car deactivated the ABS System due to problems with the pump. Here's how I fixed the problem...

Firstly, ABS is not needed to pass inspection here so...
Secondly, I hate ABS
If you pop the hood, look to your left and you'll see a big white box with tubes coming out of it. This is the ABS unit. You will notice an orange plug that powers the unit. Unplug this. Now you don't have to spend all that money, and you don't have to rely on a computer to stop your car.

Sorry if this sounds like I'm writing to a 12 year old. I just don't know how familiar you are with the ABS stuff.

[91integra_gs]

Hi, my 91 gs has been making that periodic -rrr sound from engine compartment for 1 to 2 years now. Initially my ABS light would come on intermittently but not any more. City Garage shop told me it's ABS pump (modulator or selenoid or all) going bad and only dealer or Honda shop can fix. Requires expensive special tools to get parts off. Research indicates that one will loose braking only if fluid gets out, not if some electronics go bad, at least for the 91 system. Way to expensive to replace so I'll ride it out till I get th new TL in 2004.

Somebody mentioned disconnecting the ABS...good idea but I think I can ride with almost no risk of loosing all brakes as is.

[loesch8102]

No, I didn't mean the brakes would stop working, just that you won't neccesarily know if the ABS unit is on and working or if it is not. So I just disconnected it so I know for a fact that I need to manually modulate the pressure. If it wasn't disconnected it may be that I expect it to work and just slam the pedal down, which wouldn't be good if the system didn't work.

[Doubletap]

So basically if you diable the abs it will b just like any other car that doesn't have ABS at all? That would be a god send becuase I don't know about the rest of you because the ABS on my 96 does absolute shit nothing anyway.

DoubleTap

[cuba3377]

most of the time abs problems is the speed sensors at the wheels. each one can only be 5 mph apart from each other, or the computer disables the abs. try running the car fast. if the light turns on when u drive fast, its ur speed sensors.
BTW, if u want to temporarily disable your abs, all u have to do is leave the parking brake on, just enough for the light to come on. after 5 min with the ebrake on, the computer disables the abs.