Hi all,

I've got a 92 Accord LX with about 161,000 miles on it. I've noticed that whenever I turn on cruise control and set a speed, about every 1/2 mile or so the car loses about a mile or two an hour. Given enough time, I'll end up going quite a bit slower than the original set speed. Do you guys have any ideas what might cause this?

Another, probably more serious problem is that my windshield washer seems to have quit working, but the washer fluid does go down. I'm assuming that there is probably a leak or crack somewhere in between the reservoir and the dispenser. Could anything else be wrong? Are there any specific parts I may need? What approach would be best to resolve this.

Finally, when going at a slow speed, my front brakes seem to squeal or whine. I was wondering if you guys thought it may be the shims need greasing or something?

Thanks for any ideas
Cyclone

 

Ok problem number one, see if any major component of the cruise control system seems to be obviously messed up. Meaning the actual unit in the engine bay, the cruise control cable by the throttle body, and the vacuum hose. Personally it sounds vacuum leak related, but I would figure it would appear evident in the engine running quality if there was a vacuum leak.

Number two, I would say fill it up, and look for the leak, turn the car on, and have someone hold the sprayer on, so vacuum is applied to the unit, and see if it comes out somewhere, and where it is. Most likely a hole in the line somewhere.

And for three, you can try white lithium grease on the sliding pins on the caliper.

 

Cruise control operates on engine vacuum. The unit is located just behind the driver's side headlight. Check the vacuum supply line from the intake to the unit. If you have a vacuum pump, pull a vacuum on the unit and see if it holds.

Does the washer pump run, but not spray? Or not run at all? The resevoir and pump are behind the left front corner of the bumper, the discharge hose runs along the underside of the fender, then goes through the body into the engine compartment at the left upper rear corner of the engine compartment. If the pump runs but no flow, the line may frozen. The pump can be accessed by undoing the fender liner at the front. If you disconnect the hose from the pump, the fluid will drain out (maybe the line is cracked). If there is no leakage when not running the pump, remove the line from ahead of the nozzles on the underside of the hood. If you get flow here, then your nozzles are probably clogged. Best chance at cleaning them is to backflow them with fluid and/or air to flush stuff out the larger supply port.

Squeal or whine with the brakes applied or not? How much pad is left? Are the calipers hanging up on the slide bolts?

 

The brakes actually stop squealing when I apply the brake. I've checked the pads, and there is quite a bit left, no where near the squeaker.

 

The pads are probably dragging on the rotor. Suggestions in order from easiest to hardest:
- clean and relubricate the shims with proper lubricant
- clean and relubricate the slide bolts
- rebuild the calipers. If there is contamination built up inside the caliper or between the seal and boot, the piston may not be able to completely release and cause the pads to continually rub hard on the rotor. Any runout of the rotor will force the pads and or caliper to have to move while driving. Applying the brakes clamps everything up and stops the squeaking.