I have a Honda Accord DX (‘96). I got it this past winter from someone who was the only owner. Had about 180,000 now it’s around 195,000. Over the past several months the ABS light would come on here and there. My boyfriend who is a mechanic said it isn’t something to really worry about, brakes are all new, put on two months ago. The car was just inspected last month with no problems, besides a small exhaust leak we’re fixing soon.

The past week or so my brakes have been going almost all the way to the floor, I have to pump them to have them feel normal. The ABS light isn’t coming on, but the container for the fluid, the one toward the front of the car has fluid in it below the min. line. I took the cap off at Auto Zone with one of those guys there and tried putting brake fluid in it but it won’t go in, either its clogged or I’m entering the fluid at the wrong place. My master cylinder is good, fluid in there is good. There are also no leaks at all under my car or on any parts under the hood. My boyfriend is at Navy boot camp so he can’t help me now and I really don’t want to ask his friends. I have all of his tools and am familiar with some simple repairs. But I’m curious if the brakes will have to be bled to fix the problem? If so I guess it’s not something I can do on my own?

Sorry for the sporadic questions/explanations, just really need help!

Also .. sometimes when I go to brake when going 60 mpg +/- the steering wheel shakes. Tires are all on securely so is that a bad sign for the brakes too? I know its disc brakes on all four wheels. I’m pretty sure all were checked and are good/replaced. I know pads in the front were replaced last month. I think rotors too but that I’m not sure of, thinking maybe bad rotors? Help please!

 

LX* , my bad

 

With the car on and sitting in D with the brakes on....hold steady pressure, does the pedal sink to the floor?

Can't hurt to bleed the brake system just to be sure there is no air. If that does nothing for the issue.....change the brake master.

As for filling the ABS unit, there is a clear plastic cap under the black rubber cap. Both have to be removed to fill the abs unit.

As for the ABS light. Your 96 should still have the old OBD-I connector under/around the glove box. If you jump that connector the abs light will flash the code(s)....once you get that we can help with fixing that issue.