Hi everyone,

I have a 97 Honda accord 4 dr 4 cyl, SL I believe. About a month ago I started to feel a click in the brake pedal and it would go down another slight bit just before I came to a complete stop. Now after a few stops the ABS light comes on and the click stops but there is a hiss under the hood when I apply the brake when I am stopped. I leave the car and come back, the ABS light is off and when I take it for a drive the whole process starts over. I know the brakes will stop me but will driving it with ABS light on do other damage? Is there an ABS motor, no sure what the problem is but I had the calipers off near a year ago and cleaned up everything Even changed out the fluid though it seems a bit dirty now for some reason. What do you think is the issue? There is no loss or lowering of the fluid in the reservoir, just a bit rust color I think as I was told there was moisture in the system, so I changed the fluid, blead all 4 cylinders to clear, and replaced with new fluid.

Thanks for any help.

mfrs

 

Behind/below the glove box door is a blue two wire connector, pull it down, and jumper it with a wire. Turn Ignition to II(ON) and watch the ABS lamp blinks, it will be a two part code such as 8-1. Record the code(s) down and post them here.

ABS has it's own reservoir that needs to be bled as well. Attach a hose to the bleeder screw, crack it a 1/4 turn to bleed. It will be under pressure, verify bleeder hose is on the bleeder screw snug to not make a mess.
Start the engine and the ABS will recharge itself.
Refill reserivoir, rebleed, start engine to recharge, you will need to do this at least three times to get all of the old fluid out.

But first, check for any codes stored.

 

Mike, I did what you stated and all I got was the ABS light continuously flashing 4 times. There is nothing digital on my dash, just flashing lights behind lettering. On the firewall is the round reservoir I drained which I thought was the main reservoir but the one by the belts, where all the brake lines lead from, basically all, has a flat reservoir with a bleed screw. Is the reservoir near the belts/headlight with the bleed screw the ABS reservoir and is it the main reservoir? If it is the main reservoir then I may need to bleed the brake calipers again, or will that bleed screw accomplish only bleeding a small ABS reservoir near the headlight? Thinking this is a one man bleed job?

 

ABS system is near the headlight. ABS reservoir is divorced from the main brake system, fluids will only interact when the ABS is activated. Bleed the ABS system before/after bleeding the rest of the brake system to keep the fluids the same age/consistency.

Constant code four blinking is most likely 4-4. Recheck the code, it should be - - - -_- - - - ___ - - - -_- - - - and will repeat itself if there are no other codes.

Check the right wheel sensor. Verify the wiring is undamaged. Verify the wheel sensor is undamaged, not covered in debris or the wheel bearing is not sloppy causing an irregular signal from the sensor. Check that the reluctor ring is not damaged/bent/out of alignment. Resistance of the sensor should be 600-900Ω. If it is it may be causing the ABS system to activate to prevent wheel slip that is not actually occurring.