ABS Pump

D

DennisW

Member
My first run out after winter lay-up produced the three warning lights indicating a problem with the ABS system. My local garage diagnosed a problem with the ABS pump. They sent the pump away for refurbishment but on collecting the car the brakes felt very spongy. I took the car back to the garage assuming it was just an airlock problem which they confirmed when I collected the car but they advised that the brakes would not perform as before because of the refurbishment! They are still spongy! Is this a common problem?
 
DennisW said:
My first run out after winter lay-up produced the three warning lights indicating a problem with the ABS system. My local garage diagnosed a problem with the ABS pump. They sent the pump away for refurbishment but on collecting the car the brakes felt very spongy. I took the car back to the garage assuming it was just an airlock problem which they confirmed when I collected the car but they advised that the brakes would not perform as before because of the refurbishment! They are still spongy! Is this a common problem?
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What???
Take it somewhere else, that is a ridiculous statement.
Did they do the full bleed, using the diagnostic tools to activate the ABS?
If not then that is your problem.
But whatever the cause, for a garage to tell you that is ludicrous!
 
[ref]DennisW[/ref], if you give us the area you live in then hopefully a forum member will be able to recommend a garage with at least some degree of knowledge!
 
DennisW said:
Thanks for your responses. I am in Edinburgh.
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Hmmm, don't know anyone that way personally?
Could amend the thread title 'ABS Pump help needed - Edinburgh area' ?
 
Thats bad ...it amazes me that garages think that they can get away with that sort of bull***t, I used to work in a small village garage as a lad but would never let a car leave until it was 'right ' , needless to say I do all my own car stuff now ! ...hope you get it sorted.
 
So, can it be confirmed that getting your ABS pump reconditioned and re-programmed should not affect the braking system in any way?
 
Not sure which model you have but in my experience with both a 2004 and 2007 E85 whoever bleeds the brakes MUST use the INPA Brake service programme or equivalent to activate the pump during bleeding or you will always have spongy brakes.
I repaired my own pump on the 07 3.0si with a brush and bearing kit ( Its posted on this site) because the system gets air in it during pump removal it does not bleed properly and you get very spongy brakes .
It was for this reason that I bought a laptop and installed the INPA programmes. First time I ever needed a laptop to bleed a set of brakes.

Ask them if they ran an ABS activation programme during bleeding? Which one and with what - If not why not?

I doubt its the refurb ABS pump and as far as mine were concerned there is NO coding required after a pump change.

(Things may be different on later models or ABS pumps.)
 
Hi Rucky, Thanks for your info! It's a 2007 3.0Si that I have so I will now ask my garage if they have followed the correct procedure! Cheers.
 
DennisW said:
So, can it be confirmed that getting your ABS pump reconditioned and re-programmed should not affect the braking system in any way?
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Absolutely!
Any company that reconditioned one and it ended up like that would soon be out of business.
 
Thanks for all your replies so far. I will post an update once I have spoken to my garage to give them a chance to explain!
 
I had my abs pump replaced a couple of days ago. I can confirm my brakes now feel different. But in a good way!

My indy had to activate the pump a number of times. As he described it, there was the mother of air locks in the system :rofl:
 
Thanks for your info. I have been waiting for my bill to arrive before I speak to my garage. It has now arrived and is just over £1200. I will update the stream once I have spoken to the garage.
 
ECS charge about £220 for a rebuild using your pump and control module. If you change the module it needs to be re- coded to your car. The problem with 2nd hand is that the brushes are original and therefore prone to swell and jam thus causing the pump to stop working. You did well for £200 was that fitted coded and bled?
 
What are the brushes? How would I know the pump isn't working for this reason? I hope it doesn't happen to me.

Yes, fitted, coded and bled.
 
The brushes in the electric motor that drives the pump. They commonly fail and cause the ABS pumps to malfunction
 
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