abs pump, trouble, trouble, trouble.

heliarc

Registered User
Help,

My abs pump is burning up relays - replace the relay and the
thing works fine for about 1 day - the relay is dead afterward
in each case.

Ford tells me the pump is drawing too much current, and they
can't get any replacement parts (discontinued.)

What do I do ? this is one of the best cars I have ever owned
and I don't want to give up on it!

Can (should) I?
1) replace the relay with a unit that can handle more current ?
2) is it possible that dirt in the system is the problem ? Is it
worth draining it and cleaning it out ?
3) replace the pump - were can I find a replacement ?

Thanks for any suggestions !
 
Does the pump run almost all the time? And does the anti-lock light come on whenever you press the pedal? If so, you may have a worn out accumulator which is causing the pump to run too much. If you get into a pinch and decide you need a new motor, check the salvage yards, or you can order a complete rebuilt HCU from prior remanufacturing for much less than a new unit.
 
The pump runs normally when a good relay is installed, you can
hear it pump up the accumulator and then stop. It seems to
take 5 seconds or so to pump it up all the way.

The brakes work normally then, - no abs or brake light, after
using the brakes a few times I can hear the pump come back
on for a few seconds and then off.

After about a day, the abs and brake light start comming on
intermittantly - and you don't hear the pump running anymore
then. If you discharge the accumulator at that point, there's
no more brakes, and the pump still does not come on.
Replace the relay, and I'm good for another day or so.
 
I took the top off the relay to find out the pinout - I was going
to put a 30A lighting relay in there - but what I found was

There's nothing wrong with the relay, contact are fine, coil
resistance is OK. when I manually operate the relay, the
pump works fine.

12 volts always present at one side of the coil, very high
resistance to ground on the other - I suspect the pressure
switch is bad.

Can anyone tell me - where is the switch on the ABS unit ?
can you get this part anywhere ?

Thanks
 
It sounds like your accumulator is failing. This isn't the typical symptom for accumulator failure, but it sounds like the pump is having to overcycle because the accumulator is not maintaining system pressure. The pressure switch on the hydraulic pump is triggering the relay so that the pump can cycle to maintain the pressure. If this is being caused by the accumulator, you are indeed fortunate that the relay is crapping out instead of the hydraulic pump. (I'd rather spend $12.00 than $400.00 any day.) Before you invest in a new accumulator, drop me an e-mail and I will assist you with some diagnostics. Could also be the pressure switch, but I'm thinking accumulator.

Here's my email address, just don't tell everyone...........
larry.griggs@bellsouth.com
 
Just in case you are still having this problem and need to replace your ABS pressure switch here's some info. I did this a while ago and I bought the switch from ford. It was $165 and it ended up being $173 with taxes. It is part# E7SZ-2C244-A Pressure Warning Switch. You are going to need a special socket for this, some people have found alternate ways to use tools like a bearing socket i think, but i decided to buy the right tool. Its a special thin-wall socket made by OTC tools and i ordered it through Car Quest Auto Parts...they're like a Pep Boys or a Track Auto..but im not sure if they are all over the country. The OTC part number is 206-021. The dash in the part number IS important, i remember the person i spoke with emphasize that. Hope this helps.
 
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