Braking problem - malfunctioning ABS

JeepTodd · 04-27-2009, 08:18 PM

I have seen some weird brake problems, very similar to what yo are seeing, that are from a tiny air bubble in the ABS system itself. I am told you have to bleed the brakes with the ABS cycled open. The ABS cycle is different for every car. The easist way is to have a dealership computer cycle it. Otherwise there should be some sequence of things you can do to cycle it open.

ChrisSlicks · 04-27-2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks guys.

I'm taking it to the dealer in the morning, see if they can cycle the ABS controller and pop that bubble outta there.

ChrisSlicks · 04-28-2009, 09:20 AM

I took it to the dealer this morning but the technician was unable to reproduce the problem, which isn't altogether surprising. He's going to talk to Nissan engineering to get their opinion but somehow I think I'm going to end up on my own.

I'm going to bleed the brakes with the car running and see where that gets me. I'm going with the ATE Blue fluid for now.

wstar · 04-28-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I took it to the dealer this morning but the technician was unable to reproduce the problem, which isn't altogether surprising. He's going to talk to Nissan engineering to get their opinion but somehow I think I'm going to end up on my own.

I'm going to bleed the brakes with the car running and see where that gets me. I'm going with the ATE Blue fluid for now.

Without a computer hooked up that can talk to the ABS controller, you won't be able to properly bleed an air bubble out of the ABS. There are tools available that can do it for most cars, it's kinda like hooking up an OBD-II code reader (same socket), but the tool talks via CAN to the ABS computer and can instruct the ABS to purge itself, etc. This tool: Actron® does it for ~1996-2005 domestics, but probably doesn't cover our car. Or you can just have the dealer do it.

ChrisSlicks · 04-28-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Without a computer hooked up that can talk to the ABS controller, you won't be able to properly bleed an air bubble out of the ABS. There are tools available that can do it for most cars, it's kinda like hooking up an OBD-II code reader (same socket), but the tool talks via CAN to the ABS computer and can instruct the ABS to purge itself, etc. This tool: Actron® does it for ~1996-2005 domestics, but probably doesn't cover our car. Or you can just have the dealer do it.

Yeah, I was afraid of that. Unfortunately I think I'm going to have a hard time convincing them to bleed the brakes even if I offer to pay for it. They're acting all suspicious now, the service writer walked around the whole car checking it out, looking for what I don't know ... signs of abuse maybe? I drive my car hard but I don't abuse it.

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04-27-2009, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
JeepTodd Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aurora, Oh Posts: 1 Drives: 2000 Jeep XJ Rep Power: 18	I have seen some weird brake problems, very similar to what yo are seeing, that are from a tiny air bubble in the ABS system itself. I am told you have to bleed the brakes with the ABS cycled open. The ABS cycle is different for every car. The easist way is to have a dealership computer cycle it. Otherwise there should be some sequence of things you can do to cycle it open.

04-27-2009, 10:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 655	Thanks guys. I'm taking it to the dealer in the morning, see if they can cycle the ABS controller and pop that bubble outta there.

04-28-2009, 09:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 655	I took it to the dealer this morning but the technician was unable to reproduce the problem, which isn't altogether surprising. He's going to talk to Nissan engineering to get their opinion but somehow I think I'm going to end up on my own. I'm going to bleed the brakes with the car running and see where that gets me. I'm going with the ATE Blue fluid for now.