"Ted Mittelstaedt" <tedm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:newscache$tllmwj$iuh1$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Paul of Dayton" <plus1111@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:n9yuj.1181$pl4.520@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> "Ted Mittelstaedt" <tedm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>> news:newscache$7bygwj$i1k$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >
>> > "Paul of Dayton" <plus1111@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>> > news:w2ruj.6667$xq2.4257@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> Hi folks -
>> >>
>> >> I am looking at a decent 95 T&C that has ABS problems - - diagnosis
is
>> >> "Front Brakes 20% Pressure - Ac***ulator pressure down ".
>> >>
>> >> Any ideas as to what this will take to fix? As far as I can tell,
the
>> > major
>> >> ABS problems were on vans before 1995. Otherwise, all the van needs
>> >> is
>> > new
>> >> plugs and wires. Tranny recently rebuilt, all other stuff seems ok.
>> >>
>> >> Any ideas, suggestions, stuff to share?
>> >>
>> >
>> > Whatever the problem it will have to be repaired at a dealer.
>> >
>> > The pre 96 ABS designs were completely proprietary and Chrysler
>> > did not release interface do***entation to the scantool
manufacturers,
>> > you cannot even bleed the brake system without a genuine Chrysler
>> > DRB scanner.
>> >
>> > The ABS design in 93, 94, 95 were the Bendix 4, the design is fine.
>> >
>> > The ABS design prior to this is the Bendix 10, the design is
> ass-backwards
>> > and although you can keep it running, it will consume repair parts on
a
>> > regular basis.
>> >
>> > How many miles are on this and what are you looking at paying?
>> >
>> > It's not a common failure for ABS in the 93, 94, 95 series of vans.
>> > I'd suspect some shadetree mechanic replaced a caliper or master
>> > cylinder and didn't take the vehicle in to be bled at the dealer, or
>> > they didn't periodically flush the brake fluid and water got into the
>> > system and corroded the lines. Is there any fluid leakage in any
>> > of the lines?
>> >
>> > This could be a pretty spendy repair. If it was me and I got the
>> > van for free I might take it, gut the ABS system and replace it
>> > with wrecking yard ABS parts, then take it in for bleeding and
>> > cross my fingers. You really have to get under it and take wheels
>> > off and such and really look closely at the condition of all the
brake
>> > lines, calipers, etc.
>> >
>> > Both my 94 and 95 T&C's have original factory ABS, no problems.
>> >
>> > Ted
>> >
>>
>> Thanks Ted. It has 186k on it and it is close to free. The asking
price
> is
>> $800 - negotiable. For just a few hundred more, I bet I can find a van
> that
>> I can just get into and drive.
>>
>> I have more thinking to do but I am looking away from it, now.
>>
>
> $800 is too much for a vehicle with weak brakes and 186k on it. The
> other problem is the transmission - you said it was a recent rebuild,
well
> the problem is you really don't know if the rebuild was done by someone
> skilled or by the owner's brother in law Clive with kitchen implements.
>
> Naturally, the braking system is fixable - and in fact, brakes are
pretty
> easy for a DIYer to do compared to tearing down an engine. But the
> mileage is just pretty high. If the engine is bathed regularly in oil
it
> can
> easily go to 250K. But, I would have to ask if the owner let the
braking
> system go, I'd wonder what else he let go. Is there a regular
> maintainence
> log that came with the vehicle?
>
> If the body is straight with no rust and no body damage that some
> body shop has bondoed over, and the transmission has a 50K mile
> warranty with 40K still left on it, which is transferrable from the
owner,
> then $800 is a fair price.
>
> Otherwise, I personally wouldn't go much over $500 for it but it's
> tremendously dependent on the condition of the engine. There's a
> number of easy tests you can do to ascertain this, and a mechanic
> who works on a lot of these vans would be able to tell after 5 minutes
> looking it over.
>
> Ted
>
>
Thanks Ted -
I had pulled about $500 as my max figure from somewhere deep in my head...
I have been a shade-tree mechanic all my life, learned it from my Dad. My
first car in 1972 was a '67 T-Bird with 82k miles on it and rust. I
learned
fast since I couldn't afford many trips to the garage. I still enjoy
doing
most of my own work, as long as exotic equipment isn't needed.
Mt brother is also a good mechanic although not professionally for many
years. He is a great hores-trader, tho. He thinks $300 might get it.
We'll see.
I appreciste all your tips, suggestions, and advise. I am not too afraid
to
tackle the brakes, that old '67 Bird had 4 piston front disc brakes. I
was
into them quite regularly. ICK!
Paul
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