If the accumulator was bad, wouldn't the pump keep running? If the acumulator doesn't hold a charge then the lights would never go out.

No, the pump would run until the accumulator was full and then stop - every time you use the brake some fluid goes from the accomulator to the resovoir, pump puts it back.

The accumulator is supposed to act as a big spring and "stores" pressure.. When they fail, it is just a space to fill and the pump will need to run again every time any leaks down or you use the brake instead of briefly every third time or so you use the brake.

With a good system on a cold start (has bled down all of the way) the pump should shut off in 20-30 seconds. With a failed accumulator it may run for a minute before stopping. If it never stops you have a different problem.

Yeah, mine runs for a good 40 seconds when all de-pressurized. But just from a cold start, its only 25ish seconds. It takes two hard stops to de-pressurize the system enough to turn the pump back on, and it takes 7-10 consistant pumps [one after the other] to get the BRAKE and ABS lights to come one for me..


-justin

when i replace it, will i need to get the brake system bled before i could drive it, or u think it should be ok

When you replace the accumulator, I suggested bleeding out all the old fluid.. because chances are your'* isn't going to be brand new.. and you should flush your brakes every 2 years, otherwise the brake fluid comes corrosive, and well, look what happened to my brake lines.. mine are rusted and falling apart, thanks to lack of maintenance IMO. You are there, you may as well take the extra time to do it. De-pressurize the brakes. Remove the fluid in the resevoir.. i use a shop vac, but I don't know if that is the best method. pull fuse #9 [I am at my dad'*, I don't have my car in walking distance], make sure the ignition is off, and remove the accumulator, put the new one on. Pour in some fluid.. i'd say half a resevoir, you can always add fluid. Then bleed the brakes until you get no air, and the fluid is nice and pretty.

Some my disagree with me on this, and that is okay, but this is just my opinion.


-justin

Agree, TEVES needs to be flushed about every three years and use only DOT 3 fluid - no DOT 5 or synthetics.

The procedure is a bit odd, see http://www.reatta.net/brakes/brakes_flushing.html

If you are unlucky like me.. you will have old fluid in there.. and of course your lines will rust, like mine have big old problems finding the line.


-justin