ABS Light On!

[superdave]

I have just bought a 1990 Esprit Turbo and the ABS warning light comes on fully after the car has been running for approx 2 mins. It doesn't come on when I test the brakes before. Also when stationary, I can hear a whirring noise for approx 3 seconds every now and again in the front of the car. Any suggestions and is this costly?

[cnh1990]

I have heard that the accumilator goes bad or leaks, it is up front. On USA cars it is on the left just behind the light pod. There is a chance the unit is on the right in UK cars. I have not seen an UK car yet.
Calvin

[wcdeane]

I have the same problem on my '91 SE. A Lotus dealer diagnosed it as a bad pressure accumulator before I had even bought the car. I have been driving the car with the light on for about 6 months now. I have considered two things. 1.)Converting the car to non-ABS, that is, removing all the ABS components, and installing all the corresponding components from a pre-ABS vehicle. 2.) Just replacing the accumulator. A US dealer tells me that Lotus is no longer selling the replacement part. However, lucky for us, this particular part also happens to be a Jaguar part, part # JLM-1907. It costs about $385 US.

I haven't yet made up my mind on which way to go. I hate ABS, but the conversion is a little painful, and is likely to cost a little more than the simple replacement of the accumulator.

This may not help you much, but at least you have a source for your part if it comes down to that.


Good luck...Walt '91 SE

[5150Neo]

Walt,

Does your brake pedal feel stiff when pressed?

[cnh1990]

By the way the I don't know about the later model ABS, but the old ones are real nasty during high performance driving on a rough road or if you hit a pothole or even a manhole cover in turn while braking. The front end is so light it will trigger the ABS and you will have a real possibility to have an off road excursion. I can out brake and out turn an ABS Esprit if the roads are even a little bumpy or if it activates.
Calvin

[wcdeane]

Yes. And the level of pressure needed to slow the car down seems a little unsteady. I can also feel and hear the pressure accumulator actuating from time to time.

[wcdeane]

Oh, and there is one more thing. I thought that since the AntiLock light was on that perhaps I would be able to lock the front wheels up on a very hard brake, but not so. When I stand on the brakes I don't get that thump, thump, thump pulsation that I get with my other ABS vehicles. It just doesn't seem to stop very well, and the wheels refuse to lock at all. There doesn't seem to be any skidding whatsoever.

[cnh1990]

Whenever you take a ABS out of a regular sized car and put it into something light like an Epsirt I would imagine it is going to act strange. Oh it would be okay for around the town normal driving or a panic stop in traffic. At the track and even playing with others on the road. Those ABS cars have had their share of off road excursions. Not bad ones, but enough to scare the cr*p out of them. The G cars, early Stevens, Sevens all did okay and then I look in mirror all kinds of stuff is happening in the ABS cars. I suppose it could have been driver error, but Tim Engel out local Lotus guru and veteran racer points to the ABS. He agrees there is nothing wrong with them for regular driving, but when you are ecpecting consistant performance and then the ABS throws that off when you are not expecting it there may be trouble in that turn.
Calvin 90 SE with no ABS

[5150Neo]

Walt,
I too have the same conditions. Although when I break hard the car stops on a dime. I have not tried to lock up the wheels yet. I'll try it when I get the front end put back together,(replacing bushings and installing Wilwood upgrade).
I'm curious if I get the same results you have. Because of what Calvin just mentioned I decided some time ago not to investigate the ABS. The car stops very well with added pedal effort but smooth and consistant. Instead, I decided to rebuild the rear brakes and install Wilwoods up front. The last thing I want is any instability. So as soon as I get things back together I'll try locking the wheels.
If you will, let me know what you decide to do and what the results are with your car.

Cheers
John

[janszott]

I too have the problem of the compressor running for about 5 seconds every 2nd or third time I use the brakes. I don't get the ABS warning light though. Is it normal for the compressor to run like that? A mechanic I know says he thinks the system is GM from 1991 Cutlass Supreme but I have not been able to verify that and I can't find any crossref on the Web.
I did find the JLM-1907 at www.welshent.com/xj40/xj40parts.asp?part=Brake%20Controls#, but the rest of the system doesn't look anything like the Lotus.

[wcdeane]

Hey, Jan:

Thanks for the hyperlink! Welsh sells this accumulator for about half the price of what my local Jaguar dealer wants. However, I may look into that '91 Cutlass application before I buy. Don't want to pay too much, you know.

Walt '91 SE

[wcdeane]

I researched the Olds Cutlass thing and found a part number for what they call the "Brake Master Cylinder Accumulator". That number is 88927271, However, their Dealer list price is $446. I think that I'm going to try the Jaguar part for about 1/3 the price.

Walt...'91 SE

[wcdeane]

I desided to fix my ABS brakes instead of converting to conventional brakes. Unfortunately, I am missing the ABS section in my Lotus "Service Notes" manual, and I have a new pressure accumulator already on the way. I'm aware of the perscribed depressurizing procedures when working on the SE ABS systems. I am wondering if there are any other issues I may run into in this replacement, or if there are any good tips that might make it easy?

Thanks...Walt '91 SE

[janszott]

Have a look at this link
http://home.att.net/~aldridgec/TGP/brakes/powermaster.htm
Other than relocating the pump and accumulator, it sure looks the same to me.
I priced an accumulator for 91 Olds Cutlass Supreme from local GM dealer. $176 CDN (US$120)That's for new - not rebuilt.
It also seems that it is normal for the pump to run every 3 times the brakes are used. It looks like I don't really have a problem after all.

Jan
91SE

[wcdeane]

Thanks again, Jan. Very informative site.

Walt...'91 SE