i bought a saff 2wd today, which i WAS going nick the engine/box out of and break the rest, but after looking at it properly, its a nice little car i think and im considering keeping it.

I have a problem with the brakes though. The pedal has a rock hard feel to it, like it hasnt got any servo/vaccum assistance, and i assume its the ABS pump not working as i cant hear it ever pump up when the ignition is on, like my 3dr does.

Where do i start too see if there is power going to the pump or not? What bits do i need to check? ive checked all the fuses under the bonnet, but they are ok....

i have a voltmeter, and half know what im up to, so any pointers would be great

 

fuse is under passenger side off dash if i remember right

 

is it worth checking to see if thats blown then? is it common?

forgot to say there is no ABS light, but i dont know if thats been disconnected or not, and also, the fluid level light is constantly on....

 

@ your avatar, Sorry can't help about the question!

 

check the plugs around by the pump and resivior

 

do you know what each plug does? there is 3 isnt there?

 

in one word "No" lol. just i had a hard pedal once when the reservoir plug came off and the abs pump stopped working

 

Check for 12V at the pump connector, if it's even plugged in (on the early looms, the connector can get knocked out of the pump pretty easily)

If you haven't got 12V there, check the fuses behind the glove box (in the same bit of loom as the green and pink relays)

If the brake warning light is on because of low system pressure (which it probably will be if the pump isn't working and the brake pedal has been pushed more than approx 12 times), the ABS light should also be on.

 

well, when you flick the ignition on, the light doesnt even come on, so i reckon the bulbs been disconnected for MOT reasons???

and like you say, its an early saff (E reg), but im pretty sure i wiggled all the connectors quickly.
Do you know what connector is the power for the pump? i take it its one of the ones behind the heat shield under the bonnet?

Thanks for your help so far

 

the very bottom connector (2 pin)

 

thank you mate

so is that one powered by the green fuse under the dash?

i pumped the pedal loads of times earlier WITHOUT the ignition on to depressurize the system, then i switched ignition back on, and no noise from pump.

 

yes

 

ta

 

Mine did this whilst going to a rolling road shootout years ago, turned out to be the relay under the passanger side dash m8.

Steve

 

did it feel like it had no brake assist then? reminds me of then i took the vacuum off my mk1 escort servo and the brakes were shite!

is that relay green too?

 

if it's not priming the pump then you'll get no assistance and shite stopping

if the red light is on then it's a pressure fault and shoudln't really be driven at all

 

right, update
tonight i checked the relay and fuse, they are fine. So i did a voltage check at the power connector for the pump, and it had 0.02v and was flickering, so i knew it had "something" there.

Pulled off the multi plug for the pressure switch, and 2 of the 5 spades were corroded by water. Cleaned them up, and then plugged it back in, and now i have 12v at the pump connector. Gunna reconnect and run the car up tomorrow . Must have been the pressure switch not turning the pump on for some reason.

 

There should be continuity on the pressure switch connector between the brown/black wire (from the pump relay) and the brown wire (earth) when the accumulator pressure drops below 140 bar, turning on the pump relay and thus the pump. Obviously if the pins are corroded and no contact is made, the pump doesn't run.

Now you just need to look at the ABS warning light.........let us know if you need help or if it has simply been disconnected.

 

also check the fluid level switch

 

i take it you just bridge the connection on the fluid level switch plug to see it if goes out, right?

 

you could do, yes. or check that the float operates the switch by moving it with your multimeter connected across it.

 

cheers Nick

 

If the level switch is fubared, the ABS light would be on all the time - but it doesn't come on at all

 

the fact that it does not come on at all, which it should at ignition on, only suggests that the bulb is not plugged in or blown. it does not rule out any other fault.

 

yeah, it dont come on at all. gunna take dash out and make sure its plugged in tomorrow

 

How did you get on with this problem boXXer?

 

free bump post up the results and or the fix mate

helps with anyone who can actually use the search facility who has the same problems

 

how many cars you got now

 

sorry chaps!

basically, i checked the voltage at the pump connector after depressurizing the system, and it didnt have any!

So i pulled off the plug for the pressure switch, and low and behold it was gummed up with that oxidised green shit. Cleaned it all up, and as soon as i switched the ignition on, it started pumping :thumbs:

next thing is to get dash out and see if abs light is disconnected, as i went for a quick drive and it all locked up when i got on the brakes hard. Maybe sensor failure?

RAN: WAY Too many mate

 

Got a problem with mine now, sometimes (when cold/wet typically seems to be the pattern!) the ABS light and handbrake light both come on together. Had it a few times just whilst driving. And today its done it a few times when I put my foot on the brake pedal.

This thread has given me a few things to check

 

hope you get it sorted bud, they are a fooking pain.

 

You said you checked the relays under the dash? all 3? How do you check them mate?

I've checked all 3 fuses under there (clipped to the relays) and none of them are blown.

Which connector is the power? Is it the 2pin one that goes into the brake resivour that holds the brake fluid?

And where's the connector for the pressure switch?

Sorry for all the questions

Mine is doing the following:
Sometimes after/while pressing the brakes, and sometimes while just driving the ABS light and handbrake light come on for 5s then go out. When they come on, and go out, I can hear the relay(s) clicking! The pedal is rock hard too

 

change the brake fluid as this is often the most common cause, it get's old and as it gets hotter the system pressure drops, hence the handrake light coming on as well

 

The majority of the brake fluid is new. Never had to bleed it from the front brakes, only rears.

So is it all linked with the hard pedal too mate? Are you able to answer any of my questions above?

 

Well hopefully next weekend i'm going to change all the brake fluid anyway, to eliminate this! If i can find someone that re-furbs AP calipers at a reasonable price i'll get the fronts done for peace of mind. The rears are brand new.

In the mean time any answers for the questions would be awesome!

 

just an idea, put a pic up of the pump and fluid resevoir unit and then label what each connector does for quick ref.

The reason for this is i ripped my sapph apart for focus conversion lol and would like some pointers.

cheers jason