Brake fluid flush on an ABS equipped Honda?
 

I tried a search for brake fluid flush and also ABS but didn't come up with anything addressing my question too well so here it is:

Is doing a brake fluid flush/change on an ABS-equipped Honda the same as a non-ABS equipped car?

The car in question is a '95 Acura Integra.

The reason I ask is because I *think* the ABS in the car (and perhaps many/all Hondas?) may be a high-pressure ABS system... Anytime the car is started up you can hear the ABS pump motor "charge up"/groan and I think I remember reading something under the hood on the ABS unit regarding high pressure or something.

My car has ABS, but it isn't a "high pressure" system so everything is nearly identical to a non-ABS, but I'm wondering about the Integra (the Integra is my sister's car BTW, my car is not a Honda).

Unfortunately I don't have a service manual for the car (since pretty much no "end-user-service" is ever done on this car) and not even the owner's manual is handy since my sister drove off with the "dealer folder/wallet" thing that holds all your stuff on top of her car and lost it, lol.

Anyway thanks for any info/help anyone could give me...

notacivicfan eh? that's too bad... coulda helped you out

j/k... what do you drive?

ABS systems have one fundamental difference in bleeding the brakes, you have to actuate the ABS pump using a dealer-only external computer that you hook up and it works the ABS as you're bleeding the brakes. Reason being, you can have air trapped inside the ABS unit itself. However, seeing as how the tool is a few thousand dollars, the way to do it is to bleed the brakes as you would normally on any other car, in the correct order of course... then go for a drive, activate the ABS during your drive and then bleed the brakes one more time. It takes hella longer but it's also way cheaper. I can guarantee the dealer doesn't even use the ABS unit unless the brake system was completely drained.

Hey, yeah the name was more of a joke really. I was helping a friend who has a Civic work on his car around the time I made the username and I got really frustrated at how so many things were going wrong for us and how long stuff was taking to do, so when I joined the forum I used that name jokingly :)

Anyway thanks a lot for the info. :) I was thinking something like that would have to be done because of the high-pressure ABS; but its good to know it isn't 100% necessary.

I guess you might be able to activate the ABS pump motor using a DIY scan-tool like a ELM Scan or something, but then again I'm not sure the '95 Integra even uses OBD-II...

yeah, 95 is obd1... and you're right, some scan tools are able to work the 96+ ABS pumps but that clearly won't work for your car.

I know what you mean about being frustrated. The worst cars I've ever worked on are VW... god damn every tool is a specialty VW tool :mad: :) But I have no problems with Civics. I guess it all depends on what you're used to.

I hate civics lol :D

i hate doing tranny and clutch installs :p

95 teg, i believe there is a separate ABS fluid resevoir. It should be to the left-mid section of the engine bay. And you should be able to hear the ABS "buzz" when you start the car; cuz it has to pressurize.

Check honda-tech.com you'll find an answer there for sure. There are 2 different ABS units for integras, i'm pretty sure of it.

:ditto: on the Vdubs, what a PITA!

1 very important step is to pump the pedal, 25-30 times with the key off, leave the key off at all times so the abs pump does not cycle.


Failure to follow this step can lead to 1000+ psi comming out at you. I do a lot of abs work on a daily basis, its the same as regular brakes except there are a couple of extra safety steps you have to follow.