A reminder that leaking caps kill more than Macs

[NJRoadfan]

Eternal September offers free NNTP service for all the major Big 8 groups. Its handy to have around since Google Groups stinks for USENet newsgroups these days.

 

[Scott Baret]

I'm pretty sure it was caps that killed the ABS computer in my Volvo 850. The mechanic I saw for that car had me send it to a guy in Idaho who repaired them. My guess is he's a re-cap guy like some of the folks around these parts.

 

[Unknown_K]

I'm pretty sure it was caps that killed the ABS computer in my Volvo 850. The mechanic I saw for that car had me send it to a guy in Idaho who repaired them. My guess is he's a re-cap guy like some of the folks around these parts.

I would assume you need somebody reputable to fix an ABS computer for a car else insurance won't cover you anymore.

 

[Scott Baret]

I would assume you need somebody reputable to fix an ABS computer for a car else insurance won't cover you anymore.

Interesting thought on that, since there are cars out there without ABS. It's basically like the ABS system is broken if the computer is out. This may vary by company and state, but I lucked out and went out of town myself while this car was getting it fixed. We paid for expedited shipping so the computer would be back by the time I came back.

 

[Unknown_K]

I assume if the ABS system fails you can still drive but the computer won't pump the breaks to stop a lockup of the wheels. Was wondering if a badly repaired system would lockup the brakes or keep you from stopping in an emergency.

 

[CC_333]

I assume if the ABS system fails you can still drive but the computer won't pump the breaks to stop a lockup of the wheels. Was wondering if a badly repaired system would lockup the brakes or keep you from stopping in an emergency.

Yes, I think that's correct. Unless it malfunctions in some weird way, like pumping the brakes spuriously or preventing a safe stop, which I suppose could be caused by a badly repaired ABS computer, which isn't good.

I think it's best not to fool around with such things, unless you know *exactly* what your doing. Either send it off to be repaired, or just simply go out and buy a new or reconditioned one. The problem with older cars, though, is that these computer modules may no longer be available in working condition, in which case one may have no other choice but to attempt a repair themselves.\

Be that as it may, while ABS is nice and all, if the system breaks down and can't be repaired right away, it might be best for those who may be particularly paranoid to simply disconnect the ABS computer, or even remove it altogether, if it's no too difficult. That way, a malfunction can't cause drive-ability problems, as on a fair amount of cars (as far as I know), the ABS system, I would think, should be inert without a computer to activate it.

PCMs are also a problem. In fact, I have that Ford Windstar that seems determined to remain broken. We've had it checked numerous times, and every time, the PCM diagnostics have shown nothing. Can it be that the programming is correct, but some caps being out of tolerance is causing it to receive false sensor data and/or send false control signals?

Being as a reconditioned PCM is only about $50, I might as well get one and see what happens when I install it. The worst is that it'll behave as it is now, which would disprove my hunch.

c

 

[68krazy]

For whatever it's worth to this thread, I had a pretty nasty accident back in July that wouldn't have happened if my car had had ABS.  I was driving my '96 Civic (may she rest in peace) and I had no ABS as it wasn't standard for that model year.

I was on the freeway going ~70mph.  A car to my right merged into my lane without seeing me.  Honked my horn, they kept coming into my lane.  No ABS on my car, so when I realized we were going to have a crash, I wasn't able to stop quickly enough to get out of the other car's way.  My brakes locked and my car slid forward in a 60mph cloud of smoke.  There was no shoulder (it was a cramped freeway in downtown Sacramento) so I had to swerve into the divider wall on my left to avoid a collision with the other car.

It was an awful experience.  My car was a total loss and I was very lucky to have not been hurt.  It really made me reconsider the value of a working ABS system, and I never, ever, ever want to drive or even ride in a car without it ever again.