On 10 Oct 2003 06:59:49 -0700, wfisher@charlottebusinesssolutions.com
(Will) wrote:

>Hello,
>When I initially start my '97 Honda Accord EX everything is good. No
>lights or signals. After about 1 minute I hear something click once
>over in front of the front passenger seat. It may be coming from the
>glove compartment. Right when I hear the click an orange "ABS" light
>comes on over to the right of the speedometer.

As others have said, your ABS system has thrown a code and failed to
activate... probaly because it couldn't get the system up to working
pressure.

>Sometimes when I first crank the car(in the morning) I hear some type
>of pump; it sounds like an aquarium air pump coming from the front on
>the driver's side. It turns off after about a minute or two. I spoke
>with a mechanic and he pointed to a tall cylinder above the front
>driver's side wheel. He said that this cylinder may compress the ABS
>system. But he doesn't specialize in Hondas or Break Systems. Can
>anyone confirm this and how serious is this? Will my breaks totally
>fail? How much does it cost to replace? Is this even the
>problem?--Thanks in advance!
>-will

The pump you hear is the ABS pump trying to pressurize the system - it
should not last more than a few seconds. Check the ABS brake fluid level
*and* condition - if the level is low and/or the fluid is dark looking, you
*may* be able to avoid costly work if you change it. The modulator unit,
pic here: http://makeashorterlink.com/?L20561D26, is probably not holding
pressure at its seals and leaking internally back to the reservoir - very
expensive to replace.

Also check for any fluid leaks around the modulator - those models have
plugs in the modulator which can leak and if caught early can be
re-adjusted.

Your brakes should continue to work OK without the ABS system in action.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??