95 Odyssey ABS Accumulator

[Larry B]

I have a 95 Honda Odyssey with 90,000 miles.

Over the last few months our Odyssey's accumulator has been buzzing
more and more (we only just recently found out what was actually
causing that noise). Lately, it has worsened and the ABS light is now
on.

Is this something that "should" go bad, as in normal wear and tear?

Is there some kind of designed obsolesence or a premature failure
problem?

Is this pretty commonplace?

Are there reasonable alternatives to having it fixed by the dealer?
The $1,100 quote is $850 parts and $250 labor. A used one sounds like
a dumb idea.

Thanks, Lar

 

[E. Meyer]

I have a 95 Honda Odyssey with 90,000 miles.

Over the last few months our Odyssey's accumulator has been buzzing
more and more (we only just recently found out what was actually
causing that noise). Lately, it has worsened and the ABS light is now
on.

Is this something that "should" go bad, as in normal wear and tear?
No

Is there some kind of designed obsolesence or a premature failure
problem?

Appears to be designed with a short life

Is this pretty commonplace?
Yes

Are there reasonable alternatives to having it fixed by the dealer?
The $1,100 quote is $850 parts and $250 labor. A used one sounds like
a dumb idea.

That quote sounds about right. But before you do it, completely change the
fluid in the brakes, both the mains and the ABS, then go out and exercise
the system (find a dirt road and slam on the brakes a couple of times such
that the ABS engages). Of course you have to exercise it before the light
comes on. Sometimes that will cure it for awhile by clearing the crud from
the piston seals between the ABS and the main lines.

What is happening, (you can also pull a fault code from the ABS to confirm)
is the system is leaking internally and it is not able to maintain pressure.
If it has to pump it up too many times over a predetermined amount of time,
it turns off the system and turns on the light.

Fortunately, you have full main braking capability without the ABS, so if
you don't want to blow $1000 on what amounts to an option on a car that old,
you can simply put a piece of tape over the light and forget about it.

You are right about a used one being a dumb idea.