1994-1997 Accord ABS Modulator Replacement 

Have you tried to bleed the air out of the modulator start the engine, let the pump run, turn the engine off, and open the bleeder? Repeat this process until the burst of fluid coming out is free of air bubbles. The pump will keep cycling if the modulator is air bound. If it's cycling due to pressure decay that's usually because the accumulator's nitrogen gas charge is low. But that will usually set a 1-8 code. I diagnosed a similar issue recently the ABS light came on only while driving but no codes were stored turns out it was a bad ABS sensor. I scoped both front and both rear wheel sensors, went on a test drive, and compared the signals to each other. One of the sensors at the rear had a noticeably weaker voltage output. A resistance check of it revealed it was open circuit. The ABS module didn't set a wheel speed sensor code for some reason. The diagnostic ability of these older modules is pretty limited and sometimes you have to do a bit of detective work.

Bushougoma I have not tried to bleed the modulator yet - I did watch your video on the subject so that will be this weekends task - when I turn off the car and then back on the yellow abs fault light resets - do you know if the error code would still be stored in the abs cpu? I found the video on how to jumper the blue connector to retrieve the fault codes - I will also try this this weekend. I am guessing the fault code will be 1-3 or 1-8. Do you know if you can retrieve the error code by jumpering the connector while the car is still running and the abs light is on?

There is a constant power to the module to preserve the code memory at key off so it doesn't lose any stored codes. Yes the 2 pin connector under the glove box will allow you to pull the codes from the ABS module.

Bushougoma thank you for the info - I will report back what I discover in the next part of the trouble shooting

I pulled the abs codes - when I first put the key to run after jumpering the blue connector I thought I saw 1-2 but as the error code flashed again I saw 1-3 and 1-3 continued to cycle. I am going to bleed the modulator now edit - I followed the bleeding instructions using the test probe to short the pump motor to ground - worked great - the brake fluid that came out was a dark peanut oil color - I replaced with some Honda OEM dot 3 - I did not do a full drain and replace but I think I got at least half the old oil out - I did have an issue when I first started the car the pump ran for what seemed like 10 seconds with out the pressure switch reaching pressure - I turn off the car and assumed I must not have added enough new replacement fluid- it was very hard the see the fluid level as the plastic has become stained from the old fluid. I turned the car on again and the pump ran for less than 2 seconds and did not run again during the ten minute test drive - the abs light also did not turn on - so far no errors or pump intermittently cycling. I am worried I filled past the max line but I really can’t tell . Thanks for the great video and response to my questions. I will check the abs again in the morning.

Brake hose won't let fluid return. Replace hose.

It was just a pull from a salvage yard it cost about 80 bucks.

@@Bushougoma did you have to de pressurize the accumulator of the one you got from the salvage yard before you pulled it from the car you salvaged it from?

The 97 TL uses a completely different modulator so no.

You need to pull the code to proceed further otherwise you're just guessing. You should be able to find the code list online. It flashes a main code and a sub code for example 1-8 would be 1 long blink and 8 short blinks.

Thanks once the weather clears up I will pull the codes. Is there a reasonable priced scan tool for the DIYer which gives abs and srs codes? I saw a china made one from Autel which claims to, I will check out the ebay auction tommorrow.

Jan Post What model year is it again? The ABS computers on the 1994-1997 Accords aren't OBD 2 compliant. You can't use any type of scan tool factory or otherwise to communicate with them.

Acura cl 3.0 1997

No that will render it useless but you do have to discharge the high pressure brake fluid from the modulator by putting a hose on and opening the bleeder.