1993 Town & Country , Bendix-10 ABS Accumulator - Advice please

Greetings.

I've got a 1993 Town & Country, 3.3L V6 that has 160,000 miles.
It's got the Bendix-10 ABS system that's been acting up lately.
Sometimes the ABS light comes on a rapid application of the brake.
The van seems to drive fine and the ABS light comes on rarely.
I need help separating the lies the dealer tells me from truth.

So I took the car to the dealer to check out the ABS.
Four years ago at 136,000 miles I had a new ABS pump and motor
replaced under warranty. I got the impression that recall # 685
covered the ABS for the life of the vehicle, at least that's what
they told me 4 years ago. Something about a federal mandated
safety recall. Now the same dealer tends to forget that statement
and doesn't know much about the Bendix lifetime warranty.

So the dealer in the Atlanta area tells me that they cannot check
the pump and motor because the accumulator is weak. They didn't give
me a reading of pump pressure. The dealer says that they cannot
proceed to diagnose the pump until I pay $442 for a new accumulator.
So, before I know if any parts are covered under warranty I have
to pay them $442 extortion money. They even wanted to charge me $85
diagnosis charge if I didn't have any repairs done there.

Calling another 5-star Chrysler dealer gave even worse results.
They were not aware at all of a Bendix-10 problem.

So, does anyone know the truth about the Bendix-10?
Is the accumulator covered under warranty?
Does anyone know when / if the warranty expires?
Any advice on the next steps?
Please post replies if you have inportant information.

Regards -- Gary -- Atlanta

 

They are telling you the truth!! The pump, the pistons in side the assembly
or the hydraulic assembly is covered under the recall. 3 things only!!! The
accumlator is not covered. If the accumultor is bad, each time you press on
the brake pedal the ABS RED LITE will turn on because the accumulator does
not hold pressure. So the pump kicks on to try to replenish the it.
The pump turns on when the pressure drops to 1600psi and turns off at
2100psi. if you dont replace the accumulator now it will burn the pump up
and then you will be buying a pump. One more thing you may want to replace
is and not covered under the recall is the dual funtion pressure switch, it
will wear out over time and could cause the pump to not turn on. The return
filter that supplies the pump fluid is not part of the warranty either and
this should be replaced as well. The dealer has all right to charge you
for check out.
I dont think the dealer forget the statement, i think you just dont
understand the recall. I would replace the accumulator now if I were you.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

This is one of the downsides of owning an older vehicle. Eventually,
the parts become very expensive. One only has to have two or three
repairs like this, and the value of the vehicle is exceeded in
repairing it.

I just went through a simliar situation with my 1990 Dodge Spirit.

Are there any less-expensive aftermarket replacment parts for ABS
systems, that are safe to use?

-KM

 

I cant answer that, we don't use after market parts.

 

Well certainly, you just hie thee down to the local wrecker and get
yourself a complete NON-ABS master cylinder, booster, brake lines, etc.

Plenty of those vehicles were made without ABS. It isn't necessary
for the ABS system to be present on the vehicle at all.

Ted