Hi All... I'm going to be doing some routine maintenance on my wife's 97 SE (~80k) this weekend, and I need some direction on a few things that I couldn't find in the faq or the first 35 pages of this forum :rolleyes: (If only the search function worked :()

Brief Summary of what I'm doing:
1) Accessory Belt replacement
2) Spark Plug replacement
3) Oil change
4) Fuel Filter change
5) Auto Tranny Fluid change
6) Full Brake System bleed
7) Coolant Flush & Replace upper/lower rad hoses
8) Getting to the bottom of a chronic ABS light problem
9) If time allows, removing the POS Bose radio to extract a stuck tape

What I need to know: (If you have the ability to search, a link to a thread would be a most appreciated response)
#5 above - Total Fluid amount and recommended brand of fluid if one is preferred by those on this board. Manual says DextronIII, but no fluid amount :rolleyes:

#6 above - how much fluid does the brake system hold on this car? Again the manual does not state this :rolleyes: Also, if there is any specific process unique to this car, other than the common start from the wheel furthest from the MC to the closest during the bleed please let me know.

#8 above - Any post on Diagnosing the ABS light? I was surprised there was nothing in the FAQ and howto about this, and I found very little in the hour I went back through the posts from the past month... Hopefully there is a good post explaining this that can be found further back.

As you can see, I plan on doing quite a bit this weekend, but the car is overdue for it and I'd like to knock out everything all at once :) Thanks in advance for helping me out :thumbsup:

 

#5. Just drain 3 or 4 quarts outta the tranny. then add 3 or 4 from the top. when ALL fluid is removed it can hold 12+ quarts of tranny fluid so dont pull the pan.

#6 get enough, when u bleed your brakes check the fill line under the hood. eye it out if you can

#7 ummm. didnt see a #7

#8 Search a few pages back in the threads. your sure to find ABS problems. good day.

 

Thanks for the info Bob... So your method for the tranny (#5) is the proper procedure for doing a tranny fluid service on this car? Please Don't mind my ignorance in the matter, I've only ever owned manuals

 

#5 Typically 4 quarts for a drain and fill. If you let it drain for a long time (30 minutes) up to 5 qt may come out. The drain plug uses the same washer as the engine oild plug. The old fluid has been in there for 80K??? That's too old.

#6 One quart. Don't let the brake reservoir run down. Also if you bleed by pumping the brake pedal, don't push it all the way to the floor. Put a thick book under the brake pedal.

 

Thanks UncleMax ... The Tranny was flushed at 41k when we purchased the car, so no it isn't original My only concern was whether a drain and fill was sufficient for the tranny in this car, or if it was common practice to drop the pan and completely emtpy the tranny out.

Thanks for the info on the brake fluid.. I went and purchased two quarts to be on the safe side since it wasn't documented anywhere... Looks like I'll have enough left to do my car again (even though it's only been a year since the last full bleed )

 

Check the 4th Gen How To's for help with these.

-Nick

 

Believe me ... I was there.. Problem is there is only info about manual trannies in there (part of the 60k maint faq) but nothing related to auto trannies, which is what I am dealing with here

 

Ok, I officially give up... I think I've searched through nearly 200 pages by hand in the 4th gen forums looking for info on how to solve this ABS light problem but have come up empty. If anyone is able to search this forum for ABS and wouldn't mind helping me out, could you please post a few links to threads about the ABS system and troubleshooting it?... I would be eternally grateful

 

This site has a lot of maintenance info:

http://www.motorvate.ca/

On the one below <click> maintenance:

http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/

Or:

http://www.nwmaxima.com/

 

Did you pull a code on this?

Theres really only like a few things that can go wrong on an ABS system.

On some of the connectors to the ABS motor, water could get in and short it out. Do you hear the ABS motor running even if you turn the car off (if the ABS light is on?)

The second thing would be an ABS wheel sensor. Those will occasionaly go. Unfortunatly, its tough to tell unless its a constant ABS light and you catch it.

 

Read this article. Near the end of it you will find some information on diagnosing the abs system.
abs article


Hope this helps!

 

I haven't pulled a code for this.. I have an OBDII scanner, but would that pull codes for the ABS light? I always thought I'd only get codes for a check engine light, so I didn't even bother hooking it up. If there is a way to pull codes for the ABS system that could help narrow things down, please share!!

My first assumption was the wheel sensors... I had a problem with my Probe awhile back where one of the grounds on my front left wheel sensor was not adequate and it caused my light to go on... A little cleaning of the surface and remounting of the sensor fixed that problem. BUT, that car will flash codes at me for the ABS system, and I couldn't find any info on how to get the MAX to do the same thing for me!!!

What happens now is I start the car, no ABS light... First time I step on the brakes though with the car moving a decent speed, I'll feel the ABS kick in then the light goes on and stays on until the car is shut back off

Thanks for all the links and info guys... I'm going to do some reading up on all of them now

 

Ahh, fault code instructions.... This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank You