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Honda Accord (1994-1997) Maintenance and Repair

1546 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 8:10 AM

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#1370 of 1546 Re: 1997 Honda Accord EX cigarette lighter [krishanu] by drzoltar Apr 07, 2009 (3:04 pm)
Replying to: krishanu (Apr 07, 2009 2:52 pm) There is a way to do it. You have to remove the center console to access it. If you search on-line for instructions on how to replace the radio in a 1996 Honda, it's essentially the same steps.   It's very easy and should only take 15-20 minutes to do. I have almost no mechanical aptitude and I found it very easy.
#1371 of 1546 Mushy Brake, 95 Accord LX Sedan by jhrost Apr 17, 2009 (4:40 pm)
For the last few days, the brakes feel kind of soft & "mushy"; that is, the resistance seems less than before. I haven't had to make any fast stops, but the brakes seem to work ok for the most part, even on steep downhills. Usually if you pump the pedal a couple of times the resistance seems to firm up, but even then, if you hold the brake down, you can sort of feel the pedal sinking under your foot, after an initial period of greater resistance.   I bought the car new nearly 15 years ago (about 160,000 miles), and this is the first time, I believe, that I've had this exact problem. In earlier life, when my at-that-time economic circumstances compelled me to drive a succession of used American- made beaters, this was a not uncommon problem for me, but with the passage of time and the availability of more reliable Japanese-made cars, I've kind of forgotten what the exact cause of it is, though I'm sure I must have known the answer at one time.   The first thing that popped into my mind was that the brake fluid must be low, but, as near as I could determine, the level seems to be ok. I know that in the full spectrum of automotive problems which can exist, this is a fairly common one, so I'm hoping that someone out there can jog my aging memory and tell me what's causing this symptom and what I could/should do about it.   Thanks in advance for any advice or input. I greatly appreciate anyone's insight into the nature of this problem. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Apr 17, 2009 4:53 pm) omarr (Apr 17, 2009 4:59 pm) corkscrew (Apr 18, 2009 5:50 am) jhrost (Apr 19, 2009 9:04 pm)
#1372 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake, 95 Accord LX Sedan [jhrost] by thegraduate Apr 17, 2009 (4:53 pm)
Replying to: jhrost (Apr 17, 2009 4:40 pm) Sounds like your master cylinder is leaking. Mine was replaced in my '96 LX I4 at around 175k miles. Brake fluid been changed regularly? I bet not. Water gets in the brake fluid and breaks down the seals. Was a $300 repair at the dealer.   No problems since, and I'm at 191k on mine. Amazingly, I've never replaced the rear brakes, and the fronts are still good after over 55k miles.
#1373 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake, 95 Accord LX Sedan [jhrost] by omarr Apr 17, 2009 (4:59 pm)
Replying to: jhrost (Apr 17, 2009 4:40 pm) The honda master cylinders internal seals will fail and there will no external leak. The fluid by passes the internal piston seal. My honda had the same problem, changed the master cylinder and now have excellent brakes.
#1374 of 1546 Mushy Brake Follow-up by jhrost Apr 17, 2009 (5:22 pm)
Thanks for that amazingly swift feedback. You guys both sound pretty certain about the nature of this problem. Are there any other obscure and perhaps less costly explanations for what I'm experiencing, or is the master brake cylinder the culprit with something approaching metaphysical certitude?   If I can't get around to a repair in the next couple of days, is it dangerous to drive this car - I mean, is there a possibility for a catastrophic brake failure? Replies to this message: thegraduate (Apr 17, 2009 5:41 pm) elroy5 (Apr 17, 2009 5:57 pm)
#1375 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake Follow-up [jhrost] by thegraduate Apr 17, 2009 (5:41 pm)
Replying to: jhrost (Apr 17, 2009 5:22 pm) While I wouldn't postpone the repair too long, I drove mine for weeks before realizing a problem existed. it'll just slowly get worse, in all likelihood.   And, that problem is fairly common, in many cars. It's easily diagnosed, typically. Catastrophic failure? Unlikely. The brake system is divided in half, I believe, so if one part goes (either Front Left and Rear Right, or Front Right, Rear Left) you should be left with the other portion.
#1376 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake Follow-up [jhrost] by elroy5 Apr 17, 2009 (5:57 pm)
Replying to: jhrost (Apr 17, 2009 5:22 pm) If the brake pedal sinks, with steady pressure, either the master cylinder seals are leaking, or there is a fluid leak somewhere. If you don't see fluid leaking anywhere, you likely have a master cylinder problem. A spongy feeling brake pedal is a sign of air in the brake lines (need to bleed the air out). If the brake pedal seems to push back on your foot, that is a sign of vacuum/booster problems. Brakes are pretty simple, until you get into ABS, SC, etc.
#1377 of 1546 Thank you. by jhrost Apr 17, 2009 (6:38 pm)
Thanks to all for the insightful comments
#1378 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake, 95 Accord LX Sedan [jhrost] by corkscrew Apr 18, 2009 (5:50 am)
Replying to: jhrost (Apr 17, 2009 4:40 pm) Don't wait, drive the car directly to the nearest mechanic and have the master cylinder checked out.This problem happened to my wife's car and we put it off. Two days later she came to a stop sign and the pedal went to the floor, no brakes. She made a quick right turn and just missed being hit by a pickup truck   Corkscrew. Replies to this message: jhrost (Apr 19, 2009 9:04 pm)
#1379 of 1546 Re: Mushy Brake, 95 Accord LX Sedan [corkscrew] by jhrost Apr 19, 2009 (9:04 pm)
Replying to: corkscrew (Apr 18, 2009 5:50 am) Thanks for that information.

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