KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

does anyone know how to diagnose a bad master cylinder?

just recently the pedal has become very mushy at the top... the brake pedal goes almost to the floor before i feel resistance in the pedal... i pulled off a caliper today and the pads look good...

if i press the brake pedal hard it feels like 'nothing... nothing, GRAB!!!'

i also found that if i pump the brakes very quickly, the second press seems to build the pressure needed to be felt in the pedal...

i also turned off the car and pumped the brakes... it doesn't stay rock hard like it normally should... i can still press it down...

should i be calling Acura tomorrow???

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

called acura... bringin her in tomorrow... driving to work this morning was fun!!!

ppl should learn not to cut people off...

chase p

First thing you might want to do is check for any signs of leaks at the caliper bleeders (any brake fluid residue). If you find some, try to tighten the bleeder a little bit. If you don't find anything you can start checking other places for signs of a leak.

If you don't find any signs of a leak, you may want to just flush and bleed the brakes to see if that fixes the problem.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

would the bleeder bolt come loose for no reason? i can't imagine air getting into the system since i haven't hit my 3 yr mark to start doing brake fluid flushes yet.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

car is at the dealership... ill update with a verdict later...

mlody

Mine 06 TL had to have the cluch cylinder replaced at around 20k miles.

Bearcat94

I think Blackura_NY's 1st car had a Master Cylinder problem (well, started with that problem). Eventually it put him into a wall and totaled the car.

TL|GTX

This is kinda normal for my car, but i kinda like it. I hate touchy brakes, my aunts 08 Chevy Malibu. If ur going like 45, and slam on the breaks the front tires will skid. The TL feels very stable, and comes to a smooth stop.

hata_61

If the pedal firms up after you pump it a couple of time that means its a master cylinder internally leaking. If the leak was external then the pedal would never firm up after pumping.It should be under warranty so not a big prob.

I hate cars

Prob a master cylinder but it could still be air.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

so this is interesting... i called the dealership yesterday to follow-up on my car... service manager said that the master cylinder is fine... it is the VSA unit that has crapped out... part has been ordered and should be done by tuesday the latest...

the pedal still felt like a master cylinder to me... but ill find out after they change the VSA...

in the meantime, i am driving around their 09TL... love the inside, on the outside...

hata_61

sweeet, is it covered under warranty???

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

yeap all covered under warranty... he said that the VSA unit 'prematurely' failed... and then he corrected himself and said actually it is excessive premature failure...

i figured he knew i was going to say 'hell yes 25k miles is premature'... but i am hoping that in the process of the VSA failure, the master cylinder didn't get damaged and craps out on me after the warranty expires... but i rather change that on my own than have to pay for a VSA unit...

in the meantime i took the 09 loaner on a road trip down to DC this weekend... i could get used to the interior... it was really smooth and comfortable...

I hate cars

Glad you got it fixed. I need to do more research into the VSA module to see how it works.

Bearcat94

Uh-huh. IIRC, that's what they told Blackura_NY when he had his problem. You need to look at some of his old posts (or PM him) before you end up in the wall too.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

yeah i remember those posts... but i don't think he had a leg to stand on because it was after he got the BBK installed... so Acura can blame the install... the car is bone stock beside the CAI... they better not say Fujita caused locked brakes and failed VSA if it puts me into a wall... i will be def keeping my eye out on the whole brake system, but if something happens i will def be fighting them...

Bearcat94

That is exactly correct. There always was/could be the question of the BBK on his accident.

I'm just saying, don't let Acura jerk you around on this since we have at least one similar instance that did NOT end well.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

Im a lil drunk on a business trip in ATL, but i got your PM

Dude.. this is EXACTLY the problem i had... my master cylinder was bad, right off the lot.. it failed at about 19 miles on my car... i had it replaced.. it failed again around 400 miles... had it replaced the 2nd time... then i was rear-ended and the car sat in a body shop for 3 months..

once i got it back, i brought it in again (around 1900 miles) this time, ACura told me the TL, TSX & MDX have a "soft" feeling peddle, and its nothing to worry about..

i dealt with it until about 20k... then, (since my whole hydraulic system was f*cked) my 5AT rotors & pads were shot... so i went to upgrade to the Rotora 13" BBK

BIG MISTAKE!!! as you all know, i totalled my car 36 hours after the BBK install, because my front left caliper locked up under aggresive braking....

The insurnace company sent "forensic adjusters" and they checked out my car.. turns out, my master cylinder was bad again, due to air being pumped into the sytem



when josh @ excelerate was installed my bbk, it took him (NO LYING!!!) over 1 hour to remove my front left rotor, because it was warped and adhered to the hub... he couldnt explain why a car (at the time, was 1 year old) had this kind of issue....

it turns out, i wrecked the blackura on 7-24-2007... on 7-22-2007, Acura released a TSB about replacing the VSA module because it pumped air into the master cylinder



i would honestly, ensure everything is tight, upgrade to DOT4 fluid, and after about 500 miles, re-inspect everything.... Acura replaced my master cylinder 3 times (should have been 4, but they bullshitted me) .... they never serviced the VSA module, and it lead to the grim demise of the BLACKURA


Good luck with everything man, and BE CAREFUL!!!! also, check the rotors/calipers/pads on the front brakes... check for distoration and warping... it could lead to more severe problems... Acura should replace your rotors/pads for NO CHARGE, because their VSA module sucks

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

just to show that i was NOT lying...

here is my first thread EVER on acurazine....

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/mushy-brakes-593640/

all about my "mushy brakes" i joined AZ to get feedback, because i didnt think a brand new 35k should have had bullshit brakes...

Here is the link the my accident thread... pretty sure, i posted a link the Acura TSB regarding the VSA module.. honestly, i am WAY to hammered to look through this thread... but i would take a few miuntes to check it out... A LOT of information regarding my accident, and the root of hte failure is in in this thread

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

ok i looked.. here is the link to the TSB

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/new-tsb-04-06-tl-brakes-623310/