Is it possible to have brake problems and no indicator light come on? I hit a pothole not that long ago and immediately felt that the brakes were different. I had to push down much further to get the car to stop. I called the dealership and got some advice to "reset the abs system" by going over 20 mph and then hitting the brakes quick and hard. Seemed to have solved the problem. Now, same problem is occurring again. Tried the same fix, and it's not working. When I push down on the brake pedal, there is a slight "catch" (for lack of a better word) like it wants to work but then nothing. I am having to press the pedal almost near the floor to stop. No ABS or VSA or check engine light has come on. I took it to the dealership and they said the ABS modulator is bad. Wouldn't a light come on for this?

 

If your ABS modulator was bad there certainly would be a code for it, but with that said it is possible that there is air in your brake lines causing issues. Does the pedal feel spongy or firm? When is the last time brake fluid was replaced? Brake pads?

 

I would say it feels spongy. I changed the brake fluid almost 3 years ago at around 30,000 miles. There's roughly 76,000 miles on the car. I was thinking the same thing - that there might be an air bubble in the line. Supposedly, the dealership ran a test on the ABS modulator and found it was bad. I'm just confused because no light has come on. Would there be an indicator light if there was air in the line?

 

There are no indicators for air in the line (electrical ones) but there are symptoms such as a spongy brake pedal. Of course the ABS system will not function properly and fail a self test (if the dealer performed it) if there is air in the lines.

Brake fluid needs to be replaced every 2-3 years anyway so replace the brake fluid. The shop replacing the fluid will also bleed the brakes during the process. It should be under $100 for a full brake fluid service. It should make your brakes like new again!

Also the shop doing the brake fluid should check the brake lines for any damage or leaks. If you do have a damaged line, you can buy aftermarket stainless steels ones from a variety of places.