$1800 or $400...Decisions.

Kinja'd!!! "AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
07/26/2016 at 06:11 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 10

So a ways back at the beginning of June, I returned from a long trip to find that every light dealing with brakes in any way was on when I started the Accord. I took the car to the nearby Goodyear to get it diagnosed.

They did it for free, but said I needed to take the car to Honda. $150 later, and I knew that the ABS/Traction Control Module was bad.

Being the nice helpful dealership that they are, my local Honda quoted me a price of $1800 to replace the Module.

Fuck that.

Instead I took a couple of weeks to shop ebay and picked up a module for $110 (including shipping) from a salvage yard on the mainland. Add in the $119 Code reader to clear the ABS codes that I read wouldn’t clear when the system performs the checks, and a large canister of brake fluid ($10) brought my total up to just about $400.

Oh, I almost forgot about the cost of the paper clip and the rags for cleaning up (hey, Honda charged me for them, so (evidently) I should expense those out when I do the work myself).

It probably took me 30 minutes to swap out the ABS Module. Bleeding the lines took quite a while as I had to push the air from the Module all the way out through the calipers. So I just flushed the system since it was most of the job anyway.

I kept checking codes as I was doing it. 81-1. cleared. 61-1 appeared. cleared. 51-1 appeared. cleared.

Finally, I was left with just ‘!’. This is where the paper clip came in. I had to jump pin 4 and 9 then hit the traction control button at the right times.

That last light went off, and I saved $1400. Which is good, cuz my Accord isn’t worth spending $1800 on repairs.

Now let’s hope it doesn’t throw any new codes tomorrow.


DISCUSSION (10)


Kinja'd!!! DutchieDC2R > AdverseMartyr
07/26/2016 at 06:18

Kinja'd!!!1

What the f*ck is going on with all the Accords these days. First David Tracy’s, now you? What the hell is going on in this world with all the Honda’s breaking down...we really are headed for a downfall, aren’t we....


Kinja'd!!! LongbowMkII > AdverseMartyr
07/26/2016 at 06:55

Kinja'd!!!1

Nice. Now with that $1400 you can Frankenstein up a turbo system ;)


Kinja'd!!! Mattbob > DutchieDC2R
07/26/2016 at 08:07

Kinja'd!!!1

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > AdverseMartyr
07/26/2016 at 08:55

Kinja'd!!!0

I prefer the ones where all the warnings for ABS, Trac, Dynamic Stability all flash like mad and warn of impending doom...

Then turns out to be a broken wire to a wheel sensor.

Solder and heatshrink, and the thoughts of all the people that would drop the car and pay $$$ to have the wire/sensor replaced plus all the bonus service doom pressure BS from some dealer/starving rip shop.

Good going jumping into it full on.


Kinja'd!!! AdverseMartyr > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated.
07/26/2016 at 15:00

Kinja'd!!!0

Well, when you look at the part, realize it is on the very top with plenty of space and is held in place by three bolts, six hydraulic lines and a big electric connector; it becomes crazy to think about spending thousands for someone else to do it.

A freaky little thermostat stuck on the backside of a tiny Daewoo import where the firewall is way too close on the other hand, I would never do again. I’ll gladly pay a mechanic with small hands a couple hundred to do that. Assuming I’m foolish enough to ever own a tiny Daewoo import again.


Kinja'd!!! AdverseMartyr > LongbowMkII
07/26/2016 at 15:00

Kinja'd!!!1

I’ve thought about it, but I’m moving in a month and need to sell the car.


Kinja'd!!! AdverseMartyr > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated.
07/26/2016 at 15:02

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Also, you are the person to whom I am trying to avoid having to sell my car.


Kinja'd!!! AdverseMartyr > DutchieDC2R
07/26/2016 at 15:04

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Everything still worked for the car to be driveable, and the Accord does have 165,000 on it. I just couldn’t mash the go pedal too hard (especially if the wheels weren’t completely straight.)


Kinja'd!!! VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > AdverseMartyr
07/27/2016 at 06:11

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Sorry if I sounded sarcastic. Was actually praising your post, and repair. I was joking about how easy cars can lead other people into the shop, and into other repairs and out of their money. You sir, don’t have this problem because you know what you are doing, and are willing to question your options.


Kinja'd!!! AdverseMartyr > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated.
07/27/2016 at 15:09

Kinja'd!!!0

Oh, I didn’t take you as being sarcastic. I just meant I am getting ready to sell the car soon, and don’t want to sell it to someone like you or me as that will mean I am losing quite a bit of money.