Hi all, car is a 1994 UK coupe 2.6 auto, 115k miles.
A year ago, I made the mistake of putting brake fluid in the power
steering fluid reservoir, I realised the next day and drained the
fluid, replacing it with regular red steering fluid - another big
mistake. 2 weeks later the car dumped all of it's fluid, and my garage
diagnosed failure of the power steering pump. They replaced it, and
since then the car's been fine, but the brake light flashes for up to
a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash. Also the
steering occasionally creaks. A couple of months ago the car was
MOT'd, and the rear brake pads changed, no other problems reported,
and this is a reputable garage, I trust them.
Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
takes over 40 pumps to go hard.
Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?
Many thanks,
J.

 

fishjam@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi all, car is a 1994 UK coupe 2.6 auto, 115k miles.
> A year ago, I made the mistake of putting brake fluid in the power
> steering fluid reservoir, I realised the next day and drained the
> fluid, replacing it with regular red steering fluid - another big
> mistake. 2 weeks later the car dumped all of it's fluid, and my garage
> diagnosed failure of the power steering pump. They replaced it, and
> since then the car's been fine, but the brake light flashes for up to
> a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash. Also the
> steering occasionally creaks. A couple of months ago the car was
> MOT'd, and the rear brake pads changed, no other problems reported,
> and this is a reputable garage, I trust them.
> Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
> test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
> takes over 40 pumps to go hard.
> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?
> Many thanks,
> J.
>
>
This may be entirely too obvious. Have you checked your brake fluid level?

Not familiar with your particular model but could it be a failing
component of the ABS system?

 

fishjam@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi all, car is a 1994 UK coupe 2.6 auto, 115k miles.
> A year ago, I made the mistake of putting brake fluid in the power
> steering fluid reservoir, I realised the next day and drained the
> fluid, replacing it with regular red steering fluid - another big
> mistake. 2 weeks later the car dumped all of it's fluid, and my garage
> diagnosed failure of the power steering pump. They replaced it, and
> since then the car's been fine, but the brake light flashes for up to
> a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash. Also the
> steering occasionally creaks. A couple of months ago the car was
> MOT'd, and the rear brake pads changed, no other problems reported,
> and this is a reputable garage, I trust them.
> Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
> test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
> takes over 40 pumps to go hard.
> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?
> Many thanks,
> J.
>
>
This may be entirely too obvious. Have you checked your brake fluid level?

Not familiar with your particular model but could it be a failing
component of the ABS system?

 

fishjam@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi all, car is a 1994 UK coupe 2.6 auto, 115k miles.
> A year ago, I made the mistake of putting brake fluid in the power
> steering fluid reservoir, I realised the next day and drained the
> fluid, replacing it with regular red steering fluid - another big
> mistake. 2 weeks later the car dumped all of it's fluid, and my garage
> diagnosed failure of the power steering pump. They replaced it, and
> since then the car's been fine, but the brake light flashes for up to
> a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash. Also the
> steering occasionally creaks. A couple of months ago the car was
> MOT'd, and the rear brake pads changed, no other problems reported,
> and this is a reputable garage, I trust them.
> Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
> test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
> takes over 40 pumps to go hard.
> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?
> Many thanks,
> J.
>
>
This may be entirely too obvious. Have you checked your brake fluid level?

Not familiar with your particular model but could it be a failing
component of the ABS system?

 

> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?

Not offhand.

Lift the front, start the engine, and turn the steering lock-to-lock
half a dozen times.

 

> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?

Not offhand.

Lift the front, start the engine, and turn the steering lock-to-lock
half a dozen times.

 

> Any ideas what's causing the flashing light?

Not offhand.

Lift the front, start the engine, and turn the steering lock-to-lock
half a dozen times.

 

On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:01:11 -0000, fishjam@gmail.com wrote:

>the brake light flashes for up to
>a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash.
[snip]
>Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
>test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
>takes over 40 pumps to go hard.

I am not sure about your model, but on the earlier models, the warning
light can have three possible causes:

1: Low brake fluid level.
2: Low hydraulic oil level.
3: Low hydraulic pressure.

I'd say your bomb is slowly leaking. Try the bomb test before you
start the engine after a night's rest.
--
RoRo

 

On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:01:11 -0000, fishjam@gmail.com wrote:

>the brake light flashes for up to
>a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash.
[snip]
>Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
>test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
>takes over 40 pumps to go hard.

I am not sure about your model, but on the earlier models, the warning
light can have three possible causes:

1: Low brake fluid level.
2: Low hydraulic oil level.
3: Low hydraulic pressure.

I'd say your bomb is slowly leaking. Try the bomb test before you
start the engine after a night's rest.
--
RoRo

 

On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:01:11 -0000, fishjam@gmail.com wrote:

>the brake light flashes for up to
>a minute on a cold start. On a warm start it doesn't flash.
[snip]
>Another point is that I've researched this, & tried the brake 'bomb'
>test - switching the engine off, and pumping the brake pedal - it
>takes over 40 pumps to go hard.

I am not sure about your model, but on the earlier models, the warning
light can have three possible causes:

1: Low brake fluid level.
2: Low hydraulic oil level.
3: Low hydraulic pressure.

I'd say your bomb is slowly leaking. Try the bomb test before you
start the engine after a night's rest.
--
RoRo