Strange Noise From Front

[UrbanPilot]

Last night I was driving home and was on some unfamilar streets. It was pitch black and I saw a dip in the road and slammed on the breaks to pass without a scrape. After that dip where I did scrape just a bit, I began hearing a fast tapping noise comming from the front. I dont know if it just happend or it was because of the dip. I got home and opened the front hood to see if I could locate the position of the rapid tapping and nothing there. I then drove around my block again and there it was again. It only starts when I am Driving and not when I am at idle. It is not the a/c for I had it off but I think that it may be comming from the break area. Has anyone heard of it? If so, let me know what you think it is. Should I drive? Thanks.

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8k RPM in a recliner!

 

[khuezee]

Originally posted by UrbanPilot:
Last night I was driving home and was on some unfamilar streets. It was pitch black and I saw a dip in the road and slammed on the breaks to pass without a scrape. After that dip where I did scrape just a bit, I began hearing a fast tapping noise comming from the front. I dont know if it just happend or it was because of the dip. I got home and opened the front hood to see if I could locate the position of the rapid tapping and nothing there. I then drove around my block again and there it was again. It only starts when I am Driving and not when I am at idle. It is not the a/c for I had it off but I think that it may be comming from the break area. Has anyone heard of it? If so, let me know what you think it is. Should I drive? Thanks.

Yeah,

I heard that twice with my car. It is like a really quick clicking noise. It reminds me of a relay kinda. I have no idea what it is since all my electrical stuff works fine, brakes and A/C. Very strange.

 

[DanO]

Does the noise stop when you apply the brakes?

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited 14 September 2002).]

 

[ChopsJazz]

It's your ABS pump. The clicking sound should stop after a few seconds. BTW, you should exercise this mechanism on a fairly regular basis to keep it in good working order.

 

[TheSwishh]

Chop is correct. This has happened on my 91 many times. I was told by the dealer that it is the ABS unit pressuring up.

Nothing to worry about

. Mine always does it when I smack a bump in the road while I am braking at the same time. The chatter kicks in for anywhere between 3 - 20 seconds.

 

[BadCarma]

yep abs, no worrys
david

 

[khuezee]

Originally posted by ChopsJazz:
It's your ABS pump. The clicking sound should stop after a few seconds. BTW, you should exercise this mechanism on a fairly regular basis to keep it in good working order.

How should I activate the ABS on a regular basis?? Are you saying I should find an empty parking lot, then speed and slam on the brakes???

 

[Juice]

I have noticed my ABS is acting up a lot more than normal. My levels seem fine but it is making the noise excessively. Very worried. Anyone got a clue?

 

[ChopsJazz]

Originally posted by khuezee:
How should I activate the ABS on a regular basis?? Are you saying I should find an empty parking lot, then speed and slam on the brakes???

Well, sort of...

I live on a dirt road and once a week I hit the brakes to lock up all the wheels and initiate the ABS. You don't have to be going at a high rate of speed to do this, especially on gravel or dirt.

 

[TheSwishh]

Water on the road works well too

Juice,

I remember about 3 years ago on my 95 the ABS was acting up way too often also. The levels looked good and it kept on making noise at times when it had no reason to do so. I took the car to Acura and they found a very small leak on the passenger,front, brake caliper.

Got that fixed and problem went away.

-Swish

 

[UrbanPilot]

That was it. I opened the front hood and looked to where it could have come from. After a talk to Brent and Vaughn and some logical thinking, it was the ABS. All I did was wet my street infront of my house with the hose and then excercised the brakes. I also did a few for the clutch for good measures. I did notice that later on that evening when it rained, it did here in DFW, that i heard it again but after a breaking excercise. I did it agian and the sound went away. My guru's said that it is a cylinoid sticking that is causing the problem. Will drain and then puting in some racing fluid and bleed which will fix it, i hope.

Thanks for all the help and sounds like others are having the same problem. Are there any other easy ideas to fix it?

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8k RPM in a recliner!

 

[DanO]

Will drain and then puting in some racing fluid and bleed which will fix it, i hope.

Racing fluid may or may not help in the ABS system. What the ABS system needs is a good lubricating brake fluid. Castrol GT LMA is as good as any for this system IMO. Keep in mind, the ABS fluid is separate from the fluid in the regular braking system.

more info: www.danoland.com/nsxgarage/brakes/abs/abs.htm

Good luck,
DanO

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited 16 September 2002).]

 

[Jimbo]

Dan has a really good write-up on fixing this problem.

http://www.danoland.com/nsxgarage/brakes/abs/abs.htm

Sometimes you can get a piece of crud that is tough to dislodge. I tried for the longest time activating the ABS on sandy ground and it just wouldn't stop the pump from running and then turning off.

Dano's procedure worked and it exercises the little solenoid valves much more completely. You also don't run the risk of throwing up stones and debris on your paint as you jam on the brakes.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[UrbanPilot]

DanO, I agree great write up. I have used your site for reference and you sure do know your stuff. Thanks for the site and the post. also great garage especially the lift.