QuestionI have a 1990 Cadillac Devill. Recently, when I touch the brake pedal, the red brake light comes on and then immediately the yellow ABS light comes on. After about 1 or 2 seconds, the red light goes out and then the yellow light goes out, again immediately following the red light.
Dealer says it is OK to drive. However, if I have to put the brakes on very quickly (like to keep from hitting the idiot that just pulled in front of me!) I get a very hard pedal that is not slowing the car. Pressing very hard will finally let the pedal go down and give me braking, but this is a dangerous way to drive in traffic. If I hit the pedal easily, I get normal braking action.
Would be interested in how to solve the problem without spending $3-4,000, which was the dealers estimate. They cannot get the unit and said the last one they saw came out of Florida and cost about $3,000.
If the Tevis ABS part is just the ABS pump, that can be purchased at AutoZone for $612 (a Cardone remanufactured unit with a lifetime warranty.
Looking forward to your reply. Thank you.
AnswerHello,
It's been so long since I worked on these and they had problems with the ABS even when new for YEARS! If I remember right, the 1990 Deville is when there was all sorts of first year stuff added on. The VATS (resistor chip) anti theft that will strand you some day if you don't have an alarm store bypass it for about $60 (dealer will rip you off for about $700.00 for an ignition lock/wiring harness that will fail again). The air bag was introduced in 1990. And 89 or 90 was the first year of the 4.5 engine and I believe the 4.5 was replaced in 1991 with the 4.9.
Dealer says fine to drive, but did they diagnose the Tevis to be the problem? Did they get any diagnostic codes or were they just guessing at $3-$4K?
As I said, I knew from experience certain GM cars had problems with the ABS modules. No rhyme, no reason.
Before you spend the $612 which is the way I would go, get a 1990 Cadillac service manual from Ebay or Craigs and use the diagnostic flow charts to make sure the Tevis is your problem. Don't guess! (Like your dealer was) Yours is the classic example as to why I tell people to never go to a dealer except for warranty. You need to remember, most the techs there don't know anything about a 1990 Cadillac and most dealers don't even have the manuals to work on these old cars, much less even understanding the computer system in this vehicle. You have the OBD I which was replaced by the OBD II in 1994.
Please don't misunderstand. I had a new 1990 and a new 1992 and they are great cars. You just need to understand what you are dealing with, that's all.
Good luck and let me know what you come up with and in the event you need a new unit, go with the Auto Zone part.
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