Need Vac. Pump Help!!! Please!!
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From: FL
Need Vac. Pump Help!!! Please!!
Ok guys, here's my delema.... Because my brake light was coming on in my 97 when i pumped the brakes at idle, as well as at other times, I was told to install a new vac. pump.... I installed it today, and now their are some problems.... first off, the light still goes on when i pump the brakes, It takes more but it still does come on.... Is this normal? could the vac. sensor be out of wack? could their be a leak in the line? what do you think??? ALSO.... a strange sort of "hooting or mellow houl" sound has developed in the cabbin, but only happens when the brakes are pumped.... with the other vac. pump, their was no noise in the cabin when i hit the brakes..... I took it for a test drive and the brakes do seem to be a little firmer, not much though.... but my main consearns are why is the light still coming on, and what could be causing the sound... Thanks guys!!
-Robb
-Robb
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From: Braham MN
So.... it still comes on when the truck is idleing and you pump them, or is the truck off??? Cuz with the truck OFF if you pump them about 3-4 times the vacume that is stored in the brake booster will be used up, and then the light will come on. The hooting is probably just the vacume booster for the brakes making noise the nonvacume side is vented into the cab, with the new pump there is prolly more vacume and now you can hear it better then the old one. The light could also be a problem with your proportioning valve, with the cold weather they tend to do some weird things, you could also be low on fluid in the front or rear resevoir, this will trigger a light also.
Diesel Rod
Diesel Rod
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From: FL
Originally Posted by 444dieselrod
So.... it still comes on when the truck is idleing and you pump them, or is the truck off??? Cuz with the truck OFF if you pump them about 3-4 times the vacume that is stored in the brake booster will be used up, and then the light will come on. The hooting is probably just the vacume booster for the brakes making noise the nonvacume side is vented into the cab, with the new pump there is prolly more vacume and now you can hear it better then the old one. The light could also be a problem with your proportioning valve, with the cold weather they tend to do some weird things, you could also be low on fluid in the front or rear resevoir, this will trigger a light also.
Diesel Rod
Diesel Rod
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From: Braham MN
I didnt even now where it was on these truck I had to run out in the cold and look. The Proportioning valve is on the inside of the driver's side frame, right opposite of the oil filter, and as far as I know there is no way of adjusting it, all it does is regulate the pressure in the lines between the front and rear lines and prevents one or the other from locking up.
Why are you pumping the brakes that many times anyway??? knowing that, my guess is that you are building up some real high pressures in the brake lines and your proportioning valve is what is most likely setting the lite, a quick simply easy way to test the valve is to pump it like you did, get the light to come on and then go under the truck and have some one take the wire off the valve with your foot on the brakes still, the light should go out. but I still think it is just cuz you are pumping them so many times.
The noise isn't noticeable in mine with the truck running and the radio on, if it is that loud I would do some investigating, you might have a dry brake pedal and it is just squeeking or something might be rubbing.
Diesel Rod
Why are you pumping the brakes that many times anyway??? knowing that, my guess is that you are building up some real high pressures in the brake lines and your proportioning valve is what is most likely setting the lite, a quick simply easy way to test the valve is to pump it like you did, get the light to come on and then go under the truck and have some one take the wire off the valve with your foot on the brakes still, the light should go out. but I still think it is just cuz you are pumping them so many times.
The noise isn't noticeable in mine with the truck running and the radio on, if it is that loud I would do some investigating, you might have a dry brake pedal and it is just squeeking or something might be rubbing.
Diesel Rod
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From: FL
Originally Posted by 444dieselrod
I didnt even now where it was on these truck I had to run out in the cold and look. The Proportioning valve is on the inside of the driver's side frame, right opposite of the oil filter, and as far as I know there is no way of adjusting it, all it does is regulate the pressure in the lines between the front and rear lines and prevents one or the other from locking up.
Why are you pumping the brakes that many times anyway??? knowing that, my guess is that you are building up some real high pressures in the brake lines and your proportioning valve is what is most likely setting the lite, a quick simply easy way to test the valve is to pump it like you did, get the light to come on and then go under the truck and have some one take the wire off the valve with your foot on the brakes still, the light should go out. but I still think it is just cuz you are pumping them so many times.
The noise isn't noticeable in mine with the truck running and the radio on, if it is that loud I would do some investigating, you might have a dry brake pedal and it is just squeeking or something might be rubbing.
Diesel Rod
Why are you pumping the brakes that many times anyway??? knowing that, my guess is that you are building up some real high pressures in the brake lines and your proportioning valve is what is most likely setting the lite, a quick simply easy way to test the valve is to pump it like you did, get the light to come on and then go under the truck and have some one take the wire off the valve with your foot on the brakes still, the light should go out. but I still think it is just cuz you are pumping them so many times.
The noise isn't noticeable in mine with the truck running and the radio on, if it is that loud I would do some investigating, you might have a dry brake pedal and it is just squeeking or something might be rubbing.
Diesel Rod
) Thanks for all the info..... I'm gonna try that test you did with my valve.... and to answer your question... i'm only pumping the brakes like that when i pull into one of those tiny parking places around town, so i don't drive over the austin-Mini pickup parked infront of me 
!!! I don't think the sound is coming from the petal, only because the sound was not there before i swaped out the pump... so i am lead to believe that it is that cabin vent...thanks again diesel rod!!!
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From: FL
I couldn't wait, so i went and checked the valve out... it's a solid block of rust!!!!, do you think that could be why i am getting the light??/ I have noticed on occational days, when i start her up, and touch the brakes they will want to lock, so that could be Proportioning valve right?? I'm assuming that the thing on the side of the valve that looks like a grease fitting is actually a bleader of some sort??... Knowing that the valve looks like a piece of junk, i'm wondering weather i sould get a new one, and take the pump back..... what do you think???
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Usually when your brake pedal makes a weird sound like that it's a problem with the vacuum booster itself, not the pump. I've never known it to set a light, just fail and have a hard non-power-brake type pedal. The truck will stop ok you just have to stomp the pedal. I think you have more than one problem. Sorry.
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From: FL
thanks kwikkordead.... So i'm thinking new vacuum pump (already installed), new proportining valve, new brake booster, (but i wonder... the sound did start when i put the new pump on.... diesel rod sugested that the sound was normal... just the non-vacuum end of the pump venting into the cab... it's not coming directly from the petal area)......... sound about right?? where can i get a pro valve and booster at non-stealership prices??? thanks....
-Robb
-Robb
Last edited by Robbgt; Jan 9, 2005 at 08:44 PM.
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by Robbgt
thanks kwikkordead.... So i'm thinking new vacuum pump (already installed), new proportining valve, new brake booster..... sound about right?? where can i get a pro valve and booster at non-stealership prices??? thanks....
-Robb
-Robb
How about that 5th letter in the alphabet ....bay online trading company.
Or fordparts.com?
Napa will be nearly as expensive as the dealer I have found.
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From: FL
man you are fast!!! yea i was going to go napa... but i have found them expensive... ford parts is 124 for the proportining valve... still kind of pricey.... also... that sound develpoed after i installed the new pump.... so do u still think it's brake booster related... thanks kwikkordead
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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
my truck makes same noise when you pump the pedal its just the valveing in the pump and booster making the noise. when the pedal gets hard and grabby does it want to lock up the back or front brakes or both? if both i would start with the master cylinder and booster. if it seems like its doing one axle more than the other then i would go for the porportioning valve. also that little plastic valve that goes into the vac booster can fail. i would try a new one of thoose, i used to have a ranger that would do what your talking about and that little plastic thing cured it. how does your brake fluid look?? should just be a little darker than when it comes out of the bottle. if yours is cloudy, or has a mettalic shine to it you got problems. oh yeah does it do it more on "wetter" days high humidity, damp out, rainy days?? thats when my ranger would do it.
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From: FL
Originally Posted by barebackjake
my truck makes same noise when you pump the pedal its just the valveing in the pump and booster making the noise. when the pedal gets hard and grabby does it want to lock up the back or front brakes or both? if both i would start with the master cylinder and booster. if it seems like its doing one axle more than the other then i would go for the porportioning valve. also that little plastic valve that goes into the vac booster can fail. i would try a new one of thoose, i used to have a ranger that would do what your talking about and that little plastic thing cured it. how does your brake fluid look?? should just be a little darker than when it comes out of the bottle. if yours is cloudy, or has a mettalic shine to it you got problems. oh yeah does it do it more on "wetter" days high humidity, damp out, rainy days?? thats when my ranger would do it.
-Robb
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
I wouldn't worry about the hooting sound when you step on the brakes as long as they work ok. I am of the opinion that it's just the check valve inside the brake booster honking when you step on the brake. Not necessarily a problem, just an annoyance. Now the light... something is happening at the hydraulic end of the system. I don't know very well the blueprint of the brake system on the F series but I would guess that there is a pressure imbalance or something and that is why your light is coming on.