Greetings.
I've got a 1993 Town & Country, 3.3L V6 that has 160,000 miles. It's got the Bendix-10 ABS system that's been acting up lately. Sometimes the ABS light comes on a rapid application of the brake. The van seems to drive fine and the ABS light comes on rarely. I need help separating the lies the dealer tells me from truth.
So I took the car to the dealer to check out the ABS. Four years ago at 136,000 miles I had a new ABS pump and motor replaced under warranty. I got the impression that recall # 685 covered the ABS for the life of the vehicle, at least that's what they told me 4 years ago. Something about a federal mandated safety recall. Now the same dealer tends to forget that statement and doesn't know much about the Bendix lifetime warranty.
So the dealer in the Atlanta area tells me that they cannot check the pump and motor because the accumulator is weak. They didn't give me a reading of pump pressure. The dealer says that they cannot proceed to diagnose the pump until I pay $442 for a new accumulator. So, before I know if any parts are covered under warranty I have to pay them $442 extortion money. They even wanted to charge me $85 diagnosis charge if I didn't have any repairs done there.
Calling another 5-star Chrysler dealer gave even worse results. They were not aware at all of a Bendix-10 problem.
So, does anyone know the truth about the Bendix-10? Is the accumulator covered under warranty? Does anyone know when / if the warranty expires? Any advice on the next steps? Please post replies if you have inportant information.
Regards -- Gary -- Atlanta