Quick Power Master question after changing accumulator...

[2QUIK6]

So my brake light started blipping on and off, still stopped fine.
Changed out the accumulator, turned key on pump ran for about 15 seconds, light went off after about 8-10secs.
With key still on, I press the brake pedal, no light, motor does not run...seems like a good thing.
Let off and press the pedal again, still no light, but motor kicks on for a few seconds.
Let off and press again, no light, and no motor kicking on.
Let off and press again, no light but motor comes on again for a few seconds.

It seems that the motor kicks on for a few seconds every other time I press the pedal with the key on.

I've never noticed it doing this before and of course don't hear it with the engine is running...light never came back on so I guess thats a good thing.....Does all of this sound right?

But..the passenger side of the reservoir had lots of air bubbles in it after pressing the pedal all of those times, looked very cloudy...that normal?

 

[toomanymodz]

Sounds pretty normal to me. Bubbles will eventually disappear once the air is purged.

 

[MSDGN]

That's the purpose of the accumulator...it holds fluid/pressure so that if the motor gives out you would still have brakes...only a couple of pedal applications but better than nothing...if the motor was cycling every pump of the pedal then your accum was on it's way out...you did the right thing replacing it...lot of people ignore it because the brakes still work fine but what is happening is that the constant cyling is wearing out the motor...it ends up running longer and more often and it wasn't designed for that...

 

[MSDGN]

Also change the brake fluid about every 2 years...at the very least suck the fluid out of the reservoir and replace it with new...that's the key to longetivity of the PM system.

 

[we4Mateo]

PM works so well. I just wish they were more reliable.

 

[MSDGN]

I have PM's on both my cars and never had any major problems...have had to rebuild them once but that's it...maybe I've just been lucky but my feelings are if you maintain the PM system...change the fluid regularly...fix it as soon as the light starts coming on...etc you won't have any problems...

 

[WE2Regal]

I just had the powermaster switch fail on my Limited T a few days ago. No previous problems, no brake idiot warning light. Just hit the brake and nothing! I just replaced the accumulator a few months ago. From now on, I'm replacing the switch and acummulator together whenever either one of them fails.

 

[2QUIK6]

Thanks for the replies, I just never noticed the motor running after even every other press of the pedal. But I guess I never sat there pressing the brake with the key on and engine off either.
Yeah I've kept the fluid changed fairly regularly. This PM motor is actually one that was replaced under warranty back in about '93 or '94..about the last year of an extended 7 yr warranty that I transferred from the original owner...So this PM is 18 years old and still kicking!! That's only about 35k miles though
I was on the fence going to a vacuum setup though..I have a spare brand new AC Delco PM motor just in case I need it though.

 

[standupjskiguy]

If you continue to see bubbles, it means that side of the reservoir is low on fluid and it's sucking in air.
Once the pump stops, open the top of the reservoir and see if the intake hole is under fluid, if it's not ad a little
so that the hole is covered and then some to allow for cold weather contraction. Keep in mind if you ever pump
down the accumulator to change it, your reservoir may over flow a bit.