Three questions about a "90 lude si ALB... need help

[luderz1]

first question:
I have a 1990 prelude Si ALB 2.1. Can anyone please help me figure out why the "alb light" stays on... I checked the brakes, they look fine. the fluid, topped off... no leaks. I reset the ECU,,, same problem. I checked the ABS relay and all is good. the brakes work fine, just that darn light stays on. Could it be electrical other than the above???

second question:
My cruise control... I try to set it but the buttons on the steering wheel do not function. I took off the steering wheel and checked the connection but everything is connected... I bought another steering wheel but that didn't work either... I noticed this after I had my mechanic Swap the engine to a b21a1... could it be that he didn't connect "it" to the relatively new engine???

third question:
My lude came stock with NO power door locks... so i went ahead and installed a set of "power door lock devices" to the doors... I bought the two different door panels, from other ludes, with the lock/unlock switch for the conversion... However, my dumb self didn't realize that i had no idea where i can connect them to actuallly make them work!!!! so I checked the fuse box and there IS a fuse for power door locks BUT i still have no idea how to connect the the neg. and pos. wires to the car. Can someone please help me out???

[spiffyguido]

First question:

It's likely the ALB fuse, or one of your wheel sensors has gone bad. Check the fuse first though as a bad ALB fuse will make the light come on and stay on.

Second:
Your cruise control system is probably not hooked up. Can you see anything that isn't hooked up correctly? I'll have to go look at my lude to see how it all works.

Third:
I'd use the positive and negative leads that are already in the door for the power windows if I were you. Running new wires will make a proper mess, so use what's there if you can. Those circuits won't be overburdened by something as simple as door locks. Since you car wasn't equipped with power door locks from the factory it won't have all the wiring. Come to think of it, I've never seen a 3rd gen with power door locks. Hope you get it working.

Hit us back with any more questions you may have.

Welcome to the forums.

[luderz1]

Thanks for the feedback...
I checked out the cruise control unit and it so happened that a vacume hose was disconnected. yeah I know.
I'm still trying to figure out the ALB system
about the door locks. I just went to the junk yard and picked up a Power Door Lock Control Unit from a 92 honda accord... we'll see what happens.
I'll post up the results later and I'll post some pics of my prelude too.

[spiffyguido]

I take it the fuse for the ALB system was in place?

[luderz1]

yes, the ALB fuse is in place. I'm wondering if I need to service the break system anyway, even if the brakes aren't bad. do you think it has to do with the master cylinder?

[spiffyguido]

No, it won't be your master cylinder. Most likely there is something wrong with one of your wheel sensors. Does the ABS on your car flutter a bit just as you roll to a stop?

[luderz1]

Not really, it more or less feels heavy... the car I mean. surprisingly, It feels pretty smooth. no flutter whatsoever. but I have to really press on the breaks, with a heavy foot, to get to a complete stop. then I have to keep my foot pressed on it firmly to keep it stopped. You see, if you don't hold it down hard enough, the car begins to roll. the weird thing is that I took it to a mechanic, and he told me not to change the breaks unless it starts to squeek. I told him that the break PADS are good, but there is something wrong with the system itself. He didn't know what to tell me after that.
So if it's feeling heavy, could it maybe be the rotors? or air in the system? I'm gonna check to see how i can replace these wheel sensor

[spiffyguido]

The wheel sensors are easy to clean, but expensive to replace. Sometimes they just get gooed up.

That being said, I think your first chore should be to get the brakes working correctly in the first place. Having bad brakes in your car is a good way to speed your exit from this life; not something you want.

I'd suggest that you start by bleeding the brake lines. If you're having to romp on the pedal with little affect than there is likely air in your brake lines. Once you are sure that there is no air in the brake lines, if things don't improve, then you need to start looking at the master cylinder.

Don't forget, the brakes should work well regardless of whether or not the ALB system is there or not, so don't worry about the ALB system too much until you get your car stopping well.

[luderz1]

Hello again thanks for everything, i really appreciate it.
here are a couple of pics of my prelude... maybe it could be good enough for prelude of the month....

[spiffyguido]

No problem. Is everything working now.

Your lude is very clean. Always nice to see one that has been well maintained. Those are some crazy doors you have, neat color too. Take care of her! If you have any other issues with it, or just want to chat, be sure to post!

[Crash_Control]

If you have to press heavy on the brake pedal to keep the car from rolling it sounds to me like you power brake booster isn't working.
Here is a little test with your car not running apply the brakes a couple of times (3 or 4).
then press on the brake pedal and start the car the brake pedal should sink down slightly when the engine starts as the brake booster accepts vacuum.
Conversely when you shut the engine off the you should have power brakes for one or two applications of the brake pedal then the brake pedal will get hard feeling.