hi sages- got a good deal on a 01 mercury marquis. nice to again have a long proven design, rwd and more accessbibility to repair not to mention more bullet proof durability. had a flashback to sl6 fixations. this model has abs brakes, disc front and drum rear. reading up on basic repairs in this models haynes manual( i know me bad), it says to have the dealer r and r the master cylinder because backyard mechanics do not have the skill or expensive equipment to bleed the system. it says air will be trapped in the abs box or master only to be safely removed by the dealer(presumably with fat infusions of $$ into the dealer profit margins). i smell a rat and think this is what we used to call in the 60s bullqueet. seems to me old fashioned pedal pressure bleeding at the master outlets and wheel cylinders should work. what say you ? hate to get shystered. thanks bob f

Don't know specifics about that particular master cylinder, but they are basically correct. Without tools, or at least the correct signal to the master cylinder, you won't be able to open the solenoid valves to get the air out. It's not necessarily a 12volt DC signal. With the really late model stuff running CAN, the master cylinder is a node on the bus. You have to send a digital "Word" to it that tells it how to behave. :shrug:

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

that car still has rear drums? I thought they'd gone to all 4 wheel disc on them by then. (maybe just on the Lincoln version , cop version, and optional on the Ford/Merc version) I worked on several; I don't remember anything "special" about those brakes and the ABS system. and I take NOTHING; I mean NOTHING, to a dealer, for service.

well its a 50 50 shot. you could take the risk and try it. but is it worth it? probably not. haveing spent the last three years in automotive schools learning at a basic dealership level, we always were taught to check the manual. now granted haynes isnt a FSM, but information is information. if it didnt need it they probably wouldnt have printed it. brakes are brakes. i dont think its worth the risk. bleed it right, or dont crack a line in the first place. i know on some power steering systems (mercedes comes to mind) if you enter the system and dont bleed it correctly before you start the motor, it will make noise

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1975 Plymouth Duster,225/6 2bbl. and duels, 904, 7 1/4
1986 Dodge Charger Shelby, 2.2 Turbo I, A525