Car Fix DIY Videos

Part 2 https://youtu.be/vLlL4zSQEK8
Part 3 https://youtu.be/WPqjYlFyo-A

Part 1 ‘How to replace the ABS pump on a Peugeot 206 1.1 litre.

PLEASE NOTE: Disclaimer: This video is for entertainment only. Since working on your vehicle’s braking system is a serious and safety-critical process, only attempt any repairs if you are one hundred percent sure of your abilities. If in any doubt, seek professional help.

Another video showing ‘real world’ car repair and maintenance – so no glossy studios or workshop, just myself working on a car on a driveway outside in the cold because chances are that’s where you viewers and subscribers will be working on your own cars. That’s not to say I wouldn’t say no to a nice warm workshop or filming studio.

In this video I show how to remove the ABS pump from a typical Peugeot 206. In this example it’s a late 2004 1.1 litre 8 valve with ABS…and not a lot else. The clock was against me because the car was booked in for a free retest two days after I filmed this, plus heavy snow and freezing temperatures were on their way in the form of ‘The Beast from The East’.

ABS faults on this make and model are well known and usually down to pump failure – which can show up as a ‘locked valve’ on diagnostic equipment. Few months ago the ABS light kept lighting and staying on after hitting a pothole. Sometimes it would go off if engine was switched off and on again and stay unlit (apart from usual self-test when putting ignition on) but as it got closer to MOT time, the ABS light stayed on – typical! So I plugged in the Foxwell and it came up with ‘locked valve’. I Googled it and this problem affects other PSA vehicles and other makes that use this type of ABS pump. Despite the failed pump, the Foxwell showed accurate speed traces from the ABS wheel sensors so I didn’t have to replace any of them.
Since ABS pumps are very expensive from main dealers and still £250 from independent specialists (with 2 year warranty) I decided to take a risk and buy a good used ABS unit from specialist breakers on Ebay – for £40 including postage! Bit of a risk but feedback for the seller was very good.

My advice before starting this or any other brake repair is to:
Clean up and spray Plusgas release agent around brake-pipe unions and the brake caliper/drum bleed nipples (bleed screws) – preferably a couple of hours before attempting to release the nipples or unions. Nothing worse than getting half way through a job and you can’t bleed out the trapped air or release a pipe union because it has seized or snapped off.
Take reference photos and make notes before you take anything apart. I still do and I’ve worked on cars since 1987 (DIY and professionally)
Just like to point out I am not being payed to use any products or tools in my videos. The main reason I use ‘Plus Gas’ is because it works well. It’s a very thin viscosity liquid which creeps into the smallest clearances by capillary action to start releasing joints and threads that are stuck from dirt, rust or time. You don’t need a lot either.