So today as I was running around town doing my errands, my ABS light came on and my brake light came on. Pedal goes to the floor at first unless I pump the brakes. I can pump the brakes and everything works fine, it stops with no issues etc.

Now the second issue, I stopped at the bank, brakes were fine then, no abs light no brake light etc. I parked the car and exited. Now when I came back and started the truck up after a second or two the abs light and brake light came on and thats when I realized my pedal was going to the floor unless I pumped the brakes. So I got the truck home just fine with brake pumping, when I parked it I happend to notice SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL.

Not a ton, it looked almost as if someone had set a ciggarette in and ash tray or something behind my dash, it smelled like burning plastic.... Now I started it back up a few minutes later after trying to inspect everything to see wtf was on fire. Couldnt find what it was. Truck started perfectly fine, runs drives and everything perfectly fine. All my switches and lights etc seem to work correctly.... But I still have the ABS light and brake lights and no power braking. I have to manually pump the brakes everytime I drive it. It works fine that way just annoying. I am guessing brake booster or master cylinder? anyone have any idea or ever heard of something in the dash burning slightly like that?

 

If something was burning, I would take a look at the brake fluid level. I have a feeling it boiled out or something.

 

Leaking brake line I'd say. Check them all, but the main one running along side the fuel tank is most common. Of course no brake line is going to have electrical smelling smoke by the steering wheel. I'd say you have more than one issue. Remove the knee panel and check the wires running down the steering column for that to start with.

 

More than one problem there...

Smoke out the steering column is going to be it's own problem. Pull the covers, and look at the wiring. Wires look to pull out of connectors, short out, and start fires. ESPECIALLY if you have tilt wheel.

For the brakes, check the brake line running over the gas tank. I bet it blew.

 

Thanks for the input! I will go home tonight and check that line above the fuel tank, havent noticed any brake fluid on my garage floor or noticed the fluid level being low. I will check it all again though! Also I will have to tear into the panels and see what may have shorted out. I have a pretty good idea what it may have been. The guy before me had wired something into the cab behind the seats, Just now noticed theres a green almost stereo cable looking wire running from the battery to a big clumb of electrical taped off wires. Barring that theres nothing else they are connected to I am going to trace them back and remove them.

 

Managed to get a look at the brake line near the rear end, brake fluid was all over everything under there, definitely looks like its coming from above the fuel tank or right on the side of the tank. How big of a PITA is this to fix/replace? Should I even attempt this or just have a mechanic/dealer fix it?

 

Get yourself a length of line of the correct size, a double flaring tool, and a couple wrenches. Cut on either side of the bad section, flare the ends, and put a new section in. It will cost less than paying someone else to do it.

Had to do this on my van. Shop wanted 280 bucks. I did it for less than 20. I already had the flaring tool though.

 

Ok, I will look at getting a flaring tool and a tube bender so I dont kink the line. Never actually replaced a brake line before, any tips on how to easily do it and how hard it is? Will I have to drop the tank or remove the bed?

 

Buy more line than you will actually need. have a look under the truck, see how much line actually needs replaced. The fewer unions the better. If you can cut the line in front of the tank, and run new line all the way to the flex hose going to the axle, that would be best. (might even be a convenient union already in the line somewhere up front.....)

Practice your flares a time or two before you actually go after installing the new line. Use some of the line you cut out as practice.

Don't have to drop the tank, or pull the bed, just stuff the line thru where it needs to be, and secure it in place somehow. (zip ties, whatever)

Drown the rear bleeders with chems today..... then go get parts/tools. (line, one or two unions, flaring tool, fluid, bender is really optional.... I just do it by hand, or, use a round something or other the right diameter to bend it up....)

Bleed your brakes well when the line is complete. Make sure you don't have any leaks. (leave a bit of extra line, so if you don't seal at first, you have some wiggle room to re-flare the line.)

 

Don't use compression unions.