Car Information: 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Limited Edition 4WD

A few weeks ago I was backing out of my driveway when I noticed that my break pedal gave very little resistence when I pressed it and the breaks were very "weak".


I managed to stop the car by pressing the pedal very hard and then I pumped the break pedal a few times which seemed to restore my breaking ability. My ABS lights came on at the same time and then went back out.


Now, my breaks seem to be ok I guess but everytime I barely touch the break pedal an alarm sounds from the hood of the car. It sounds like 3-4 fast consecutive chirps. The alarm sounds like it's coming from my ABS pump.


I think I noticed 1 more symptom as well, but I am not 100% sure. My break pedal feels like it can extend a lot further than it used to before this happened. I think I remember feeling a hard stopping point when I mashed the pedal and now I can go down as low as I want to and nothing stops the pedal.


Any ideas guys? My mechanic suggested replacing the entire ABS pump since the alarm was coming from that direction but I found out that that's gonna cost me about $1200 for a new one.

Background Information:

1. I drive back and forth on a road that coal trucks frequent and coal dust is everywhere.

2. I believe it was raining the day I parked my car in the garage.

3. I just had my brake pads replaced. Car Information: 2002 Mitsubish Montero Limited Edition 4WD

RESOLVED:

After a good bit of online research I ran into the recall information below. My local Mitsubishi dealer (Serra Mitsubishi) was very prompt to get it fixed and it cost me $0.

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Mitsubishi Montero Recalls
Montero SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM Recall – ID# 53443

Recall Date
AUG 03, 2001
Model Affected
2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
Description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.
Consequence
THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACCUMULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
Potential Units Affected
39020
Notes
MITSUBISHI AMERICA

Good info for anyone that owns a montero, thanks for the post and the update