So I was getting all my ducks
in a row regarding trying to
talk the dealer into trying the
ABS trick for bleeding the
brakes. Just spent the last 5
hours reading about this on
the net, and here's what I
learned so far... .
The ABS actuator checker
(SST) is used by a lot of
different Toyota (and Lexus )
vehicles, and not all share the
same brake set-up. It seems
the SST has different functions
depending on which vehicle it
is plugged into. Pressing a
certain button may do
different things depending on
the vehicle, the wiring harness
used, and how that harness is
hooked up. For this reason,
there are a variety of different
overlays that attach to the
front of the SST, each with
different labels corresponding
to the dial and buttons.
The available FSM scans on
the internet from different
vehicles suggest that some
vehicles use the SST when
bleeding a hydraulic booster
(GS300, 100 series LC, older
4Runner.. .), bleeding the
POWER STEERING (on the
older trucks with rear ABS),
and for checking the function
of the ABS solenoids and
pump on most other vehicles.
The problems is that the only
time it is ever mentioned for
bleeding the brakes is when a
hydraulic booster is involved,
and the SST is plugged into
the hydraulic booster/ABS
module combo in a different
manner than how it plugs into
the FZJ-80 - and the buttons
on the SST have different
functions than they do with
the 80. Any bleeding
procedure with another
vehicle is not applicable to the
FZJ-80.
However, here is what I could
figure out with how the tool is
plugged into the FZJ...
Follow along here: http://
www.sugarlump.no/cruiser/HDJ-80_S5.pdf
and here: http://
www.autoshop101.com/forms/brake11.pdf
Apparently the FZJ uses a 3-
position solenoid with no
mechanical bypass valve. If
you read the second link that
will make sense. I'm not sure
if there is only one pump/
motor or more than one. The
FZJ has 3 solenoids - one for
the rear, and one for each of
the front wheels.
You plug in the SST using the
SST wiring harnesses "C" and
"E", and use "overlay A" on
the SST. The overlay divides
the SST into two sides, Motor
and Solenoid. On the left (the
Motor part) there are two
buttons, and the top one will
run the ABS pump/motor if
you press it.
On the right side is a dial, and
you use that to select a
solenoid (LF, RF, or rear). The
"power" button on the bottom
right then energizes the
selected solenoid. When a
solenoid is energized, brake
fluid can only flow
*backward* to the Master
Cylinder via check valves
(pushed by the pump) and
cannot flow from the MC to
the wheel. Everything I read
says do NOT energize any
solenoid more than 10
seconds, and then you should
let it rest for 20 seconds in-
between. Sounds like they
might burn up.
Two things to note: The "Air
Bleed" function on the knob
apparently only applies to
purging air from the old Hilux
power steering systems. I
could find no mention of
anyone actually using that
function to bleed brake lines.
Also, the FSMs for other
vehicles that mention using
the SST to bleed hydraulic
boosters say to hold down the
power button on the solenoid
side of the SST while bleeding.
That will not work on a FZJ,
because when the power
button is held down the
solenoid is energized (ie
closed) and brake fluid will not
flow through that line.
So, bottom line is that the SST
will activate the solenoids and
pump for the FZJ ABS system.
However, we do not have an
actual procedure on how to
use this in bleeding brakes on
a FZJ. The Toyota tech will not
be able to follow the non-FZJ
FSMs on using the SST to
bleed a hydraulic booster,
because that procedure will
not work on a FZJ.
I am open to suggested
procedures (cycle solenoid on/
off while pressure bleeding,
maybe, what about the
pump?) or any corrections/
clarifications to what I wrote
above.
I think the odds of getting one
of the dealer's techs to mess
with this without explicit
instructions seem quite
dismal.... I'll likely just be cycling the ABS on ice instead.
in a row regarding trying to
talk the dealer into trying the
ABS trick for bleeding the
brakes. Just spent the last 5
hours reading about this on
the net, and here's what I
learned so far... .
The ABS actuator checker
(SST) is used by a lot of
different Toyota (and Lexus )
vehicles, and not all share the
same brake set-up. It seems
the SST has different functions
depending on which vehicle it
is plugged into. Pressing a
certain button may do
different things depending on
the vehicle, the wiring harness
used, and how that harness is
hooked up. For this reason,
there are a variety of different
overlays that attach to the
front of the SST, each with
different labels corresponding
to the dial and buttons.
The available FSM scans on
the internet from different
vehicles suggest that some
vehicles use the SST when
bleeding a hydraulic booster
(GS300, 100 series LC, older
4Runner.. .), bleeding the
POWER STEERING (on the
older trucks with rear ABS),
and for checking the function
of the ABS solenoids and
pump on most other vehicles.
The problems is that the only
time it is ever mentioned for
bleeding the brakes is when a
hydraulic booster is involved,
and the SST is plugged into
the hydraulic booster/ABS
module combo in a different
manner than how it plugs into
the FZJ-80 - and the buttons
on the SST have different
functions than they do with
the 80. Any bleeding
procedure with another
vehicle is not applicable to the
FZJ-80.
However, here is what I could
figure out with how the tool is
plugged into the FZJ...
Follow along here: http://
www.sugarlump.no/cruiser/HDJ-80_S5.pdf
and here: http://
www.autoshop101.com/forms/brake11.pdf
Apparently the FZJ uses a 3-
position solenoid with no
mechanical bypass valve. If
you read the second link that
will make sense. I'm not sure
if there is only one pump/
motor or more than one. The
FZJ has 3 solenoids - one for
the rear, and one for each of
the front wheels.
You plug in the SST using the
SST wiring harnesses "C" and
"E", and use "overlay A" on
the SST. The overlay divides
the SST into two sides, Motor
and Solenoid. On the left (the
Motor part) there are two
buttons, and the top one will
run the ABS pump/motor if
you press it.
On the right side is a dial, and
you use that to select a
solenoid (LF, RF, or rear). The
"power" button on the bottom
right then energizes the
selected solenoid. When a
solenoid is energized, brake
fluid can only flow
*backward* to the Master
Cylinder via check valves
(pushed by the pump) and
cannot flow from the MC to
the wheel. Everything I read
says do NOT energize any
solenoid more than 10
seconds, and then you should
let it rest for 20 seconds in-
between. Sounds like they
might burn up.
Two things to note: The "Air
Bleed" function on the knob
apparently only applies to
purging air from the old Hilux
power steering systems. I
could find no mention of
anyone actually using that
function to bleed brake lines.
Also, the FSMs for other
vehicles that mention using
the SST to bleed hydraulic
boosters say to hold down the
power button on the solenoid
side of the SST while bleeding.
That will not work on a FZJ,
because when the power
button is held down the
solenoid is energized (ie
closed) and brake fluid will not
flow through that line.
So, bottom line is that the SST
will activate the solenoids and
pump for the FZJ ABS system.
However, we do not have an
actual procedure on how to
use this in bleeding brakes on
a FZJ. The Toyota tech will not
be able to follow the non-FZJ
FSMs on using the SST to
bleed a hydraulic booster,
because that procedure will
not work on a FZJ.
I am open to suggested
procedures (cycle solenoid on/
off while pressure bleeding,
maybe, what about the
pump?) or any corrections/
clarifications to what I wrote
above.
I think the odds of getting one
of the dealer's techs to mess
with this without explicit
instructions seem quite
dismal.... I'll likely just be cycling the ABS on ice instead.
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