I replaced a brake hose on the front driver's side, and have since had a brake failure warning light and poor braking (soft pedal, car pulls to right when braking). My question has to do with my bleeding procedure. I used the old-fashioned two-man pedal pump method. Since I only opened up one wheel's braking system, I assumed that I only needed to bleed from that wheel. Should I have gone through the entire bleeding sequence at all four wheels, or at least done the other front side?

John,

Your 90 240 has a brake line junction valve that senses an imbalance between the the applied brake pressures within the system. KEY CONCEPT--when you open the brake system anywhere other than the brake fluid resevior, you must bleed the entire system. Granted there are some methods than can bypass this requirements, but as a general rule, rebleed the complete system unless you employ these other methods.

I would assume that your exisiting problem with the brake light orginates from the air that has entered the system when you replaced the brake line. The air can travel throughout your brake lines and creates the imbalance sensed by the junction valve, which in turn activates the brake warning light. Follow the complete bleeding procedure and the light should extinguish itself.

A couple of condiderations here....it's a good idea to flush the brake lines every two or three years due to the fluids hydroscopic properties. Now would be an oportune time for you to do this. Also, while you're at it, verify the brake line junction valve doesn't start to seap. A common problem after thirteen years of not being flushed with clean fluid. About $60 +/-.