Alrighty... I bought a Disco II earlier this year. Drove it home fine for two hours and the next day it sprung a coolant leak. It sat for a month or so until I got time to fix it. In that time the three amigos came on and the braking lost A LOT of its power. At first I bled the brakes and that helped quite a bit but I'm still gingerly driving the vehicle around because of weak brakes. If I stomp on the brakes the car stops and engages ABS. The sound of a pump exists upon starting of the car for around 45-60 seconds and I'm assuming its the ABS pump.

Anywho.... Is there anything I can check easily prior to ordering an ABS code reader? I'm assuming the lights and weak brakes are related and something is going on with either the master cylinder or brake booster but dont know how to single either out.

 

Its a rust issue on the brake components.
The ABS pump is supposed to self test everytime you start the engine.
It is also supposed to run for a few minutes after shut off.
My money is on a sticky/seized caliper.
Your truck sat outside for that month didnt it? Did it rain alot? High humidity?
You sir are suffering from "lot rot", thats what happens to cars that sit outside in wet/humid conditions.
Everything rusts and rots from lack of use.
That is a great way to kill a water pump, alternator, calipers, tires...

Start by checking for a seized caliper.

 

How mechanical are you? Do you have a service engine light or # amigos on, if so you will need to get the codes read.

 

It sat in my garage for that time instead of outside. I worked on it on and off for that month or so while it was in my garage. I'll check for a seized caliper since that sounds easy enough to do anyway.

 

Yes, as the subject states the three lights are on.... no SEL.

I'll probably order a code reader this week but was looking for possible insight on the mechanical side of this issue of weak brakes prior to that coming as I have a little free time to mess around.

 

You may have 2 issues, ANS and some sort of a brake system failing cause the 3 Amigos won't cause weak brakes.