[V8] Approx cost of fixing the pressure accumulator

[subhendu basu]

Hi Folks
 
As you may or may not recall I recently purchased a 1990V8Q on ebay. The car is based in Portland, Maine and I have yet to see it in person :( The car had a "slight power steering leak" and  I was told that replacing the pressure switch power booster would fix that, which I dutifully did and paid $175 for parts, labor and brake fluid. I was on the road to Portland to pick up the car and drive it back to Baltimore this past weekend when I got a call saying that there was yet another leak that had developed and it seemed pretty serious. It seems that the increased pressure had busted the pressure accumulator and I had to turn back since it could not be fixed over the weekend. To say I was dissapointed is an understatement. As it now stands, it seems the pressure accumulator has to be fixed. It is my understanding from scouring the list that this is what is refered to as the "bomb". Answers I need from the guru's are to the following questions:
1. Approx how many hours of labor would it take to have it replaced? I looked up the archives for directions to replace it and it doesn't seem like it would take more than an hour, two max but of course I may be wrong.
 
2. Does this explain the massive Hemorrhaging of fluid? since I though when the accumulator failed one lost power brakes but not fluid. The chap mentioned the problem was a small piece of plastic (which the bomb is not). Could it be something as simple as an O ring?
 
3. I looked up the cost of parts on the net and  AllEurasian auto parts seems to have the cheapest pressure acuumulator from Lemforder for $271.34.  Is there a better source?
 
4. Any reccomendations for reliable and honest mechanics in the D.C. area? I might have to ship the car  down here and have it fixed although I would rather use the money for shipping to have it repaired up in Portland.
 
Sorry for burdening the list with my woes, all ofyou have been most helpful to me in the past. Looking forward to your advice.
 
Thanks.
 
Ben
 

		
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