Bought an Accord...have a few issues

[agginline86]

I've got to assume that a catalytic converter thief would know that the part with the O2 sensor plugged into it is the cat.

why assume that when you didn't know that?...

About the brakes, I tried pumping the pedal repeatedly with the car running. There is a tiny bit of resistance in the pedal, but not nearly as much as there should be. With very light pressure on the pedal, I can get it to go down almost all the way, then for the last inch or so of travel it takes more pressure.

I checked the brake fluid level again. It appeared to be at about the same level as yesterday. I also checked for signs of fluid on the ground, and saw nothing anywhere under the car.

bleed brakes, do this again
if you still aren't feeling resistance, brake booster

 

[NotNice]

i would of bought that car in .000001 of a second for junk price.

 

[JJR512]

why assume that when you didn't know that?...

Maybe because I am not a catalytic converter thief and I do not make money by knowing which part underneath the car is the catalytic converter, and which part isn't?

For the record, when I took the picture where I asked "what is that", I was looking at it from the driver's side. Additionally, it was dark under there, and I didn't take much time looking at details. However, when I later looked at it from the other side (after taking that picture, posting it here, and asking the question), when I then saw the O2 sensor and the hole for the O2 sensor, then it was immediately obvious even to this non-cat-thief what it was I was looking at.

Finally, just because someone asks "what is this", it doesn't necessarily mean they don't know what it is, or at least have a pretty good guess. They may be asking that question to seek independent confirmation. (This is why I responded to Brad2274, "Thanks for the confirmation on that.") Leaving out what they believe or guess it to be avoids leading someone into a conclusion.

 

[JJR512]

I will try bleeding the brakes.

I've never done that before. A mechanic who works on our ambulances here advised me to start with the back right, then back left, then front right, then front left; he said do it in order of farthest away from master cylinder, to closest. Is this correct?

He also said something about "gravity bleeding", he said to take the cap off the master cylinder reservoir, then open the bleed valve, and just wait for the fluid to start appear before closing the valve. I was a bit hazy by then so I'm not sure if I'm remembering exactly what he said correctly, but I think he said to then top off the reservoir, and repeat with the other calipers.

I guess I'll do a search on here for the procedure on how to bleed brakes on this car, but meanwhile if anyone wants to point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.