I hadn't driven the ZX in a little over a year and now i find that whenever i go to drive it (just around the block, it hasn't been registered since '05), it takes about 5 pumps of the brake pedal to get any pressure in the system and the brakes are still very mushy afterwards - to the point where the pedal bottoms out if i want to come from a stop from over 30mph or so.

The brakes worked perfectly when I parked it. I don't see how air would have gotten in there from during the time the car was parked...

Is it just a matter of bleeding the lines or is this an indication of a more serious problem?

 

Yeah... just bleed them (each corner & the master). After time, moisture can settle out & cause that... also the seals might leak a lil (air more than fluid). Just bleed them & you'll be fine.

 

keep an eye on the break resivour. You might be low on fluid right now...

 

It was nearly empty after the first "pumping session" i refilled it and now the level does not change.

 

Sounds like there was air in the system that got forced out. I would bleed and flush everything to be on the safe side. After that rubber gets moving again it's going flake off some and cause the fluid to turn black and build up in the master cylinder, lines, proportioning valve, calipers, etc... Clean it out real good.