Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting low brake fluid question

I know that when the Emergency/parking brake light comes on when the brake is not on that it means you low on brake fluid.

my question is....is the gauge that reads the brake fluid level like the one that reads the gas. my emergency brake light doesn't stay on, it just comes on or flickers during hard accleration or cornering. So I was figuring that the fluid was splashing around int he resivor and giving a low reading, similar to the way the gas gives bad reading under hard acceleration, cornering, or parked on an hill etc...

I'm going to check the level and see...if i need to add some is there any special type to get, I thought you not supposed to mix different types of brake fluid.

If the light is even flickering at all, you're down on fluid. Best bet is to flush the system (it's probably due - every 2 yers) and use new fluid, although you can add any DOT3 brake fluid (IIRC, check your owner's manual to be sure of the spec) temporarily. The Ford Heavy Duty DOT3 fluid is actually one of the better brake fluids available BTW, though I'm partial to Castrol LMA myself.

The bigger question is why you are down on brake fluid. It could be because of normal pad wear causing the calipers to be extended more, thus holding more fluid, but I've never had that actually occur on any of my cars. You should find out why it's low and repair any problems ASAP.

Scott

for now i'm just gonna add some fluid.
I plan on redoing the brakes by xmas.
new rotors, pads, SS lines, and flush & fill on the fluid.
So that will hold me over until i get all new parts.

Be VERY careful. If, indeed, you have a small leak, it could become a big leak rather quickly. Also, be wary about topping off brake fluid, since it could easily result in a nasty (and paint-eating) mess the next time you install new linings as the reservoir overflows.

Best of luck!

In reply to:

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It could be because of normal pad wear causing the calipers to be extended more, thus holding more fluid, but I've never had that actually occur on any of my cars.

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Yep, I've seen it.

If you add "a lot" of brake fluid, when you get around to replacing the pads and compress the pistons back into the calipers, the fluid will actually overflow the master cylinder !

Originally posted by theoldwizard:

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In reply to:

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It could be because of normal pad wear causing the calipers to be extended more, thus holding more fluid, but I've never had that actually occur on any of my cars.

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Yep, I've seen it.

If you add "a lot" of brake fluid, when you get around to replacing the pads and compress the pistons back into the calipers, the fluid will actually overflow the master cylinder !

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OK, well maybe i'll hold off on adding any.
I doesn't happen all the time, just occasionally.
Thats why i was curious to know if the fluid level reader was inaccurate during acceleration and cornering like the gas reader.
The E-brake light never comes on during normal driving conditions, only occasionally during hard acceleration and cornering.

Originally posted by theoldwizard:

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In reply to:

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It could be because of normal pad wear causing the calipers to be extended more, thus holding more fluid, but I've never had that actually occur on any of my cars.

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Yep, I've seen it.

If you add "a lot" of brake fluid, when you get around to replacing the pads and compress the pistons back into the calipers, the fluid will actually overflow the master cylinder !

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Before you start the brake job, remove excess fluid with a turkey baster....

I'd be much more comfortable knowing that my fluid was up to the max line, and owuld probably freak out if the brake fluid level light ever came on while driving. That's just me, though.

Scott

Originally posted by Pigeon:

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If the light is even flickering at all, you're down on fluid. ....
...It could be because of normal pad wear causing the calipers to be extended more, thus holding more fluid, but I've never had that actually occur on any of my cars.
You should find out why it's low and repair any problems ASAP.

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I just experienced this symptom on my '98, i.e., flickering brake light, last week. Sure enough fluid was down (1/2 way between max & min) and front brake pads are in need of replacement.
I just added a small amount of fluid to get the light to stay off but level is still below max. Pads have been bought, hopefully installed in warmer/dryer weather tomorrow or Saturday. First replacements with about 70,000 miles and actually it's only outer pass side that is approaching wear limit, probably due to corroded caliper pin/bushing.

Before you start the brake job, remove excess fluid with a turkey baster....

I'd be much more comfortable knowing that my fluid was up to the max line, and owuld probably freak out if the brake fluid level light ever came on while driving. That's just me, though.

Scott

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Rather than suck some fluid out of the master cylinder and then pushing the fluid back into the master when the pistons are compressed, I prefer to open the bleed port on the caliper when compressing the pistons. This way you do not force fluid backward in the system. Ocassionally, especially if the fluid is old, or if you push the piston back too quickly, forcing the fluid backwards will cause a cup in the master cylinder to collapse making it necessary to replace it. It is not a big thing, but sometimes even the little things make a difference.

Duh, why didn't I think of that?

Scott