brake fluid

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Old Sep 4, 2009 | 01:37 PM
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brake fluid

Alright, so my brake light is staying on while I'm driving to work in the morning when it's a little cold out. I already know it's because of the brake fluid. The light doesn't stay on when I'm driving home in the afternoon or just when it's a little warm out. Is it still safe to drive? The brakes still feel fine when I push the pedal in and all, so as far as I know it could be okay for now...

Anyways, I had my car serviced not even a month ago and they forgot to refill the brake fluid. Is there stuff I can buy so I can just refill it myself? I really don't want to drive all the way out to the dealer I got it serviced at, since it's about 30 miles away and I doubt they'll reimburse me for gas or anything (it WAS their fault, afterall..)
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 11:01 AM
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no, no, no. top off the fluid. same was happening to to me. i was half an inch below the min line. spend the $5 on fluid and top it off. better safe than sorry.

any parts store will carry dot 3 brake fluid. of one of ur friends can give u some.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 02:39 PM
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Oh? So there isn't any Honda/Acura OEM brake fluid I'm supposed to use? :P (Stupid joke...)

Also, as a noob I can't help but ask, where do I fill it up at?
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 03:01 PM
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I wish the dealer was only 30 miles away-If it were that close I would go back and make them correct it.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 03:02 PM
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Ehh, don't answer that. It's a little embarrassing to need help with that... I can probably find it on my own.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by nj2pa2nc
I wish the dealer was only 30 miles away-If it were that close I would go back and make them correct it.
Yeah, but for the brake fluid alone? I should call them and bitch at them, regardless, but I feel like if I do then they'll want me to bring it in to have them fix it, or else they'll think I was full of it.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapture
Yeah, but for the brake fluid alone? I should call them and bitch at them, regardless, but I feel like if I do then they'll want me to bring it in to have them fix it, or else they'll think I was full of it.
the closest acura dealer to me is 138 miles one way.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 04:10 PM
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Really? Not even a Honda dealer that can do work on Acuras?
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapture
Really? Not even a Honda dealer that can do work on Acuras?


The honda dealer near me is horrible-according to a few of my neighbors-they warned me to avoid them
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 06:13 PM
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From: The grande.. Riverdale NJ.. Hopefully moving to skyline village in Lincoln park NJ..yes dirty jersey
The btrake fluid resevior is close to the driver window.
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 12:32 AM
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Yeah I guess I was thinking of the power steering fluid reservoir.

The brake fluid res. is filled to the cap... any idea why the brake light would stick on when I drive around in the morning?
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 09:25 AM
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the sensor under the cap is know to go bad
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 01:25 PM
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Would the sensor be affected by the cold so much? I mean when I get off work and go home in the afternoon, the light stays off...

Either way, if it's the sensor, then can I still drive around safely as long as I monitor the brake system, right? Basically I don't want to have to take it back to the dealer right away since I felt like I just came back...
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 01:51 PM
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u can still drive around. buy why is the fluid all the way to to cap? should be between the min and max line.
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 02:15 PM
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Really don't know, I didn't add any fluid to the res. I'm sure the dealer messed up... *sigh* that must be why the sensor is messed up. Think I should just try to get some of it out myself?
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 02:40 PM
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Alright so I guess it's not all the way up to the cap, but I'd say it is past the max fill line a bit.
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 03:35 PM
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This happened to me RANDOMLY one day and yes it was the break fluid.

The e-brake light was on for about a day until I poped the hood and then added like 30 mls of fluid.

Rajca is right, it may just be the sensor malfunctioning. Is there a way to bypass this to see if it's the problem??? like holding the sensor in the highest position to make the car think the fluid is to the brim.

But yea if it's ONN the line. maybe adding just a bit more may clear that stupid light. I know it did for me.

At least it's just a LIGHT and not a real problem :-)

Good luck
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 03:41 PM
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he is above the max line by a bit and the light is still on. so its either stuck, unplugged or just broken
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapture
Alright so I guess it's not all the way up to the cap, but I'd say it is past the max fill line a bit.
check again, take the cap off. the fluid expands when its warm causing the light to go out bc its warm. so check the fluid to make sure
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 01:00 AM
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well actually I checked it when it was cold (or semi cold.... about 65 degrees outside) and it goes all the way up to about the base of the spout in the reservoir. Not to the brim, just to the spout.

I dunno, the manual said if it's not just the light, then there might be something wrong with the circuitry in the brake system. Like the brakes will feel different. When I took it in to get it serviced they said the pads and rotors were all fine...
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 07:56 AM
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It's most likely the little sensor. In this case just ignor the light. It's not important if there's fluid. Check it once a month.

However, it could be a burned out rear brake light. Have someone check the lights while you press your brakes.
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:45 AM
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The float in the sensor for the brake fluid level are known to go BAD and give false readings when it is cold or humid outside.

Just slide the float up and dwn the shaft several times, to give it some play. That shud help a great deal or replace the cap sensor with another frm dealer i think its abt 30 dollars frm the dealer. ( easy install)
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 12:08 AM
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Yeah sorry for the late follow up, but yeah I messed with the sensor a bit when I was checking the fluid. I guess maybe moving it around (like poisx7 said) maybe loosened it or repositioned it. It works perfectly now.

I can't even imagine how I'll handle a REAL problem, haha...
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 04:36 AM
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one step at a time
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 07:48 AM
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buy a service manual & read it & learn.
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 07:25 PM
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I do believe I was joking....
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Old Sep 12, 2009 | 07:03 AM
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Maybe it was a good thing the dealer was too far for you.
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