Leaking brake fluid?

[Nguyen Nguyen]

Howdy all,

My car is parked on an inclide (front higher) and is driven only about once a month. There is a bit of fresh fluid underneath the front of the car where it is parked. I think the fluid is brake fluid. Since each time I drive the car, the abs pump comes on for about a minute or so. Also the brake fluid reservoir level gradually goes lower. I check around the reservoir cap and brake calipers and see no sign of leakage. Any idea where else I can check? I am not sure where the abs pump is.

Thanks for any help.

- Nguyen

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Please do a search on ABS here. You need to "excercise" your ABS system, by making some hard stops and engaging the ABS. My first thought is your ABS reservoir is overflowing from a stuck selonoid. This is pretty typical BTW.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Briank]

If your ABS pump runs and you are not getting a ABS light you more than likely don't have a ABS problem. The fluid level in the master cylinder will go down as the brake pads wear so if your brake master cylinder reservoir is going down more than very slowly you have a leak. Can you step on the brakes and the petal holds or does it slowly sink?

 

[Nguyen Nguyen]

I don't think I have ABS problem, since the ABS pump runs and there is no ABS light. I can step on the brakes pedal and hold it without it sinks to the floor.

The reservoir is going down faster than what I think is due to brake pad wear, since I don't drive the car that often. I haven't change pads for the last 2 years. I have to add fluid to the reservoir a few times now within the last year.

The interesting thing is that if I park the car on a LEVEL surface, then there is no visible fluid "dropping" underneath the front of the car. I don't think it's coolant or clutch fluid since their reservoirs level do not change. It's not condesation from AC operation either.

So it's must be a brake fluid leak, but where?

Thanks again.

- Nguyen

 

[hlweyl]

Pardon me if this question seems stupid Are you sure it is the brake reservoir and not the clutch master?

 

[Briank]

Pardon me if this question seems stupid Are you sure it is the brake reservoir and not the clutch master?

Good question! Which one of the 3 reservoirs are you adding fluid to, clutch, brake master, or ABS?

 

[Nguyen Nguyen]

I've been adding fluid to the ABS reservoir. I just check it, and it's a tad
below minimum level again. Thanks.

- Nguyen

 

[Larry Bastanza]

If this is the case, and you are sure the ABS reservoir itself is truly dry, then I would check the accumulator seal on the bottom. I would get some brake clean and clean it well, then look at it carefully after a day. It may be that the accumulator has an internal elak and will need to be replaced, or the seal on the lower bolt is leaking.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[hlweyl]

I would get some brake clean and clean it well, then look at it carefully after a day.

Great advice. Just be VERY carefull with brake clean. It works great as a paint stripper.... ask me how I know

 

[Briank]

I would also take a good look at the black rubber hose that goes from the pump to the abs unit they do fail (leak).

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I would also take a good look at the black rubber hose that goes from the pump to the abs unit they do fail (leak).

That is a good point. It is part of the 60K service, but older, lower mileage cars need to look at this too. I would guess many have not been changed

LarryB