I noticed a few months ago that my emergency break light would come on when the break was down. it would happen in the same spots every time. however when i would let go of the gas it would turn off. also when i pump the break it would turn off too. i consulted my cars handbook and it says that it needs break fluid. i have never changed my break fluid (%26amp; right now its on min). do they usually change it when i get my oil changed? also should i add some or does it sound like a bigger problem?|||it does sound like the fluid level is low,but why?is the real question ,it may be low due to worn brake pads/shoes or it could have a leak in a line,caliper,wheel cylinder or master cylinder.I suggest to take it to a good mechanic and have the brakes inspected and the fluid changed at the same time as any potential repairs are done.Brake fluid should be changed every 2yrs or when overheated brakes have occured and is not normally done with a lube service unless requested.hope this helps|||No, not as frequently as you are supposed to change the oil.
But there are recommended limits for Brake (and other fluids) change in the car%26#039;s manual. This normally range is from 30,000 to 60,000 miles. However, unless your car has done over 100,000 miles, I would not expect it to cause brake fault light to be On. It appears to be in need of topping up. Topping up is easy, the container on which you read Min. and Max has a filler cap also. You would also find the spec of the Brake fluid (usually Dot 3). However if it is still over the Min mark, I would suspect the level switch. or very worn brake pads If the level is down, you must also look for the cause. Check wetting around wheel cylinders and the master cylinder and immediately get it rectified.|||You need to have the brake system evaluated right now. If you where my client I would tell you to have the car towed to the shop and would tell you not to drive it. When events like this start to happen it is never a good idea to let it go for very long. Most manufactures recommend the brake fluid to be changed every 30,000 miles. We do it every 15000. The quickly lube places only check the brake fluid and add if needed. They do not change it. You are most likely in need of new pads on the front of the car as well as inspection and replacement on the rear. You never mentioned how many miles are on the car. But if you have more then 60K I would have the dealer or shop replace ALL of the fluids in the car. Power steering, transmission, oil, breaks, and coolant.|||The first and second answers were very good. I would go with the 2nd answer if I was talking to you on the phone and here is why.
Definition of Brake from dictionary.com:
-----To stop or slow upon being braked.-----
At a point, and only the brake fairy knows this, the brakes may fail. You might then seek the definition of %26quot;break%26quot; because when they do fail you might not be able to stop at that red light.
If you buy a gallon(U.S.) of milk and put it in the refrigerator with the top sealed, and some disappears, you will see the white color running down. Brake fluid is more clear and can leak from places hard to see.
The bottom line is that you have a serious problem that can have serious consequences. When there is a loss of fluid there is almost always a %26quot;leak%26quot;. A leak will mean that the fluid will become too low to fill the lines and prevent braking. It also means there will be air in the lines.
You certainly need to top off the reservoir and get this checked out.|||add brake fluid and see how long it takes to get back down to the current level it should stay full for a long time if it drains within a couple weeks have your brakes inspected immediately you could have a cracked line which if not found could cause damage to your vehicle if unable to stop efficiently and quickly|||You don%26#039;t need to change your brake fluids. Instead, have your brake pads replaced. Your car is telling you it%26#039;s time to service the brakes before you have wear and tear in the brake system. If you replace the pads now you will save about 150 to 200 dollars for rotors and labor. If you wait you will be paying for parts that probably wouldn%26#039;t need replacing when a car is properly maintained.|||That lite tells you that the safe level of brake fluid is low, probably due to worn brakes or a leak in the brake system somewhere. Play it safe and have the brake system thoroughly checked for any possible cause mentioned above, then have it repaired. That little lite may save your life in a panic stop.
good luck.....|||not really most likely your rear brake bad shoul d have brake check and replace been driving 40 yrs ive never replace my brake fluid in any car my car i have now has over 300,000 miles never been done yet|||Just Add some Dot3 brake fluid and see how it goes from there.|||as disk brake pads wear down, the brake caliper pistons move out closer to the brake rotor and this causes the brake fluid level to drop in the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir.
Your brake light coming on should signal you to check the fluid level, and since it is at the minimum level mark, you should have the brakes checked as this is how this system is designed to function, when it hits the minimum mark, your brakes need servicing soon!
just adding fluid will not fix anything but stop the light from coming on
If you car has ABS (anti-lock brakes) and you live in a state with moderate to high humidity, it is a good idea to have the brake fluid replaced and the old fluid flushed out by bleeding the brakes whenever the pads are replaced. You can tell by the color of the fluid, if it looks black, it is old, if it is transparent and clear, it is OK
Some vehicles, like Ford trucks with RABS (rear anti-lock brake system) require new fluid and flushing annually to prevent problems with the RABS valve from corrosion.
Some quick oil change places will top off the brake fluid when you have the oil changed, if they do that and it was at the minimum mark and they don%26#039;t tell you they are really doing you a disservice, because that should trigger an immediate brake inspection!
