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Thread: Brake Fluid - Where does it go? Ford Focus

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    I Love mike Brewer )o( Monkey's Avatar
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    Brake Fluid - Where does it go? Ford Focus

    i'm assuiming its brake fluid issues, my Focus handbrake/brake warning light comes on when i go round right had bend/roundabouts so i'm assuming that the fluid is moving away from the sensor (i assume the sensor is on the drivers side of the brake fluid pot) this has been a sudden thing, it doesnt come on under braking so im 99% sure the brakes are fine,

    so apart from a leak whare does it go? can it avaporate? i dont have ABS i dont drive the car hard so its not boiling

    oh and what fluid should i use? i'm not sure what is standard in Focus'

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    Guest Silane's Avatar
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    Could it be one of the brake pad sensors causing it to come on?

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    When your pads wear down, the pistons are pushed out more so the fluid level in the reservoir drops.

    It'll have gone down just enough so that cornering makes the light some on.

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    Guest CamInHead's Avatar
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    Pad wear indicators are usually an orange symbol. What Rusty says is correct. You shouldn't be topping up brake fluid. If the level is impacted it's trying to tell you something!

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    I Love mike Brewer )o( Monkey's Avatar
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    i dont think i have brake pad sensors on my car, its a bottom of the range 02 Focus 1.6 without ABS.

    i'll check the pads though

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    I Love mike Brewer )o( Monkey's Avatar
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    i've just had a quick look i have pleanty of meat on the outside pad on both the fronts, both are approx the same amount but i cant see the inside pads.

    will the pads wear the same on each side IE on the driver side will the outside pad wear the same as the inside pad?

  7. #7
    Flamethrower
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    the pads can wear differently, so could be work checking but I doubt you have pad sensors

    if your fluid is low, top it up before it runs dry. Use normal dot 4. If the light still comes up then investigate

    Dan

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    I Love mike Brewer )o( Monkey's Avatar
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    cheers dan, i'll get some dot 4 on the way home.

    i'll also whip the wheels off this weekend and check the inside pads for the fronts.

    is it worth checking the shoes as well?

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    Yes, check em all

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    Check the switch on the handbrake lever inside the car. If the lever pivot is starting to work loose, the handbrake can "fall off" the switch, making the light come on on the dash.

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    Guest CamInHead's Avatar
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    If it has shoes the cylinder(s) could be leaking inside the drum.

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    Guest Ross S14's Avatar
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    Traction control light doesn't come on at all does it (when it's not supposed to obviously)?

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    I Love mike Brewer )o( Monkey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tallpaul View Post
    Check the switch on the handbrake lever inside the car. If the lever pivot is starting to work loose, the handbrake can "fall off" the switch, making the light come on on the dash.
    checked that, its fine

    Quote Originally Posted by CamInHead View Post
    If it has shoes the cylinder(s) could be leaking inside the drum.
    yes this issomething i have thought about, i havnt had a chance ot look, but i will monitor the fluid level until i can check cylindersin the drums, i think this is the most likly

    Quote Originally Posted by Ross S14 Exeter View Post
    Traction control light doesn't come on at all does it (when it's not supposed to obviously)?
    LOL it doesnt have traction control,

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    Check to see if it's wet under the gearbox, you may have a leaking clutch slave cylinder...

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