93 ford escort brake fluid replacement


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Old 07-08-03, 08:14 AM
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93 ford escort brake fluid replacement

2 fast questions

1) where do i refill the brake fluid on a 93 ford escort LX wagon? i haven't even looked under the hood yet so be as elementary as you can in your description of this location.

2) what type of brake fluid should i buy (please be as specific as possible), and how much?

here's the situation if you're interested...
the brake light has come on intermittantly and last time this happened, my regular mechanic just topped off the brake fluid, teling me that it was just low. i'd like to do this myself and just see if it takes care of the light coming on.

more specifically:
the brake light has come on when accellerating and it usually goes off when the car levels off at a cruising speed. i'm guessing its a sensor in the brake fluid reservoir that is in the front of the reservoir so when the accellerating momentum of the car pushes the fluid against the back of the rez, the sensor goes dry, thus signalling low brake fluid.

thanks in advance for the answers to the questions at the top and for any other advice you can lend.

Pat
 
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Old 07-08-03, 08:22 AM
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Open hood.
Stand next to left fender and extend right arm.
Lean forward.
Your hand should be real close to the reservoir. Don't recall what the reservoir or cap itself looks like on an Escort, but likely a small see-through plastic tank with twist off or pull off rubber or plastic cap.
Any brand DOT-3 brake fluid will suffice. Look for it to say "for drum and disk brakes" on the label.
Good idea to have your brakes checked for wear and/or leak if you've been adding a lot of fluid.

If you have a manual transmission there may be two reservoirs; the second would be for the clutch if it is hydraulic.

More info and pictures here:

http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Manual%...delLookup.html
 
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Old 07-08-03, 08:30 AM
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but what if i have a particularly long right arm? kidding...

thanks for your very simple and easy to imagine descriptions. you should write a book, 'replacing brake fluid for dummies'

i'll give it a shot this afternoon.

much appreciated,

Pat
 
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Old 07-08-03, 08:32 AM
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Click on that link in my reply. Good pictures. Go to General Information/Fluids/Brake master cylinder. Looks like reservoir is shared with clutch if you have a manual transmission, so fluid loss could be a leak in the clutch system also.
 
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Old 07-08-03, 08:34 AM
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Agree with TowGuy (I have fairly long arms...lol).

Bottom line: If you have to add fluid, there is a leak in the system (or the cap is loose/broken). Have it repaired without delay. Brakes are not something to gamble with.
 
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Old 07-08-03, 09:16 AM
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i think i'm going to bring it in to be checked. the fluid is present in the reservoir about 1/4 above the mininum line and about 3/4 below the maximum line. i'm guessing it's something else...

Pat
 
 

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