I have a 1989 Honda CRX HF and my brake fluid is down. Can I just refill it back up with brake fluid? can you guy's help me. Thanks!

 

yup, make sure it's DOT 3 fluid.

 

You should bleed your brakes and add the new fluid. make sure you get all the air out.

 

You can just add DOT 3 brake fluid, but ideally you want to bleed it and add fresh fluid. Also, check your pads to see how low they are.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mi5t &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 1989 Honda CRX HF and my brake fluid is down. Can I just refill it back up with brake fluid? can you guy's help me. Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
You can refill it; make sure to use DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid (do NOT use DOT 5). Keep an eye on it to make sure the fluid level doesn't continue to fall in the future - this would indicate you have a leak somewhere.

Ideally, you'd want to flush out all of the old fluid with new and then bleed the system - but this is not really necessary unless you are having problems with air in the lines (indicated by a mushy pedal feel) or are replacing certain brake components.

If your brake fluid is very old, be aware that flushing the system may cause some parts to fail. After I flushed what appeared to be the original 14 year old brake fluid out of the system in my '91 CRX, the master cylinder failed. I am guessing that dirt and crud in the old fluid was the only thing maintaining the seals in the original master cylinder, and once it was flushed with all-new fluid the seals just let go.

 

coo....thanks!....for the replies......i will be changing my rear brake soon.......my brake light is on at all times is this why i need to put in brake fluid?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mi5t &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">coo....thanks!....for the replies......i will be changing my rear brake soon.......my brake light is on at all times is this why i need to put in brake fluid?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, that is one of the reasons your brake light would stay on at all times. The float in the master cylinder reservior will make the light come on if the fluid level is too low.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 88 rex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, check your pads to see how low they are.</TD></TR></TABLE>



Unless you have a leak (which is something you should look for in an older car with low brake fluid), your pads may be down far enough to make it look like you're down on fluid. If the piston is way out, more fluid will be in the lines. Make sure you still have plenty of pad material left before you just top it off at the MC.