fiesta brake fluid reservoir empty - how worried should I be

[stargazer30]

Sons new (used) fiesta. 11 plate 1.25 petrol zetec. The brakes had a minor squeal which the selling garage checked and said was ok. Pads are ok. It has a 3m warranty but they’ve closed for lockdown.

Warning light came on tonight. I’ve checked and the brake reservoir is totally empty so I’ve told him not to drive it. Gonna get some brake fluid tomorrow and fill it up. How likely is that to be the end of it? Wishful thinking?

I’ve never had to top up brake fluid before only coolant/oil.

[HustleRussell]

It’s gone somewhere. Not good.

[steveo3002]

yeah it leaked out somewhere , dont just fill it and drive away

[stargazer30]

So you recon fill it up, drive it to the nearest garage and pay up?

[Mr MXT]

stargazer30 said:

So you recon fill it up, drive it to the nearest garage and pay up?

No, you have it recovered or trailer it. Don’t drive it, you at find yourself completely without brakes.

[Vintagejock]

Could be the brake pads have worn so low that all (or most) of the fluid is being used up to push the pistons in the calipers out. As far as warranty goes I wouldn't hold your breath. Brakes and clutch are wear and tear parts.

[stevemcs]

Mr MXT said:

No, you have it recovered or trailer it. Don’t drive it, you at find yourself completely without brakes.

More likely to find yourself with only 50% of the brakes

[Twig62]

Vintagejock said:

Could be the brake pads have worn so low that all (or most) of the fluid is being used up to push the pistons in the calipers out. As far as warranty goes I wouldn't hold your breath. Brakes and clutch are wear and tear parts.

Even if the pads are down to the metal there would still be fluid in the reservoir.

[Mave]

I agree with the others, don't drive it, get it recovered. Assuming it has a recent MoT from when it was bought, I'd guess a slave cylinder had gone.

[breamster]

Don't drive it. Check on the inside of each wheel. Ie from behind. My guess is that one of them will be wet with brake fluid. No expert but that is the first thing I would check.

[A1VDY]

Your Fiesta will have drums on the back, it's more than likely a wheel cylinder seal has gone.
Look under the car to see if you can see any fluid leaking out from the backplates.
If it is a cylinder, they're only around a tenner and half hour job to fit /bleed out.
If it's a very recent fault the shoes will clean up with brake and clutch cleaner. However, if its been leaking for a while factor in a new set of shoes, again inexpensive around £15..

[Sebring440]

A1VDY said:

If it is a cylinder, they're only around a tenner and half hour job to fit /bleed out.

Gosh! That sounds super quick and super cheap!

But the OP has absolutely no mechanical ability and will be paying a garage, so likely will cost more than a tenner.

[Mave]

Sebring440 said:

A1VDY said:

If it is a cylinder, they're only around a tenner and half hour job to fit /bleed out.

Gosh! That sounds super quick and super cheap!

But the OP has absolutely no mechanical ability and will be paying a garage, so likely will cost more than a tenner.

Probably a tenner for the part and the cost of half hour labour.

Edited by Mave on Sunday 22 November 22:58

[Chris32345]

Mobile mechanic to have a look at it

[stargazer30]

Sebring440 said:

But the OP has absolutely no mechanical ability and will be paying a garage, so likely will cost more than a tenner.

Actually I do, I’m pretty good at any sort of DIY. But I draw the line at brakes and anything involving gas.

Anyway back on topic, the brakes have been a bit spongy since he got it so I’m pretty sure it’s an old fault and it’s probably been leaking since he got it. It’s going to the garage today (one I trust) so we will see what they find.

[HustleRussell]

People in here are normally pretty alarmist. Personally if the car has a brake pedal now, I would put some brake fluid in it and drive it to a local garage, all the while mindful that it is possible that you could lose one of the circuits of the braking system and experience a long pedal if it goes wrong.

[steveo3002]

could fill the res , get a helper to press hard on the pedal and go around with a torch and look at the back of each wheel see if fluid is dripping out , could also be the hyd clutch (if they have one) so also look above clutch pedal and where the engine /box meet underneath

if its not gushing out with someone stood hard on the pedal , id risk a gentle 2-3 miles to a garage , but not jaunt around in it for a week

[HustleRussell]

I believe that hydraulic fluid reservoirs are designed in such a way that the fluid cannot be fully drained down through the clutch side, i.e. you'd lose the clutch and then the fluid loss would stop.

[E-bmw]

HustleRussell said:

I believe that hydraulic fluid reservoirs are designed in such a way that the fluid cannot be fully drained down through the clutch side, i.e. you'd lose the clutch and then the fluid loss would stop.

^^^^ Wot 'e said, the clutch can't drain the reservoir to the point of losing pedal, there is a weir in the middle keeping a minimum level in the brake side as that is obviously more important.

However if the clutch slave was leaking it could take the level down low enough for (then) extended brake calipers (due to low pads) to drop the level low enough to lose the pedal.

As was said above, fill the reservoir, have someone pump the pedal while looking for leaks (which can be hard to see) and leave it overnight to see if you get any puddles & if the level drops before considering whether to risk it or not.

[CrutyRammers]

Resevoirs are usually massively over-sized as well, if it's empty there will have been a leak for some time. As above , fill it, pump it hard and look for leaks, leave overnight and look for a puddle. I'd probably risk driving (very, very carefully) to a garage if it were just a couple of miles and the above tests didn't show gallons falling out.