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1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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jamielkane
New User
Nov 23, 2007, 1:52 PM
Post #1 of 11
(4142 views)
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1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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I am looking for some expertise when it comes to filling the brake fluid in my van. The brake light on my dash board is illuminted. I checked the parking brake, and it is not on. I was told that it might be my brake fluid, so i have the brake fluid, but i cannot find where to put it in. I was reading on here and i read something about the master cylinder, but i do not know where it is . Any information will be greatly appreciated. i have to take my car for an echeck next week and i have heard that they will not do it if the brake light is on. please help asap.
thank you so much
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 23, 2007, 2:34 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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Driver's side has the master brake cylinder. Fluid reservoir is either right on top of it or close by with a hose right to it and should be marked as to use frequently DOT 3 fluid - follow any recommendations. If you can't locate this get help now as with a "red" brake light warning the safety is unknown and it plain has to be known why the light is on. If you find it low enough to make the light go on it's still not right. Why is got so low is the bigger question and that must be found out.
Owner's manual may just show you a picture of where to add fluid but again the reason it's low is more important. There will be marks for Max and Min and it should never be out of that range,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 23, 2007, 3:52 PM
Post #3 of 11
(4134 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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alright is the master brake cylinder under the hood? i do not have the owners manual as i got this van from my boss and he did not still have the manual. do you know if there is anywhere i can get a digrahm that will help me with this. i do not want to drive it again without first adding some fluid to see if the light goes out.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Nov 23, 2007, 7:54 PM
Post #4 of 11
(4130 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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Raise the hood. Look directly in front of the drivers seat under the hood area. The master cylinder will have either 2 or 4 lines bolted to it. Not sure if yours has a plastic reservoir or a metal part. Just remove the cap and add just a little fluid to turn the light off. You probably need to have the brake system looked at. If the fluid is low, either the brakes are worn down or there is a leak in the system. Here are pictures(sort of) of what they may look like.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
(This post was edited by way2old on Nov 23, 2007, 7:59 PM)
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 23, 2007, 8:52 PM
Post #5 of 11
(4127 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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thank you so much i will let you know if it works. i am hoping that it is not something more major, although i will get the brake system checked asap. i just want to not have to worry for a minute. i just put a new starter in it, that would not have anything to do with it right? well thank you so much
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 24, 2007, 7:24 AM
Post #6 of 11
(4125 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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alright i found where it goes this morning i took the lid off and it looks like there are 2 dishes but i do not see a level to fill it and i heard that if you put too much in you can blow a brake line, i dont know how true tha is but i am worried, so would putting a half bottle in be too much or not enough? let me know i just do not want to cause another problem thank you
jamie
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 24, 2007, 9:18 AM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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w2o was more helpful for you but I'll try again with what I think you are now looking at. The two spots are generally to separate front hydraulics from rear hydraulic so when a full leak down or level can get down too low in one it will maintain some for the other giving you some braking action but well compremised.
Was it over the divider? That is the fluid equal in both chambers? Is this a plastic tank? If so there's a up and down band of thinner plastic so you can see the level without taking the cap off and if it has that you should see some marking as to low or filled. When in doubt it would be safe to fill the low side till it ran over to the lower side but not right to the top. I don't know if overfilling causes any more problem than making a mess and you should avoid spilling any as if there is a leak to be found and not just very low brake pads from wear you do want to find it. I appollogize for what is so simple to me if I was just there looking right at it. If the chambers are separated by metal to the top they don't share the fluid. The cap will have rubber-like bellows to drop down when fluid will normally drop some over the life of brake pads and if filling that can/should just be pushed back or it would spill when trying to put cap/cover back on,
T
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 24, 2007, 10:02 AM
Post #8 of 11
(4123 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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alright there is no fluid in either of the top chambers, so i am just going to put fluid in to see if the light goes off. thank you so much for your help, i will let you know if it works and if not then maybe you can let me know what else it might me. thank you
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 24, 2007, 10:44 AM
Post #9 of 11
(4121 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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Ok: Go ahead. Try not to spill any. Again it does not need to be so full as to spill out. Perhaps a decent guess is down a half inch or just less than that from the top. Light will probably go out but if you were low enough for the light to be triggered by this you were close to losing braking and it could do that again quickly. Please find out why it was low. If you over fill or need to take some out you can use a turkey baster that is clean and dry but should be marked as a tool and never used for food again. Also know that brake fluid is water soluable but can eat painted items like paint stripper. Don't touch anything with your hands if you get even damp with the fluid and wash up with soap and water should do.
Good luck - be safe with this. Ask away and I'll try. Some of us are in the US and this is a popular weekend to be away or just stop with the computers for a break,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 24, 2007, 12:28 PM
Post #10 of 11
(4119 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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alright once i took the cover completely off and low and behold it was full. so i replaced it and then i checked the parking brake again and it was released but then i pushed it all the way in and when i released it again the light went off. so there was the problem all along. i was so worried for nothing, although i am glad that is what it was. thank you so much for all your help and expertise, i am sure i will be posting more questions in the future. hey tom do you have a email where i could just ask you? if not that is alright.
jamie
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 24, 2007, 1:20 PM
Post #11 of 11
(4117 views)
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Re: 1996 gmc safari brake fluid
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Cool! That explains it for now. You can try to get at the cables underside and spray some lube on them when parking brake is applied spraying the cables part right where it will retract back into to casing. Apply brake and release several times and it may stay fine for quite a while. Look for corrosion and damage to the cables as you probably will end up replacing them someday as the force to disengage them depends on how free they are in their casings. Good luck and beware of any red warnings displayed. Being proactive with these things can avoid extensive damage and should be considered immediate concerns not just when it's convenient,
T
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