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Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12 for
the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down:
• The brake fluid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the fluid level goes back up.
• A fluid leak in the brake and/or clutch hydraulic
system can also cause a low fluid level. Have
the brake and/or clutch hydraulic system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner or later the brakes
and/or clutch will not work well.
Do not top off the brake/clutch fluid. Adding fluid does not
correct a leak. If fluid is added when the brake linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid when new brake linings
are installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary, only
when work is done on the brake/clutch hydraulic system.
{ CAUTION:
If too much brake fluid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake and/or clutch hydraulic system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-25.
What to Add
Use only new DOT-3 brake fluid from a sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
5-34