Question on adding brake fluid

[tommytang]

I bought a 1997 Camry LE this Sep. and I don't know what kind of brake fluid the former owner was using. Now I need to add some brake fluid. Can I buy the brake fluid from Autozone or Wal-Mart and then add the newly bought brake fluid to the old one directly? Or do I need to clear the old brake fluid firstly?

[freestylez]

yes you can buy brake fluid at any autostore
no you do not need to flush out the old fluid unless it is really dirty, you can just add more to it
the brake fluid should be bright yellowish btw

[tommytang]

Thank you very much for your answer!

[tommytang]

Because the old brake fluid may be long time ago, I wanna to bleed it firstly. Can I do it by myself? If how?

[Black95Cam]

brake fluid should be clear like water. unless its in the reservoir.

[Kep]

The quick answer is

Top off the reservoir, put a clear hose (you want to be able to see the fluid so you know that no air is returning to the brake system) on the bleeder valve on the brake furthest away from the reservoir (loop the hose up and then down so you don't get air returning into the system). Have someone put pressure on the brake pedal while you open the valve. When the fluid stops, close the valve, have the person let up on the pedal and reapply pressure, open the valve again, keep doing this until you see new fluid coming out. Every 3 or 4 pumps (after you have closed the valve) top off the reservoir (again, you are trying not to get any air into the system). Once you get clear fluid from that brake, go to the brake next closest to the reservoir and repeat. So basically, you will do the back passenger side first, then the back driver side, then the front passenger side and then the front driver side.

If you want to buy a hand operated vacuum pump there is a way to do it with these as well and they are useful to evaluate the vacuum system too.

Do a search for "bleed" and I bet you get a lot of old posts on this.

By the way, if you ever change the brake pads and you have ABS brakes, do not try to force the brake fluid back into the reservoir when you compress the individual brake cylinders. Use the bleeder valves to allow excess fluid out and, again, don't let air get into the system!

Kep

[tommytang]

I have not changed the brake pads and I don't have ABS brakes. The reason for why I fill new brake fluid is that my brake warning light is on, so I doubt it is related to brake fluid.

[toyomoho]

If you have the cars owners’ manual read up about the brake light. There could be a sensor in the master cylinder reservoir that detects low fluid, if so add fluid. Or the sensor could be stuck or defective.

Use a DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, don’t use DOT 5 which is silicone based. Any auto parts or store with an auto parts section should carry this product. Don’t get the fluid on painted services, as it will take it off.

[Novice_cardude]

Don't forget, there's always a reason your brake fluid is low. The pads/shoes may have worn down enough that your fluid is low, or you could have a slight leak somewhere.

Bottom line, don't top off fluid in a closed hydraulic system, unless you know why.