2005 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 261

2005 Pontiac Vibe Manual

Page 261 highlights

Brakes Brake Fluid The hydraulic clutch and brake master cylinder use the same reservoir. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for the location of the reservoir. So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then you will have too much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. {CAUTION: If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot enough. You or others could be burned, and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake warning light will come on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-32. There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake system or the hydraulic clutch system. If it is, you should have that system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will not work at all. 5-39

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Brakes
Brake Fluid
The hydraulic clutch and
brake master cylinder use
the same reservoir. It 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 first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is
that fluid is leaking out of the brake system or the
hydraulic clutch system. If it is, you should have that
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later
your brakes will not work well, or will not work at all.
So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{
CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-32
.
5-39