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Technical Hi new member - advice please on topping up brake fluid

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Technical Hi new member - advice please on topping up brake fluid

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Betsy Barchetta

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Jul 17, 2014
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Hi just joined FF

I have owned my Barchetta for just over a year.

I was looking to buy a left hand drive car in the UK as I wanted to try out living in Portugal, I meant to buy something more practical for driving my essentials from UK to Portugal, but as soon as I saw the Barchetta I fell in love, and as soon as I drove her realised that the Barchetta is my dream car, so had to have despite a boot not made for emmigrating;-) .

The main problem Im have at the moment, driving a beautiful car, and not speaking Portuguese very well (and being female probably doesnt help) it feels like swimming with sharks, as soon as I need anything repaired, Ive already been, I believe, grossely over charged for mediocre or poor work, by mechanics who don't seem to know much about Barchettas... so now my mission is to do as much as I myself until I get her back to UK to DTR Motors for a full service and check up in October.

My breaks were checked 8 months ago (by a UK garage, I trust but who do not specialise in Barchettas), and now I am worried as the ABS light comes on occasionally, but not always, I thought the sensible place to start would be to check the Brake Fluid (I already read the threads on what type of fluid to use and where to find it in the engine) but some details on correct procedure to top it up would be appreciated as Ive never done this before, although I have done some car maintenence courses and changed oil etc, but was a while ago, and worried i might mess up!

I found the little push top button which says its for checking the brake fluid levels, but when I push down on it, nothing seems to happen, so can anyone advise me on what to do next?

Thanking in advance

ps she's 1999 model

BB
 
Betsy Barchetta said:
Hi just joined FF

I have owned my Barchetta for just over a year.

I was looking to buy a left hand drive car in the UK as I wanted to try out living in Portugal, I meant to buy something more practical for driving my essentials from UK to Portugal, but as soon as I saw the Barchetta I fell in love, and as soon as I drove her realised that the Barchetta is my dream car, so had to have despite a boot not made for emmigrating;-) .

The main problem Im have at the moment, driving a beautiful car, and not speaking Portuguese very well (and being female probably doesnt help) it feels like swimming with sharks, as soon as I need anything repaired, Ive already been, I believe, grossely over charged for mediocre or poor work, by mechanics who don't seem to know much about Barchettas... so now my mission is to do as much as I myself until I get her back to UK to DTR Motors for a full service and check up in October.

My breaks were checked 8 months ago (by a UK garage, I trust but who do not specialise in Barchettas), and now I am worried as the ABS light comes on occasionally, but not always, I thought the sensible place to start would be to check the Brake Fluid (I already read the threads on what type of fluid to use and where to find it in the engine) but some details on correct procedure to top it up would be appreciated as Ive never done this before, although I have done some car maintenence courses and changed oil etc, but was a while ago, and worried i might mess up!

I found the little push top button which says its for checking the brake fluid levels, but when I push down on it, nothing seems to happen, so can anyone advise me on what to do next?

Thanking in advance

ps she's 1999 model

BB
Click to expand...



Hi, and welcome to FF,


I'm not too familiar with the innards of the barchetta,


BUT , know the way FIAT's are built,


the "push-button" is on top of the brake fluid reservoir, ( in the cap),


when you push the button ( it actually pushes down the "float" within the reservoir.) it makes an electrical contact and put's on the low fluid light..
BUT it's the same as the handbrake light..!!,


so - to test it - you want the handbrake OFF,
car in gear..


and an assistant ( to either push the button) , or see if the light comes on
on...


Topping-up,
in reality you should never have to top-up with brake fluid..,


as the brakes wear down ( through use) the level visible in the reservoir will drop = as the fluid is now down in the brake calipers.


once the brakes are worn-out and replaced,
the new THICKER pads push the fluid BACK UP into the reservoir..,


if you top-up too much,
the fluid will overflow once the brakes are replaced.


I hope that makes sense,


Charlie - Oxford
 
Last edited:
As Charlie says.

ABS light is not pointing at the brake fluid. It is telling you that the ABS control module is at that moment not happy with one of its components. Each wheel has a speed sensor, and these are the most likely to give trouble as they live in a harsh environment. The ABS unit itself is very reliable.
When the ABS light comes on, you will still have normal brakes. It just tells you that the ABS system is not happy and will not work. So if you brake really hard, you may skid, just like we used to before we all got ABS.

So with the ABS light on or off, don't worry, tell DTR when you get back and they will interrogate the computer and read the stored fault code and advise.

Enjoy your Barchetta.
 
Hi Charlie and Portland Bill, thank you both, very clear consise explaintions, I now understand a little more about my car, and am a little less worried, but as a worrier i just wanted to ask one more question, what about the brake pads? although they were in ok condition 8 months ago they were not new, is there anyway of knowing when the brake pads need changing without taking the wheels off? Probably a very stupid question,

Thanks again BB
 
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