I have a Fiat Ducato (2006 244 model) with an Avan Ovation Motorhome (Australian Made copy of Home Car Devotion/Lunar Champ). I wish to replace the brake/clutch fluid as it is well overdue. However, the Fiat is fitted with ABS braking and I was wondering if this would impede the old fashioned way of bleeding the brakes individually using plastic tubing and container method. I have two cars without ABS and bleeding the brakes is straightforward. However, I did not wish to venture into the unknown (ABS) without checking first.

The only things to avoid are pushing the pistons back in when changing pads, always crack the bleed nipple open to let the pressure off, and when bleeding never use an easybleed and pump the pedal at the same time. Either of these can cause the seals in the abs unit or master cylinder to flip round. A far as I know, if you bleed either by pumping the pedal, or using an easybleed, you're ok.

Ducato 244 is bosch ABS 5.3 which has internal reservoir. Bleeding it properly won't introduce air all that it really means is that when you press the brake pedal the old fluid in the internal reservoir would be mixed with the new fluid so you wouldn't have a complete flush. You could bleed take it out on a dirt road and do a few ABS stops and bleed again or if you want to Fiat ECU scan should be able to do it I think and a complete kit would probably cost the same as getting it plugged in at the dealer.

Thanks for the very useful information on the ABS brakes. I can confidently proceed knowing I won't cause any damage to the system.
Dennis Spain