General brake fluid sensor warning

[patd]

Well Luigi, at only 4 weeks old, has decided to throw a hissy fit.

On Saturday, whilst driving, the warning exclamation mark appeared with the message brake fluid level low. To be honest, not being at all au fait with the actual mechnics of a car, it frightened the life out of me....particularly as just when I thought everything was fine the messsage would appear again accompanied by a pinging noise!

Called the dealer when I got home who said it was probably an issue with the brake fluid sensor and to arrange for car to come in but the car was safe to drive!

Just wondering if anyone else has had a problem with the brake fluid sensor and, if so, was it easily resolved. To be on the safe side I've arranged for Fiat Assist to come out later today to check for sure that Luigi is safe to drive

Truly hope this isn't the start of many trips back to the dealer!

 

[ahmett]

Well Luigi, at only 4 weeks old, has decided to throw a hissy fit.

On Saturday, whilst driving, the warning exclamation mark appeared with the message brake fluid level low. To be honest, not being at all au fait with the actual mechnics of a car, it frightened the life out of me....particularly as just when I thought everything was fine the messsage would appear again accompanied by a pinging noise!

Called the dealer when I got home who said it was probably an issue with the brake fluid sensor and to arrange for car to come in but the car was safe to drive!

Just wondering if anyone else has had a problem with the brake fluid sensor and, if so, was it easily resolved. To be on the safe side I've arranged for Fiat Assist to come out later today to check for sure that Luigi is safe to drive

Truly hope this isn't the start of many trips back to the dealer!

Don't worry you can check the brake fluid level manually by opening the bonnet. If the level is ok the car is safe to drive ! Let them have a look at the dealer. The car is only 4 weeks old ?

 

[patd]

Thank you for your reply. Yep, the car is only 4 weeks old. I did look under the bonnet on Saturday and found the brake fluid level container, which did look full to the brim to me but as I couldn't get the top off to check properly I couldn't be 100% certain! I suupose I'm being ultra cautious as I use my car to ferry my 4 year old grand daughter about.

 

[ahmett]

Thank you for your reply. Yep, the car is only 4 weeks old. I did look under the bonnet on Saturday and found the brake fluid level container, which did look full to the brim to me but as I couldn't get the top off to check properly I couldn't be 100% certain! I suupose I'm being ultra cautious as I use my car to ferry my 4 year old grand daughter about.

rightly so, safety first. you should be able to see the brake fluid level in good light conditions, it should be at some point between min and max on the side of the bottle which is written. if it has then you are fine. but make fiat check everything out, this shouldnt be happening on such a new car!

 

[patd]

Update - Luigi wasn't having a hissy fit after all. Fiat Assist checked the car and brake fluid was low, so sensor warning was working correctly. Guy from Fiat Assist topped up the reservior and everything is now working fine.
Fiat dealer very apologetic and has arranged for Luigi to go in to be checked to make sure all other fluids are at correct level and that there isn't a leak with the brake fluid.
Not an ideal start to 500 ownership but I've found Fiat to be more than helpful so I'm happy given the circumstances.
Ahmett, thank you for your advice.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

If it turns out that there is no leak, then the PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) was not carried out properly by the supplying dealer.
Low brake fluid level should have been picked up.
Be on your toes with this dealer from now on in.

 

[wellfan]

If it turns out that there is no leak, then the PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) was not carried out properly by the supplying dealer.
Low brake fluid level should have been picked up.
Be on your toes with this dealer from now on in.

PDI? Are these ever done? My last very many new cars have all come with issues that should have been picked up pre-delivery to customer. Strikes me the PDI is just a sheet that is ticked by someone sitting in an office.
Tyre pressures, a classis example of a very basic check. Never correct on any car I have purchased in recent memory.

 

[ahmett]

PDI? Are these ever done? My last very many new cars have all come with issues that should have been picked up pre-delivery to customer. Strikes me the PDI is just a sheet that is ticked by someone sitting in an office.
Tyre pressures, a classis example of a very basic check. Never correct on any car I have purchased in recent memory.

haha my tire pressures were at 45 psi when i took delivery of the car!!!

 

[Jazzist]

haha

 

[patd]

Well Luigi is back with Fiat....the second time in 4 weeks!

The brake fluid level low warning came back and it now turns out that the master cyclinder is in fact faulty and that brake fluid has leaked into the servo, so not a pre-deliver inspection issue after all. I've no idea what this actually means but I would have expected Fiat to have picked up on it when they checked for leaks the last time the car was with them!!
I really dont have a great idea about cars when they go wrong, hence the reason for buying a new car, so any advice as to whether a faulty master cyclinder or brake fluid in the servo could have caused other problems with the engine would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

 

[UFI]

I'd say it's extremely unlikely that brake fluid in the servo would cause issues with the engine itself. The only connection between servo and engine is the vacuum line. It's theoretically possible that some brake fluid could have gotten into the engine oil this way. It wouldn't hurt to remove the vacuum line and check for the presence of fluid, and clean it if necessary.

If fluid were found in the vacuum lines, only the most pedantic owner would do an oil change,. If you have a TA or MJ, brake fluid can't really find it's way into the engine oil unless it were to attack the seals in the vacuum pump (again seems unlikely).

This is basically clutching at straws, I'd say once the brakes are sorted you'll have nothing to worry about.