master cylinder leak? - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 05:51 AM

Thanks to everyone who helped on my "Low rpm" issue. It was timing. Off by a tooth!

Anyway, I thought since winter is coming around and the snow is falling, to get my brakes fixed. Hers the problem. I did a bunch of searching and i think i know the answer but decided to post a new thread.

The brake fluid reservior is emptying very frequently, almost everytime i get into the car. The brake pedal is going to the floor constantly. The calipers as far as i can tell are NOT leaking. I had to replace on of them when i bought the car. it was seized and wouldnt do much of anything.

The cap on the reservior has two wires coming out of it which one is broken off at the cap, no way of fixing. When i shut the car off, i can hear a hissing sound coming from what im lead to beleive is the reservior itself.

I really cant find anywhere it is leaking though. There is no puddle on the ground and no noticiable wetness anywhere. Could that wire being broken cause the reservior to empty somehow?

I have an automatic. Those trannys only have a master cylinder correct? No Slave cylinder? those are for manuals? The questions are if i need to replace it i know what to buy!

Thanks again!

complexAF1 · 12-09-2005, 07:26 AM

There is a Clutch Master Cylinder and a Clutch Slave cylinder on Manual Transmissions only. On an automatic tranny, there are no reservoirs. The reservoir that you see is for the braking system.

The sound that you are hearing when the car is shut off is probably coming from the Brake booster being that it works off of vacuum.

As for the Fluid, have you checked to see if there is any puddles under your carpet on the inside of the car? Look right by the brake pedal where it connects to the brake master under the dash near the firewall.

PS: don't drive the car while the brake fluid is leaking out sooo quickly, there may be a time that there is not enough fluid in the system to get the car to stop...

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 08:31 AM

Oh there has been!

No i have not checked the floor. I will check it now.

If the calipers arent leaking, could it be the master cylinder? Is there any test kit that I can buy to test the braking system to see where the leak is other than "puddle checking"??!

I dont normally hear the hiss from the booster on other cars, just this one!

complexAF1 · 12-09-2005, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPlow2k69

I dont normally hear the hiss from the booster on other cars, just this one!

You are not supposed to here any hissing coming from the booster, it probably has a leak...

As for a test to help pinpoint the leak; I don't think that there is such a test.
If you are uncertain, take it to a auto shop to have it diagnosed. have it diagnosed.

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 10:26 AM

taking it to an auto shop would admit defeat!

hehe

Ill check for the puddle now. Havent had a chance to get out of work.

Can you buy the booster as a part somewhere other than the dealer?

Ill probably end up repalcing the master cylinder and booster.

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 10:37 AM

I checked the floor and there is no puddle. I looked underneath the master cylinder and it does look a little wet just underneath. Im thinking about replacing that.

Does the vacuum leak on the booster cause a critical issue?

On the opposite side above the air intake i have a silver looking valve with brake lines going from it to the master cylinder. Does that mean I have ABS? Could that be a cause for the problem? The valve does not have a reservoir of any kind on it.

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 11:18 AM

My bad. The "valve" i was talking about is a "dual proportioning valve".

Is there anyway i can make sure if i do or dont have ABS?

Mr GSR · 12-09-2005, 11:57 AM

Is there a bunch of line running into a box over close to the airbox area? If not then you do not have it. It'll be over on the passenger side between the front bumper and the wheel well.

MrPlow2k69 · 12-09-2005, 12:20 PM

any other info? What does the box look like? As far as i can tell, from the master cylinder, it runs over to the dual proportioning valve and then back to the wheels. any pics of the abs parts?

Cmlteg · 12-10-2005, 09:06 AM

it could be a faulty cup seal from the brake master cylinder and all the fluid may be going into your brake booster

Mr GSR · 12-10-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPlow2k69

any other info? What does the box look like? As far as i can tell, from the master cylinder, it runs over to the dual proportioning valve and then back to the wheels. any pics of the abs parts?

Mine is in the space in the engine bay along the passenger side. It is between the front headlight and wheel well, occupying that space. It has a white plastic top on it and the rest of it is metal. It has a whole bunch of brake lines running from it.

MrPlow2k69 · 12-10-2005, 03:40 PM

OK - i dont have ABS then. From the Dual Proportinoing valve, all the lines run back to the wheels.

I did some more checking and I might have that faulty cup seal. I cehcked all the lines and the calipers and nothing is leaking but fluid is still going somewhere! I checked up behind the pedal inside the car and couldnt see any leaking. If the fluid is going into the brake booster, then its pretty full by now!

Would i have to replace the booster? What about the master cylinder? can i get away with replacing a seal or would i just replace the whole thing and call it a day?

thanks alot for the contiued help. I checked at Advance Auto (car store around me, you might have heard about it!

) and the master cylinder is 40 bux with a 50 core and the brake booster is 140 something with the 50 core. Id like to be right when replacing what i need to repalce without haveing to buy them both but the car is 16 yeras old with 236K on it so.......

MrPlow2k69 · 12-10-2005, 09:16 PM

Is there a way to rebuild the master cylinders gaskets or whatnot?