- Joined
- Nov 1, 2003
- Messages
- 770
OK, so yes I used to change my own oil in every car for most of my life...but you get older and more lazy. So I took my Bronco to a place several days ago.
(I should have known there would be problems...the guy sitting in the driver's seat looking for the hood release under the dash and me having to walk into the bay to open it. Reminded me to of the time when I was 19 and had another Bronco: The guy trying to move the T-shifter thinking it was the thing to put it in gear. And so many other bad garage experiences in the years since.)
Anyway, things were fine for a few days. Then suddenly my brake pedal is going to the floor. OK for hard stops, but slow depression sends it to the floor.
I checked brake fluid level, it's about an inch low in the reservoir. Funny because I had checked it a couple weeks ago and it was fine...and only the first time in about two years I had checked it. Plus the guy at the quickie oil change place a few days ago said the level was fine.
OK, so I add fluid. No change. i think maybe it's the check valve ($6) so I change that; it tested fine, but maybe the fitting wasn't snug. Nope.
Finally I bleed the brakes. Everything is good. And I'm not the best brake-bleeder around.
Maybe there really is a problem with the master cylinder and I've made a temporary improvement. But in all the years I've had this rig, plus a complete overhaul of brakes about eight years ago, I can't believe there's a coincidence with this issue and my recent oil change.
Lesson: I'm going back to changing my own oil, greasing the fittings, checking differential oil levels, etc. Tired of other people making mistakes when I turn over the keys.
(I should have known there would be problems...the guy sitting in the driver's seat looking for the hood release under the dash and me having to walk into the bay to open it. Reminded me to of the time when I was 19 and had another Bronco: The guy trying to move the T-shifter thinking it was the thing to put it in gear. And so many other bad garage experiences in the years since.)
Anyway, things were fine for a few days. Then suddenly my brake pedal is going to the floor. OK for hard stops, but slow depression sends it to the floor.
I checked brake fluid level, it's about an inch low in the reservoir. Funny because I had checked it a couple weeks ago and it was fine...and only the first time in about two years I had checked it. Plus the guy at the quickie oil change place a few days ago said the level was fine.
OK, so I add fluid. No change. i think maybe it's the check valve ($6) so I change that; it tested fine, but maybe the fitting wasn't snug. Nope.
Finally I bleed the brakes. Everything is good. And I'm not the best brake-bleeder around.
Maybe there really is a problem with the master cylinder and I've made a temporary improvement. But in all the years I've had this rig, plus a complete overhaul of brakes about eight years ago, I can't believe there's a coincidence with this issue and my recent oil change.
Lesson: I'm going back to changing my own oil, greasing the fittings, checking differential oil levels, etc. Tired of other people making mistakes when I turn over the keys.