Leaking brake fluid, what is the location?

[MarcusFord]

Hi all,

I have a 2013 Ford Fiesta petrol. It has brake fluid leaking because I filled it many times over the last few months and it keeps saying brake fluid low. A mechanic has found the leak but he does not feel confident repairing it. I can see the leak now but I don't understand what the name of the part that needs replacing is. He mentioned master brake fluid cylinder which I can see where that is, but that's not exactly where the fluid is leaking from. Anyone have any ideas, the leak is where the white arrow is pointing to on the picture

Thanks in advance

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A mechanic has found the leak but he does not feel confident repairing it.

Are you sure he is actually a mechanic?

A leak on the hydraulic brakes is extremely serious, such that if true, you should not drive the vehicle until properly fixed. Looking at your photo, I am not at all convinced you actually have a leak at all, the area looks completely dry. Are you sure the level in the master cylinder is actually going down, rather than the sensor just being faulty, showing a low level. If you over fill, then it will spill out in use, via the breather - check the actual level. On the sides of the brake fluid plastic reservoir, you will see marks for Max and Minimum levels. The level simply needs to be kept, between these marks.

 

[MarcusFord]

Are you sure he is actually a mechanic?

A leak on the hydraulic brakes is extremely serious, such that if true, you should not drive the vehicle until properly fixed. Looking at your photo, I am not at all convinced you actually have a leak at all, the area looks completely dry. Are you sure the level in the master cylinder is actually going down, rather than the sensor just being faulty, showing a low level. If you over fill, then it will spill out in use, via the breather - check the actual level. On the sides of the brake fluid plastic reservoir, you will see marks for Max and Minimum levels. The level simply needs to be kept, between these marks.

Hi Harry thanks for your response,

The area where the arrow points to is wet when I touch it. The level is definitely going down I have filled it up a few times over the last few months. My question is, what is the parts the arrow points to called? The master brake cylinder is on the left and that is dry..

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hi Harry thanks for your response,

The area where the arrow points to is wet when I touch it. The level is definitely going down I have filled it up a few times over the last few months. My question is, what is the parts the arrow points to called? The master brake cylinder is on the left and that is dry..

The arrow appears to point in the general direction, to the two brake pipes, which run from the master cylinder, to (probably) the ABS modulator, if you have one fitted. The are two pipes, for the dual circuit brakes, that allows you to have some brakes, if one circuit has a total failure, in an emergency.

If one of those brake pipes is wet, it would normally suggest the pipe has rusted and failed, but they don't normally rust, in the sheltered area under the bonnet, nor develop leaks. My best guess, is that the union, connecting the pipe, to the master cylinder is leaking, which simply needs tightening. Failing that, then the plastic of the master cylinder must have a leak.

 

[Burnerman]

Time to do a head stand in the drivers side foot well, and look up at the brake and cluch pedal arrangement.
Any signs of leakage there?
John

 

[MarcusFord]

The arrow appears to point in the general direction, to the two brake pipes, which run from the master cylinder, to (probably) the ABS modulator, if you have one fitted. The are two pipes, for the dual circuit brakes, that allows you to have some brakes, if one circuit has a total failure, in an emergency.

If one of those brake pipes is wet, it would normally suggest the pipe has rusted and failed, but they don't normally rust, in the sheltered area under the bonnet, nor develop leaks. My best guess, is that the union, connecting the pipe, to the master cylinder is leaking, which simply needs tightening. Failing that, then the plastic of the master cylinder must have a leak.

Here is a more close up picture. The square is the area which is wet. Isn't the brake pipes on the left what I have circled? The brake pipes come from there don't they? Is the area of concern something completely different?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The area with the white arrow, is the clutch pedal, plastic fill pipe above it, metal pressure pipe below it.

Is your brake and clutch fluid reservoir a combined one?

If so, then that would drain your brake master fluid. If I am correct, then you simply need a replacement clutch master cylinder, and someone reasonably happy to work upside down, with their head under the dash, for a few minutes. The worst that can happen, if the level drops too low, is that you lose the ability to use clutch.

 

[Burnerman]

That is the clutch master cylinder, and it's part of the clutch pedal assembly but available separately.
If this is an EcoBoost car, it's an awful job, the steering column has to be disconnected and everything else is highly breakable plastic crap.
I'm not surprised he wants to run away from this one......
John

 

[MarcusFord]

The area with the white arrow, is the clutch pedal, plastic fill pipe above it, metal pressure pipe below it.

Is your brake and clutch fluid reservoir a combined one?

If so, then that would drain your brake master fluid. If I am correct, then you simply need a replacement clutch master cylinder, and someone reasonably happy to work upside down, with their head under the dash, for a few minutes. The worst that can happen, if the level drops too low, is that you lose the ability to use clutch.

That is the clutch master cylinder, and it's part of the clutch pedal assembly but available separately.
If this is an EcoBoost car, it's an awful job, the steering column has to be disconnected and everything else is highly breakable plastic crap.
I'm not surprised he wants to run away from this one......
John

Thanks to both of you

 

[Mottie]

That’s the clutch master cylinder that’s leaking.

 

[MarcusFord]

That’s the clutch master cylinder that’s leaking.

That is the clutch master cylinder, and it's part of the clutch pedal assembly but available separately.
If this is an EcoBoost car, it's an awful job, the steering column has to be disconnected and everything else is highly breakable plastic crap.
I'm not surprised he wants to run away from this one......
John

The area with the white arrow, is the clutch pedal, plastic fill pipe above it, metal pressure pipe below it.

Is your brake and clutch fluid reservoir a combined one?

If so, then that would drain your brake master fluid. If I am correct, then you simply need a replacement clutch master cylinder, and someone reasonably happy to work upside down, with their head under the dash, for a few minutes. The worst that can happen, if the level drops too low, is that you lose the ability to use clutch.

Makes sense because I have been having an issue with the clutch/gear as well..

 

[Mottie]

Not a lot of fluid seems visible in that photo. Is the drivers footwell/carpet soaked with brake fluid? Have a peek underneath the engine to see if you have a fluid leak coming from between the engine and gearbox. If so, it will be the slave cylinder leaking which is a gearbox out job.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

That is the clutch master cylinder, and it's part of the clutch pedal assembly but available separately.
If this is an EcoBoost car, it's an awful job, the steering column has to be disconnected and everything else is highly breakable plastic crap.
I'm not surprised he wants to run away from this one......
John

Yes, not a job I'd rush to do, and I price it accordingly

 

[foxhole]

Is it the short hose to master cylinder, failed on a friends car was a simple replacement with a snap on hose connection at each end.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Is it the short hose to master cylinder, failed on a friends car was a simple replacement with a snap on hose connection at each end.

Looking at the evidence of a leak but not much fluid coupled with the statement of losing a considerable amount, it sounds like it will be leaking into the footwell.

A very common failure.

I'm not ruling out that pipe but it's not my 1st choice