Good Morning Fitfreakers,

I am here again to request your help me on my quest to minimize stealership trips and to win the bet with my uncle that my fit will outlast his cars.

I have about 51k on my 09 and it seems time to replace my antifreeze and brake fluid....

Antifreeze: I will be going oem to play it safe but my question besides the radiator drain is there any other place to drain coolant from? if so where is it located?

Brake fluid: can this be a DIY project? if so cna anyone who has performed this share some info and recommendations....

As always thanks!

David

 

The service manual says to drain from two locations. From the radiator and from the back of the engine block.

 

Yes, make sure you drain it from the block too, for a "complete" drain and refill.

Brake fluid can be easily flushed with 2 people, but if you don't have any experience with it I wouldn't recommend it. Brakes are one of those areas of work that have to always be done correctly. One little mistake and it's lives that are put in jeopardy.

 

The Anti freeze is 100K but if you want to change @ 51K I can understand.
This is how I changed the brake fluid: w/ 1 person (me) I used a cheap turkey baster (long tube w/ a squeezy bulb) and pull the B.F. out of the reservior/refill and in 2 weeks I do it again and this will change out the fluid without opening the system.

 

aye the service manual says 120k for coolant

 

Yeah as other have said your coolant is probably fine unless there are some details you're not telling us. As for the brake fluid why do you need to change it? Most auto part places have one man brake bleeder kits. I have one and it works great but like Leets said if you don't have experience in bleeding brakes it's best to leave it to the pro's. You can learn by watching or have someone with experience do it with you and they can check all your work.

 

you can't be sure you got all of the fluid... I mean, last I check, it isn't a loop to the brakes... there isn't one pipe TO and another FROM... just the ONE.

How would the fluid in there get cycled? the only part that get's cycled is the master cylinder since it has to pull fluid from the reservoir to use as additional pressure on the line (and therefor on the brakes).

You are, basically just mixing in new fluid with old.

As far as I'm concerned, you have to drain the fluid from each line to fully change the fluid. THEN comes the hard part... bleeding them until there's no air. I helped my friend on his sister's car, it took all evening (only to find a gasket in the master cylinder was busted anyway).

Having done this with my friend... I might consider it a project if he helps (a lot!). Otherwise... dealership it is.

Not having done the anti-freeze (I let Jiffy Lube do it on past cars)... but seeing how it "sounds" simple... I'd put this in the same boat, if my more experienced friend helps me, I'd consider it.... otherwise, dealership gets even more money (or maybe just Jiffy Lube).

That is... when the time comes. (I've only had the car 4 months.)