Q: Brake light came on (not ABS light) and leaking brake fluid.

asked by on September 23, 2016

Brake light on. Wasn't using ebrake. Brake pedal maybe feels easier but not lower to floor. Brake fluid very low, filled up, light turned off. Backed up & braked a couple times. Stopped normal. Hour later fluid under car & on area around the top part of axel by passenger rear tire. Didn't observe any other areas underneath that appeared wet and not wet around master cylinder reservoir but the reservoir was very low again. Got new front & rear brakes with all new parts last year and they were looked at and adjusted on 7/30/16. Now have 4000 miles on them. Mechanic said based on my description it is probably leak in brake line and will have to replace it. He also said that if that is the case then he most likely will have to replace all four brake lines. Question is do I really have to replace all four lines if only one is leaking? Money is tight and don't want to do anything not necessary. How much should it cost to replace one line? Cost for all four lines? Live by Chicago. Thank you

My car has 89500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I turn on the hazard lights in a 2012 Ford Explorer?
The hazard warning flashers are an important safety feature. When the hazards are turned on, all four of your turn signals will simultaneously flash, to alert surrounding cars and pedestrians that you may be in an emergency, or that your...
Air conditioner not working
Hello. Since R12 and R134 have been mixed into the refrigerant system, there is a good chance that the mix of the two types of refrigerant could have caused damage. They use different kinds of oil, and can cause coagulation...
Radiator is leaking
Hello. When a radiator is leaking, it is an issue which requires immediate attention. If you continue to drive under this condition, you will be running the risk of damaging other cooling system parts and ultimately, this could become very...
My car won't let me drive passed 2500 rpm. And I have no idea why it is doing that when I recently bought it.
The reason it will not go over 2500 rpm is because the computer is in limp mode. This mode is for when the computer has a failure in it. Limp mode will trigger if there is an issue with one...
When accelerating, engine shuts down
Hello. From the symptoms you are describing, it would appear that the vehicle is having some sort of serious engine performance issues. A few things I would check on are the fuel and ignition system. The sound you describe from...
Car won't start - 1999 Saturn SL1
Hey there. You will want to have the vehicle scanned for diagnostic trouble codes and start there. If you're getting power and the car still acting like it doesn't want to run (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-not-starting-inspection), your issue is very likely either spark...
My car will turn over, but dies a second later unless I keep my foot on the gas. It happened randomly, I drove it fine an hour bef
Hi there: It's possible that you have damage to your fuel pump, mass air flow sensor or a vacuum leak that is causing your 2002 Dodge Intrepid to stall quickly. The best way to know for certain is to have...
transmission problem
Without knowing what type of vehicle, I can only provide you with probable causes. These probable causes cover both vacuum and electronically controlled transmissions. The shift cable can be out of adjustment or broken. An improperly functioning vacuum modulator can...
Brakes hard to push or stuck in park.
Hi there. Check the parking brake lever and cable. As the vehicle was on a hill and the parking brake was set, the cable could have gotten stuck or the parking brake assembly in the rear brakes could have failed...

Related articles

How Often Should Brake Fluid Be Changed?
Brake Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that is used in automotive braking systems. The most often used brake fluids on the market today are glycol-ether based. However, mineral oil based brake fluid is available as well. The brake fluids...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport
The The 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport is a brand new vehicle and is an eco-conscious crossover SUV for the environmentally friend consumer. It comes standard with many features, but also has many available options so it can suit any buyer’s...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re a Wedding Planner
As As a wedding planner, the demands placed on your time are going to be significant, even if you’re only dealing with one or two couples. You need to be a master juggler when it comes to your time and...