Our 96 outback is having some issues - related I think. For the past several months I have had to add brake fluid when the brake light appears on the dash. Only about 1/2 cup every 2-3 months. I've been concerned but not too concerned. I have looked for leaks and never found any "drips" but the area around the ABS hydrolic controller always seemed misted. I've tried tightening the brake lines thinking it was coming from there but no go. I have cleaned the area several times trying to locate a source and had no luck. Also, a year or two ago we shut down the engine and heard the ABS solenoid buzzing away (and this was about an hour after turning the car off) The ABS unit was very hot but one tap and the thing stopped buzzing. This past week I had a spirited drive on the twisty windy roads of Virginia and the next day I had left a 1/2 cup puddle of brake fluid on the garage floor. Again searching I still can't find a source. Question: If the ABS solenoid had been stuck for a long period of time and got hot as fire could it vaporize brake fluid and leak as steam then condense in the cold air back to brake fluid? After dropping 1/2 cup of brake fluid in one day I filled it up and it hasn't leaked any in 2 days. Can anyone tell me what's going on, if I need to worry, or should I just carry a bottle of brake fluid around in the car? Also read about disable ABS and I'm not sure I want to go there. Any help would be appreciated. TIA
- posted
16 years ago