Brake Fluid code 7 after only 33k highway miles?

Gruber

Senior Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Jan 27, 2018
Threads
2
Messages
2,309
Reaction score
1,521
Location
TN
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic Sport Touring; 2009 Honda CR-V EX-L
Country flag
You can get yourself some break fluid testers from amazon.
They are inexpensive, you just stick it and it will tell you if it is good or not, and how bad it is.
The reality of things, is that many people don't ever change the break fluid (assuming they keep the car for 5-7 years), but in the end, it all depends on where you live, and how many time you break. The system is not sealed, so Honda recommendation are on the very safe side (mostly for legal reasons).

You can't say "the system is not sealed." The brake system is sealed - you will find this statement in any description of car brakes claiming to be at least half expert.

"The recommended intervals for changing brake fluid are all over the board depending on the manufacturer, from as often as every two years to actually never. Wait, never? Really, never."

"Brake fluid lives in a sealed system and can survive for years, but moisture from the surrounding air can work its way in through hoses and other parts of the brake system."

https://www.cars.com/articles/how-often-do-i-need-to-change-my-brake-fluid-1420680336417/

So Toyota for example does not have such thing as flushing the brake system scheduled every so many years or so many miles. It has 5, 15, and 30 kmiles services. They require checking the condition of the brake fluid and the brake system, but if it's found OK, you don't need to ever flush it.

I never did anything to the brakes in my 2009 CR-V (10 years, ~120+ kmiles).* Factory fluid, factory pads/rotors. I think now is finally the ripe time to do a complete 2-axle brake job. Maybe.


-------------------------------------------------------
*!! Warning - Your mileage MAY vary.
Sponsored

 

Number 215

Senior Member
First Name
Jason
Joined
Nov 24, 2018
Threads
8
Messages
175
Reaction score
55
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
Vehicle(s)
2017 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
put a drip of paint outside the gap in between a brake reservoir cap and reservoir itself
to change the fluid the cap has to be opened
if your paint "seal" is still there after - well, you know they're lying
Some "mechanics" only open the cap, siphon out the fluid from the reservoir with a turkey baster, then fill it back up with new fluid and call it done. I'm not really sure how to make sure your mechanic actually bleeds each brake line.... wait..... I guess you could put a spot of paint at each bleeder valve and see if they ever even touched it. So, yes, good advice bro ! Thanks haha
 

Dario1101

Senior Member
First Name
Dario
Joined
Jun 6, 2017
Threads
3
Messages
253
Reaction score
90
Location
Miramar, Florida
Vehicle(s)
2021 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport
Country flag
I feel as if I should bleed the rear lines just a bit because of my prior mess-ups. But the brake fluid I have now is about a few weeks old. I guess it's time to buy a new one.
 

HayaiKuruma

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2017
Threads
11
Messages
232
Reaction score
137
Location
Fairfax, VA
Vehicle(s)
Hatchback EX
Country flag
My 2017 Hatch with 17,800 miles has the A 7 in the the maintenance minder. I do bleed my own brakes, and have always done it at the 3 year mark. I’m pretty good about not going past 3 years.
 


DKL

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2017
Threads
11
Messages
104
Reaction score
76
Location
Maine
Vehicle(s)
'18 Challenger Hellcat. '06 Z4 '97 Supra '18 CTR
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
I bought one the bikemaster pneumatic brake fluid bleeder tools on amazon. Best $30 I've ever spent. You can also get brake fluid tester probes for about $10. Checks moisture content.
 

gtman

Senior Member
First Name
Mitch
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Threads
332
Messages
16,914
Reaction score
24,679
Location
USA
Website
www.civicx.com
Vehicle(s)
2017 Cosmic Blue EX-L Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
2
so I'm in AZ, and this 7 code just popped up for my 9k mile CTR... should I change the break fluid or no?
Yes, do it. It's based on manufacturing date, not mileage. It pops up when your car is close to it's 3 year build date. Mine popped up at around 12K. I did it.
 
Last edited:

Billy4202

Banned
Banned
First Name
Will
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Threads
22
Messages
3,137
Reaction score
2,652
Location
Winchester, VA
Vehicle(s)
'16 BNP Touring, '07 Mercury Milan
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
Yes, do it. It's based on manufacturing date, not mileage. It pops up when your car is close to it's 3 year build date. Mine popped up at around 12K. I did it.
Wait, did yours pop up at 2 or 3 years? Mine's only done 2, and it's in the Minder for the second time (I'm in year 5 of ownership) for my next service.
 

gtman

Senior Member
First Name
Mitch
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Threads
332
Messages
16,914
Reaction score
24,679
Location
USA
Website
www.civicx.com
Vehicle(s)
2017 Cosmic Blue EX-L Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
2
Popped up at about 2.5 years. Pretty sure it's programmed to get done every 3 years or so, (regardless of mileage) and pops up on the MM with whatever other maintenance is due next.
 


Maximum6

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2016
Threads
29
Messages
381
Reaction score
86
Location
Las Vegas
Vehicle(s)
S2000 2005, Type R 2019
Country flag
Anybody bleed the clutch at the same time, and have a guide on how to do it?
 

David Harper

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2016
Threads
64
Messages
884
Reaction score
420
Location
Crystal Lake, Il.
Vehicle(s)
2016 Civic coupe
Country flag
I got the same code at 28K miles. So far I'm ignoring it.
 

DKL

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2017
Threads
11
Messages
104
Reaction score
76
Location
Maine
Vehicle(s)
'18 Challenger Hellcat. '06 Z4 '97 Supra '18 CTR
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
Anybody bleed the clutch at the same time, and have a guide on how to do it?
I don't know if you can easily access the clutch bleeder from under the hood, but it's easy to access when you remove the splash tray from underneath, like when changing the oil.
 

DrwMDvs

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2016
Threads
10
Messages
368
Reaction score
331
Location
NE
Vehicle(s)
2017 WOP Civic Si Sedan, 2000 Honda Civic
Country flag
I feel as if I should bleed the rear lines just a bit because of my prior mess-ups. But the brake fluid I have now is about a few weeks old. I guess it's time to buy a new one.
If you haven't re-bled the rear brakes yet, I would. The service repair manual (you can just google it and download for free) indicates that you should bleed all four calipers in the following order:

Front Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Passenger, Rear Driver.

Then, actuate the ebrake 5 times.

Then re-bleed the rear brakes.

See the note at the bottom of my attached image.

Honda Civic 10th gen Brake Fluid code 7 after only 33k highway miles? Screen Shot 2020-06-17 at 2.37.39 PM
Sponsored

 


 


Top