I have heard use brake fluid, ATF,jack oil, and I think power steering fluid. Doesn't it matter what you have in the pump now. I seem to have a leak where the wires exit or enter the pump. Is it time for a new pump? The top goes up just a little and if I release the switch it will settle back down to the open position. It will only raise it about 2 to 3 inches. Are the cylinders bad too? Thanks Ed
sounds like the pump seals are shot. you maybe able to get a rebuild kit for the pump. or get it rebuilt. DO NOT use brake fluid in nylon hydraulic top lines. it will make them brittle with age. (it reacts with nylon simmilar to how it eats paint) I just replaced my top lines and used plain ol ATF fluid. type III the fisher body manual recommends type A trans fluid... (type III is compatable with type according to the bottle) here are 2 convertible part companies http://www.convertibleparts.com/ http://www.hydroe.com/ i just used hydroe and had excelent service my catalog says they have o-ring kits from 1955+ for 12 bucks... though call them they should be able to help you out. oh when it comes time for reassembly.. pick up a can of electric motor cleaner at the autoparts store its generally used to clean altenators or starter motors. you'll need to get the fluid off of the existing parts. Nate
I beg to differ. The 1966 Fisher body manual clearly says to use brake fluid on page 6-33. It is not a good idea to mix fluids. If your top pump has never been serviced or the fluid replaced(which means most of us), then you should use brake fluid because that is what is already in it. If you are completely redoing your system and will be using a rebuilt pump and cylinders and lines, then ATF is probably a better choice. Dan
I also beg your forgiveness...I checked my 1970 Fisher manual, and they recomment Type A transmission fluid. Very interesting......I guess I'll use brake fluid on my '66's and tranny fluid in my '70. Thanks for giving me that piece of info. Dan
Thanks guys. I will have to check the fluid that is in there. I have only had the car a year and the previous owner had it 20. Seems like I will use the brake fluid unless it red.:TU:
The fisher body manual of my '68 lesabre recommends using transmission fluid type A. I don't know what is in there right now but from the color it looks like brake fluid. ATF has always been red and won't change color over the years I presume. Is there a way to check what kind of fluid is in there? If it is brake fluid and I would like to put in ATF; how to drain all the brake fluid?
Well, It looks like it was brake fluid and it was very low. The pump had a leak and when I wipe up the fluid some of the paint came off the floor under the pump. Use a turkey injector to fill the pump and started to cycle the pump by raising and lowering the top. Opened the pump and the air pushed the plug out into my hand when I unscrewed it. Went to do it again and the pump quit. Tested the power leads and the power gets to the pump so now I will need another pump. So I pull the one off of the 67 GS convertible that is in pieces and it has ATF in it. I drained it and flushed out that pump with brake fluid so we will see what happens today.
Brake fluid will kill some power steering systems over time. I would only use power steering fluid or the correct trans. fluid to be safe.
dosen't the 66 use rubber lines? if it does then it most likely is compatable with brake fluid. although im not sure about pump seals. its the nylon lines that cant hold up to the brake fluid. the instructions given to me from Hydro-E lectric said not to use brake fluid ever. new pistons may not be compatable with it anymore along with pump seals. Nate
Hi Nate, My '66's both have nylon type semi-clear white lines. One thing about tranny fluid is that you can't use it with rubber hoses. They require neoprene. Brake fluid will also swell natural rubber, so I wonder what they used for seals back then. I would think if you're replacing a component, it would be a good idea to use ATF. I will use what the manuals suggest, because they were made to use what Buick tells you to use, but brake fluid is a pain in the rear if you get a leak. Dan
Well, I decided to use the ATF fluid and installed the used pump out of the 67. The top works great. It goes up and down faster than ever. I have the clear lines so I went with the ATF. Can the other pump be repaired if the electric motor quit or does it need a new pump. I know they have new seal kits. Thanks
I think you can get it repaired. If you have a local electric motor shop, take it in and see what they can do. It might have been a short or fried winding. You might have lost a seal and gotten fluid into it. All kinds of reasons and all of them are reversible, though the cost may not be worth it. Dan
I think Buick switched from recommending Brake Fluid to ATF fluid in the '67 model year. I've got a late '67 Electra convertible and the hydraulics use ATF, good thing too because the seal blew out a couple of months ago and all the fluid puddled under the back seat! As for the motor, sometimes they can be rebuilt, normally, they just change the brushes in the motor, if they can find them. If you have, or can find, an old motor/pump, bring it with you, sometimes they will just swap the internal parts too. Funny thing is, when I had my problem (before I found this board), I couldn't find anybody with similar vintage convertibles that had ever had a problem (or even serviced) their hydraulic systems!
GM seems to have really had it together on their convertible systems in the '60's. I haven't seen a "bad" one yet. Even cars that have lain unused for 15 years will work with a little juice. Too bad their A/C wasn't as reliable. Dan
Use any old transmission fluid. Since Dexron supercedes Type A in transmissions, I'm sure it will supercede Type A in convert systems. Years ago I used to sometimes see Type A sold cheap in convenience stores, but that's been a while.
