Manual Bleeding

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Place a clean shop cloth beneath the brake master cylinder to catch brake fluid spills.
With ignition OFF and brakes cool, apply brakes 3-5 times or until brake pedal becomes firm, in order to deplete brake booster power reserve.
If you have performed a brake master cylinder bench bleeding, or if you disconnected the brake pipes from the master cylinder, or if you have disconnected the brake pipes from the proportioning valve assembly or the brake modulator assembly, you must perform the following steps to bleed air at the ports of the hydraulic component:
1. Ensure that brake master cylinder reservoir is full to the maximum fill level. If necessary, add brake fluid from a clean, sealed brake fluid container. Clean outside of the reservoir on and around cap prior to removing reservoir cap.
2. With brake pipes installed securely to master cylinder, proportioning valve assembly or brake modulator assembly, loosen and separate one of the brake pipes from the port of the component. For the proportioning valve assembly or brake modulator assembly, perform these steps in the sequence of system flow. Begin with fluid feed pipes from master cylinder.
3. Allow a small amount of brake fluid to gravity bleed from the open port of the component.
4. Reconnect brake pipe to component and tighten securely.
5. Have an assistant slowly depress brake pedal fully and maintain steady pressure on the pedal.
6. Loosen same brake pipe to purge air from the open port of the component.
7. Tighten brake pipe, then have assistant slowly release the brake pedal.
8. Wait 15 seconds, then repeat until all air is purged from the same port of the component.
9. Repeat until each of the ports on the component has been bled.
10. After completing the final component port bleeding procedure, ensure that each of the brake pipe-to-component fittings are properly tightened.
Fill brake master cylinder reservoir to the MAX fill level with clean brake fluid.
Install a box-end wrench onto the right rear wheel hydraulic circuit bleeder valve.
Install a transparent hose over the end of the bleeder valve.
Submerge the open end of the transparent hose into a transparent container partially filled with brake fluid from a clean, sealed brake fluid container.
Have an assistant slowly depress the brake pedal fully and maintain steady pressure on the pedal. Loosen the bleeder valve to purge air from the wheel hydraulic circuit.
Tighten bleeder valve, then have the assistant slowly release brake pedal. Wait 15 seconds, then repeat bleeding procedure until all air is purged from the same wheel hydraulic circuit.
With the right rear wheel hydraulic circuit bleeder valve tightened securely, proceed to the next wheel. See BRAKE BLEEDING SEQUENCE .
After completing the final wheel hydraulic circuit bleeding procedure, ensure that each of the 4 wheel hydraulic circuit bleeder valves are properly tightened.
Fill the brake master cylinder reservoir to the maximum fill level with brake fluid from a clean, sealed brake fluid container.
Slowly depress and release brake pedal. Observe brake pedal feel.
If brake pedal feels spongy, inspect brake system for external leaks. If vehicle is equipped with an ABS, perform anti-lock brake system automated bleeding procedure to remove any air that may have been trapped in the BPMV. See appropriate ANTI-LOCK article.
Turn ignition on, with engine off. Check if brake system warning light is illuminated.
If brake system warning light remains illuminated, diagnose problem. See TESTING .