Brake Fluid Flush and Bleed on ABS-Equipped Hondas and Acuras (TSX CL9, 1998-2002 Accord, 2001-2003 CL)
- Brake fluid damages paint almost immediately; cover the fender and wipe up spills straight away.
- Do not let the reservoir run low during bleeding.
- If the pedal is spongy or sinks to the floor, do not drive: rebleed and check for leaks.
- Support the car on jack stands, never on the jack alone.
- Collect old fluid and take it to a recycling point for disposal.
Introduction
Honda's manuals give a bleeding order for these cars that surprises people used to starting at the wheel furthest from the master cylinder: left front, right front, right rear, left rear. The Acurazine TSX how-to uses that order, and owners on Acurazine confirmed it in the factory manuals for the 2001 Accord and the 2001 CL/CLS (https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-2001-2003-50/brake-bleeding-sequence-460374/). This is a straightforward fluid flush that does not open the ABS modulator. The key is never letting the reservoir run low enough to pull in air. Change the fluid at least every three years regardless of mileage. Adapted from a community writeup by Jeffrey Smith on Acurazine (https://acurazine.com/how-tos/a/acura-tsx-how-to-replace-brake-fluid-426601).
Procedure
10 steps-
Step 1: Lift the car
Loosen the lug nuts, lift the car, support it on four jack stands and remove the wheels to reach the bleeders.
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Step 2: Empty the reservoir
Clean the area around the master cylinder reservoir, open the cap, and use a turkey baster to remove as much of the old fluid as you can without letting the reservoir run completely dry. Refill with fresh fluid to the MAX line.
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Step 3: Connect the bleeder hose
Start at the LEFT FRONT. Push clear tubing over the bleeder valve and put the other end in a catch bottle.
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Step 4: Bleed the left front
Open the bleeder and let fluid run until it comes out clean and free of bubbles, then close the bleeder before removing the hose. The writeup uses either a pressure bleeder or gravity. If a helper uses the pedal instead, have them press and hold it, open the bleeder, close it again before they release the pedal, and repeat.
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Step 5: Keep the reservoir full
Top up the reservoir after every few pedal strokes. If it drops low enough to suck air, you will push air into the system and have to start over.
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Step 6: Bleed the right front
Move to the right front and repeat until clean fluid flows.
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Step 7: Bleed the right rear
Move to the right rear and repeat.
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Step 8: Bleed the left rear
Finish at the left rear.
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Step 9: VSA cars: check for a modulator reservoir
Some CL models with VSA (for example the Type-S) have a separate reservoir on the VSA modulator. The 2001 CL/CLS factory manual, as quoted on Acurazine, says to replace that fluid after the brake bleed, using a procedure that includes driving at low speed to run the pump. Follow your service manual for your exact car.
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Step 10: Close up and check
Close all bleeders, refit the wheels, lower the car and top the reservoir to MAX. Pump the pedal: it should be firm, not spongy, and should not sink. Test drive slowly before normal driving.
- A pressure bleeder lets one person do the job quickly and keeps the reservoir full automatically.
- Speed bleeder valves can make one-person bleeding easier.
Related procedures
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