Good write-up Navguy12, but I paid 65 Canadian for my 06 CR-V and 06 HCH .I don't have a vacuum pump. I worried about the anti-lock brakes. Sounds like a good tool to have.
Cheers;

H

 

For better access to the brake fluid reservoir you might want to remove the cowl at top of firewall, base of windshield. That's around 1/2 hour's work, once you've done it once. You need the wiper blades pointing up, which is accomplished by activating and then shutting of the key when they have swung up.

The lower windshield trim has some very stubborn plastic fasteners. I just replaced them with black nylon license plate nut/bolt combo. Even though I eventually did manage to extracate them without damage, I did not want to repeat the exercise.

Still, I concur with some other responders (and myself, I think, back a few pages): for what they charge, and the (possibly misguided) peace of mind, I'd let the dealership handle brake fluid replacment.