Recently, I experienced a heart-stopping moment when the brakes on my Honda Accord seemed less responsive than usual. It was a stark reminder of the crucial role brakes play in our safety. Have you ever pressed the brake pedal, only to find it lacking the usual firmness or effectiveness, and wondered what could be wrong?
Brake failure in a Honda Accord can often be attributed to worn brake pads. These pads gradually wear down with use and eventually lose their ability to create sufficient friction to stop the car effectively. The solution is to replace the brake pads with new ones. This not only restores brake function but also ensures safe driving.
Another cause of brake issues in a Honda Accord could be a leak in the brake fluid system. Brake fluid is essential for transferring the force from the brake pedal to the brake rotors. A leak can lead to a loss of pressure and reduced braking power. The fix involves identifying and repairing the leak, and then refilling and bleeding the brake system to remove any air pockets.
Fortunately, many of the reported issues with Honda Accord brakes are minor issues that Honda owners can easily remedy. We’ll explain some of the brake issues that require the attention of a qualified Honda automotive technician. Never ignore problems with the brakes on your Honda Accord. Your life could depend on those brakes.
Brake Errors or Warnings From your Honda Accord
Your Honda Accord has a sophisticated system that constantly monitors the vital systems in your car. Your braking system is part of this monitoring scheme. You may also notice unusual sounds, vibrations, or other symptoms if there is a problem with the braking system on your Honda Accord. These are some of the more common brake system errors or warnings you may get from your car.
The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Light Comes on and the Brakes Grind and Vibrate
Stuck disk brake calipers are a relatively well-known issue with Honda Accord brakes. When the caliper gets stuck, the brake pads constantly rub on the brake disk. This constant pressure causes several symptoms, as well as the ABS light coming on.
- Brake pedal vibration
- More pressure on the brake pedal to stop the car
- Unusual grinding noises
- Steering wheel vibration
- When you brake, the car may pull to one side or the other
If you suspect a stuck brake caliper, get your Honda Accord to a qualified automotive mechanic as soon as possible. A stuck brake caliper is a dangerous situation.
The ABS Light Illuminates for no Apparent Reason
The monitoring system on your Honda Accord rarely shows errors, especially with the braking system, without good cause. If the ABS light appears on your dashboard, you should find a repair shop that can access your car’s computer system and read the error codes. Some of the more common issues that can cause the ABS light to appear without any symptoms include:
- A faulty rear-wheel speed sensor
- Problems with the Master Cylinder Filter
- Low Fluid in the brake system
Once the error code is known, your mechanic can make the appropriate repairs to your Honda Accord.
Your Honda Accords Vibrates When You Apply the Brakes
Vibration in your Honda Accord when you press the brake pedal is usually a sign that the front disk brake rotors are warped. Warped disk brake rotors can cause what some owners describe as
- Rattling in the front end of the Honda Accord as it slows and stops
- Vibrations in the brake pedal or steering wheel
- A shaking sensation from the car as it slows
- A rubbing sound or sensation from the front wheels
You should have warped disc brake rotors replaced immediately. Continuing to drive your Honda Accord with warped disk brake rotors can lead to wear and tear on the front end components, damage to the rest of the braking system, and diminished braking capacity.
The Brake Pedal is Hard to Depress First Thing in the Morning
A brake pedal that is hard to depress first thing in the morning or after the car sits for an extended time usually indicates a problem with the vacuum supply hose that operates the brake booster. The brake booster aids with the amount of force you must apply to the brake system to stop your car.
If the brake booster doesn’t have the correct amount of vacuum, it won’t work, and you must do all the work of applying the brakes. There are other sensors and monitors on the brake booster system that help regulate the braking system and these may not operate as well, creating an unsafe driving condition.
Your mechanic can easily replace a leaking or defective brake booster vacuum hose, which should solve your hard brake pedal problems.
The Brake Pedal is Locked Up and My Honda Won’t Start
Your Honda Accord uses a vacuum-assisted hydraulic system to operate the brakes. When you park the car and turn off the engine, your Honda Accord stores enough vacuum pressure to operate the brakes a few more times. This stored vacuum allows you to easily depress the brake pedal enough to engage the safety switch.
If your Honda Accord has a vacuum leak, or if you depress the brake pedal several times after stopping the car, the brake pedal may be difficult to depress far enough to disengage the brake safety system. Even without vacuum pressure, you should be able to depress the brake pedal enough to engage the switch.
Some Honda Accord drivers report that a failing battery may also cause this condition. Have your mechanic check for a bad battery or a leak in the brake booster vacuum system. If you experience this situation, use both feet on the brake pedal and press hard until the engine starts.
A Soft or Low Brake Pedal is a Sign of Serious Problems
If the brake pedal on your Honda Accord seems soft or sinks to unusually low positions as you apply the brakes, take your Honda Accord to a service center immediately. If the condition worsens, you may find yourself without any brakes on your Honda.
A faulty ABS modulator can cause this condition. The ABS modulator is the hydraulic unit that operates your entire braking system. If the ABS modulator develops a leak, air can enter the braking system hydraulics and cause the brake pedal’s soft or mushy feel.
The air in the brake lines may also require more travel on the brake pedal to make up for hydraulic pressure loss. Air in the hydraulic lines is a dangerous situation. Too much air in the brake lines on your Honda Accord and the brakes may not work at all. Have the braking system on your Honda Accord checked immediately if the brake pedal is soft or mushy.
The Rear Brake Pads Keep Wearing Out
Certain year models of the Honda Accord have an Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) system. Earlier models of the Honda Accord suffered from an excessive amount of nosedive during braking. The EBD system addressed this issue.
The EBD system shifts the braking load to the rear wheels to eliminate the nose drive problem. Unfortunately, this causes the rear brake pads to wear out much faster. Sometimes this excessive wear requires rear brake pads to wear out after only 10,000 miles.
Honda offered a fix for this problem, but the time limit has long since run out on the offer. If you have an older Honda Accord that goes through rear brake pads in a short period, you may have to stand the cost of the repair yourself.
Copyright protected article by Know My Auto and was first published on Mar 21, 2021. .
The Parking Brake Won’t Disengage
More than likely, corrosion and rust are the problems if your parking brake won’t disengage. The cables that operate the parking brake can get moisture inside the shield around the cable and eventually rust enough to cause sticking.
You can try operating the parking brake rapidly several times. Setting and releasing the parking brake rapidly may jar the corrosion enough to allow the parking brake to disengage. If this doesn’t work, you can try a more aggressive method
Shift your Honda Accord into drive and then into reverse quickly. Move the shift lever back and forth. This rocking motion may help the parking brake disengage. Be careful while performing this maneuver.
A stuck parking brake usually happens if you don’t use the parking brake regularly. It is a good habit to engage the parking brake at least once a day. It is even better if you engage the parking brake every time you get out of the car.
The Parking Brake Doesn’t Work Anymore
If the emergency brake on your Honda Accord has quit working, the cable has probably broken. If you don’t use the emergency brake regularly, corrosion begins to build up and can eventually eat through the cable. You should have the emergency brake cable inspected and replaced.
The copyright owner of this article is Knowmyauto.com and was first published on Mar 21, 2021..
The emergency brake may also be out of adjustment. If you use the parking brake regularly, the cable can stretch and become loose. A qualified Honda service technician can easily adjust the parking brake’s tension to restore it to full service.
A more serious issue may be corrosion and rust on the lever attached to the rear brake caliper. The cable pulls on this lever to engage the brake pads. If the lever is corroded or rusty, it may not move enough or at all. Take your Honda Accord to your mechanic to have this part of the brake system checked and repaired.
Deeper Issues with Electronic Braking Systems
Computers operate our cars. Some models of automobiles have four or more separate computers integrated into the control systems. If one of these computers fails, the car usually won’t operate. However, failures with the computer systems may cause the car to operate erratically or unsafely.
Your Honda Accord is no different. Unfortunately, diagnosing a computer problem in a Honda Accord takes sophisticated equipment and a highly trained technician. There are known issues with later year model Honda Accords and the computer that controls the braking system. These issues include:
- Emergency braking system engaging while traveling at highway speeds.
- Slow response to engaging the brake pedal
- Unexplained flashing or illumination of the brake warning light on the dashboard
Most of these errors or problems are traceable to computer problems. If your Honda Accord is under warranty, the repairs are probably covered. However, if you have an older Honda Accord model, the cost of replacing a computer can be quite high.
Related Articles
Honda Accord Traction Control System Not Working
Honda Accord Speedometer/Odometer Not Working
KnowMyAuto is the sole owner of this article was published on Mar 21, 2021 and last updated on .