When purchasing a vehicle, one considers a variety of factors. One of them is reliability, primarily because cars are a big-ticket purchase. Despite doing all the due diligence before making a splurge, cars can disappoint at times like any other running machine, even a Honda Civic.
If your Honda Civic brake won’t work, move, or release, you can rock the vehicle with your foot off the brake and then press the brake when the car is in motion. Finally, apply the pressure to the shift. Alternatively, you can also remotely start the vehicle.
In this article, I’ll look into the various brake-related problems that affect Honda’s compact car, the Honda Civic. I’ll look at a variety of topics, including:
- Honda civic brake won’t move/stuck
- Honda Civic won’t start check brake system
- Honda civic e-brake won’t disengage
- Honda civic parking brake problem
- Honda civic brake caliper problems/stuck/sticking
- Honda civic brake pedal locked
- Honda civic brake pedal goes to the floor
Honda Civic Brake Won’t Move/Stuck
Parking brakes can be problematic when you park your car on a hill. This is because gravity exerts pressure on the parking lock in the transmission. Consequently, the parking brake will be stuck and won’t budge no matter how hard you try.
It’s a common issue when you don’t use your parking brakes while parking on a hill. Another issue that could lock the brakes is when you press the brake pedal multiple times while the engine is off. The latter locks the brakes, preventing the pedal from moving completely.
How To Fix
Rock the Vehicle
A quick fix is rocking the vehicle, but it can be quite dangerous, so pay attention. This will fix the parking brake issue:
- Turn the vehicle engine on.
- With your foot off the brake, throw your weight around to rock the vehicle.
- Press the brake after moving the car a bit; the trick here is to time when rocking so you can remove the pressure from the parking lock.
- Finally, apply pressure to the shift.
Remote Start
If you pressed the brake pedal multiple times with the car turned off, locking the brakes, a remote start will fix the issue. To remote start your Honda Civic, do the following:
- Press the lock button.
- Press and hold the engine button for around 5 seconds, this will start the engine. remotely, and the brakes will be unlocked.
Honda Civic Won’t Start Check the Brake System
Modern cars use indicator lights to help pinpoint the underlying issue. If the car won’t start yet, and the brake system indicator light is turned on on the Honda civic, there could be two possible causes. One, the problem could be the car’s electronic parking brake is stuck. Two, there may be issues with the battery, the terminals, or the battery is dead.
How To Fix
Recharge the Battery if Low, or Replace It if Dead
Start with checking your car battery. If the battery has low power, the brake system and other vehicle systems that depend on it won’t work. The car won’t start either. Signs that your battery is low include dimming headlights, slow crank, backfiring, and a slow engine start.
Honda Civic E-Brake Won’t Disengage
Honda civics’ electric parking brake can be engaged when parking the car. If you accidentally engage the e-brake, you won’t know how to release it because it has its particular disengagement procedure. The e-brake is a replacement for the traditional hand lever or foot pedal.
How To Fix
- First, press the brake pedal with your seat belt fastened.
- Pull the electronic parking switch to release or disengage the brake.
- If that doesn’t work, then slightly push the acceleration pedal with the vehicle in gear.
Honda Civic Parking Brake Problem
Honda has had its fair share of criticism over the Civics’ parking brake issues. Honda Civic customers even sued the company in a class-action lawsuit in 2018. Part of the parking brake problems includes failure to engage when exiting the car and opening the driver-side doors. The company also recalled 350,000 civics over the same in 2016.
How To Fix
If the parking brake won’t automatically engage when you exit the vehicle, visit your local dealership for help. A dealer should help update the software system that runs the electronic parking brake to clear out the parking brake problem. But if the parking brake issue corresponds to other problems I’ve addressed in this article, refer to the relevant sections.
Honda Civic Brake Caliper Problems/Stuck/Sticking
Another issue you might experience with the Honda Civic is the brake caliper issue. The brake caliper can be stuck or have some other problem due to different situations. Caliper sticking symptoms are shown in a variety of ways. These include a strong smell, a drastic increase in fuel consumption per mile, smoke from the rear wheel, and you’ll notice the car tries to drag itself to a specific direction, to where the caliper is stuck.
Common Causes
Brake caliper issues are commonly caused by brake caliper bolts, caliper slides, caliper pistons, brake horses, or the metallic brake line. A strong force can cause the metallic brake line to bend. When this happens, it will cause caliper problems. For caliper pistons, the rubber seal around them could be spoilt, resulting in the issue.
The brake horse can also cause the brake caliper to get stuck due to breakage or debris accumulation inside. Brake caliper bolts ensure that the calipers stay in place while allowing some degree of freedom. If this freedom is messed up, the calipers will be stuck. Caliper slides press and disengages the rotor accordingly. When interfered with, they will not be able to disengage, thus leading to stuck brake calipers.
How To Fix
Different brake parts can cause the brake caliper issue, as mentioned above. If either of the mentioned parts is the issue, a replacement will have to be done. Whether it’s the brake caliper bolts, caliper slides, brake hose, or crimped brake line, visit a mechanic for replacement. You can also do it yourself.
Honda Civic Brake Pedal Locked
Honda cars are mostly affected by this issue due to different reasons. The common problem is when the civics’ battery is dead or has a low charge. With a relatively new car, you should check out the battery charge level. A multimeter can help with that.
I recommend the AstroAI Digital Multimeter for its robust feature proposition. It includes a backlight LCD, data storage, low battery indicator, and multiple measurement support, including AC/DC Voltage, DC Current, Resistance, Continuity, and Diodes.
How To Fix
You should recharge your battery if it runs low. A jump-start can be handy if you’re stuck on the road. Your car battery might also be dead, and you might need to replace it. Once you’ve recharged or replaced the battery, your brake pedal should continue working flawlessly.
Honda Civic Brake Pedal Goes to the Floor
Typically, a brake pedal shows resistance while slowing down the car. However, in some instances, you might find your brake pedal going to the floor to stop your Civic. This is not natural and can be caused by various issues, including a failing master cylinder, leaking brake fluid, or air in the braking system. Overheating of the brake system can also cause this.
How To Fix
Replace the Master Cylinder
The master cylinder can fail at times, thus not holding the substantial pressure needed to brake the car before the pedal reaches the floor. Worn-out seals can also cause this. To replace the master cylinder, you’ll have to visit a reputable mechanic. This is certainly not a DIY thing, especially not for beginners.
Inspect the Brake System for Leakages
Another reason for the brake pedal reaching the floor is brake fluid leakage. Visit a mechanic and let them inspect the whole braking system for any leakages. Substantial drops in brake fluid levels in the reservoir commonly indicate leakages. Leaks can affect various locations, so get the entire braking system inspected.
Inspect the Brake System for Air
If you’ve recently replaced your brake fluid, chances are the process was not done perfectly. When air is inside the system, it prevents the total transfer of pressure to the brake pads without hitting the floor. If this is the case, have your brake fluid flushed carefully, so no air enters the system.
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KnowMyAuto is the sole owner of this article was published on Mar 3, 2021 and last updated on .
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