Have you ever failed to start your Honda and got these error messages: Electric Parking Brake Problem, Brake System Problem, and Brake hold System Problem? If yes, this article would be very helpful for you.
That problem is common among the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Honda Civic models, which is mainly caused by a low or dead battery. For further information about causes and ways to deal with this issue, just keep reading on.
Table of Contents
Brake System Problem: Causes and How To Fix
1. A problem with the battery, or the battery terminals
Dead battery
A dead battery can be the cause of a car’s brake system issue. It can also be the reason why your vehicle will not start. There are easy ways to fix this issue:
You can visit Autozone or Costco to purchase a new one. These platforms also help you assess your battery status for free.
You can also buy online on Amazon. Remember that the suitable battery group size for Honda vehicles is 51R or 51. A new battery may cost about $150 to $300, depending on its brand and quality.
- Firstly, remove both battery cables.
- After that, touch the negative and positive cables together.
- Do this for at least 3 minutes.
- Connect the cables back to the battery (attach the positive cable first).
- You can then start your car. However, be careful while you do this!
Low battery or loose battery terminal
A low battery or a bad battery terminal will impact the flow of electricity, leading to an insufficient amount of power going into the electrical system.
Besides the fact that the car will fail to start – or start sluggishly – a low battery or loose battery terminal can cause issues in certain components, including the brake system.
You can easily fix this issue by following these solutions:
- Prepare the battery by removing it from the vehicle.
- Then, turn off all car electronics to prevent the battery from experiencing an electric arc during the process.
- Remove the negative cable first, then the positive cable. Clean the battery terminals and connect them to a car battery charger.
- Next, hook the positive and negative terminals on the charging unit to the corresponding positive and negative terminals of the battery.
- Once charging is done, disconnect the battery from the charger.
- Get a car that runs.
- Remove the ignition from both vehicles.
- Connect the positive side of the jumper cable to the positive terminal of the low battery while placing the negative cable on the ground. You must not touch a metal that is attached to an electrical component (check your car’s manual).
- Do the same for the good battery, but place the negative cable to the good battery’s negative terminal. Ensure that you connect to the low battery first since it does not have enough electricity.
- Then, turn on the car’s engine with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes.
- Remove the negative terminal of the bad battery first and then the positive.
2. A software recall / update
The brake system can also malfunction if error codes in the computer are found. You can quickly fix this issue:
- Visit your technician or dealer. They will assess the VIN to know if there are error codes on the computer.
- If so, they will need to carry out the software update. This often costs $138, as well as tax and labor costs, for the update.
3. Other causes
There are other causes of a brake system issue. Some of these are explained as follows:
The electronic parking brake is stuck
The parking brake might be challenging to release manually or automatically. It might get stuck due to some reasons:
- A frozen parking brake, which could be due to wet or cold weather.
- The Ebrakes are applied too hard.
- Corroded brakes due to water and dirt.
- The Ebrakes are applied too long
How to fix
You can watch this video for clear instructions to release the electronic parking brake:
The fuse box is acting up
A failed brake light system fuse could be the cause of brake lights not working. Just like other electrical components of a car, the brake lights system corresponds to a fuse. If the fuse box fails, electricity can’t reach the lights.
How to fix:
You can contact an authorized dealer to replace the fuse, or simply purchase a new one on Amazon while following the DIY instructions in this video:
The switch for the brakes is likely broken
The brake pedal switch is a small controller that helps initiate brake lights anytime the brake pedals are pressed. Besides causing issues moving the gear selector, a broken brake pedal switch can be the reason for malfunctions with the brake lights.
How to fix:
Replacing a new brake light switch is not expensive. You can simply order online or from a dealer with $15 to $45. Replacing a brake light switch in a repair shop can cost from $55 to $115, with labor and part included.
FAQs
1. How to apply the Electric Parking Brake on a Honda Civic?
You can apply the Electric Parking Brake once the driving is complete. To use, pull up the switch. The brake indicator shows up in the instrument panel. Then, while the vehicle is in motion, hold up the switch for emergency braking.
2. How to release the Electric Parking Brake on a Honda Civic?
Fasten your seat belt and press the brake pedal. Release by pressing the switch down. You can also release it by slightly pressing the accelerator pedal while releasing the clutch pedal as the vehicle is in gear.
3. How to reset the Electric Parking Brake on a Honda Civic?
You can reset the Electric Parking Brake by following the steps below:
- Shift the gear level in PARK while switching the ignition to the ON position. Ensure that you do not depress the brake pedal.
- Activate the Electric Parking Brake by pulling and releasing the EPB button.
- Pull and hold the EPB button until there is a mechanical sound. After this, release the button.
- Then, pull and hold the EPB button for about 3 seconds until you hear two mechanical beeps.
4. How do you reset the brake hold system on a Honda Civic?
To reset the brake hold system on a Honda Civic, press the brake pedal and and press the BRAKE HOLD button again.
5. How do you get rid of brake hold?
You can get rid of the brake hold by:
- Applying Braking for more than 10 minutes.
- Engaging the electric parking brake.
- Pressing the foot brake and moving the shift lever to P or R.
- Stalling engine stalls
- Unfastened driver’s seat belt.
- Turning off the engine.
Final words
The brake system is a vital component of all cars. For owners of Honda Civic models who are experiencing brake system problems, understanding the causes can be crucial. It could be due to a problem with the battery, a software update, a faulty electronic parking brake, and other reasons mentioned above.
Fixing these issues is straightforward. If you have a bad battery, you can jumpstart it or replace it. You can also follow simple fixes I have recommended or contact an authorized dealer for professional assistance.