What Causes the Honda Civic’s Braking System to Fail?

As with all cars, brake failure on a Honda Civic is a fairly common occurrence. It’s also one of the most dangerous breakdowns, not to be taken lightly and requiring immediate intervention. Easily recognized, brake system failure is the result of problems with the system’s components. If your Honda Civic suffers from brake failure, here are some tips on how to repair it.

Signs of Honda Civic Brake Failure

The signs of brake failure are easy to recognize. You can, of course, detect them yourself.

Braking system conditions

The most recognizable clue is certainly the condition of the braking system and also the difficulty of braking. Of course, before the brake system fails completely, you’ll notice a weakening of the brakes. Braking becomes difficult and the pedals can become heavy. Total brake deterioration leads to more serious failure and total brake stoppage.

Signalization

Generally speaking, the Honda Civic’s on-board computer will register this malfunction as soon as your brakes start to fail. Of course, the malfunction will be visible on the car’s dashboard via the brake warning light. This will remain lit in the event of a failure.

What causes Honda Civic brakes to fail?

Brake failure can be caused by a number of different problems. Among them, you can imagine a leak or a defective part in the system. Brake failure on your Honda Civic can be caused by the following parameters.

Brake Pads

Brake pads are responsible for all of a vehicle’s braking activity. In the event of brake failure, this is the first item to be checked. Brakes should be checked regularly as these parts can wear out quickly.

Obviously, brake pads and pedals are connected during braking. Regular friction between the pads and the rotors causes wear. Pad wear is characterized by a smooth, toothless surface. If this is the case with the brake pads of your Honda Civic, simply replace them to fix the problem.

Brake Fluid Pressure

Brakes also use a fluid that creates pressure between the pedal and the brake pads to stop the car. The level of fluid inside the brake determines the effectiveness of the braking action. So, if it drops, the Honda Civic will not stop easily or at all.

You need to understand that brake fluid leakage is common when brake pads deteriorate, leading to brake failure.

The anti-lock braking system or ABS

If the ABS is faulty, the brake warning light may come on. This option enables the Honda Civic to avoid skidding. In direct relation to the braking system, ABS can fail when:

• Low fluid level ;
• A defective ABS module;
• A problem with the ABS sensor;
• A damaged water pump or valve.

Handbrake problem

There are times when the brake signal lights up when the handbrake is defective. Obviously, as with other brake problems, the car’s warning light indicates that the handbrake is jammed.

How much does it cost to repair the brake system on a Honda Civic?

The cost of brake repairs depends on a number of factors. It fluctuates, of course, depending on the nature of the problem and the engine model of your Honda Civic, but also on the mechanic’s fees and the services chosen. Generally speaking, brake restoration should be carried out in 3 stages:

• Brake diagnosis ;
• Purchase of replacement part;
• Replacement of the part.

While repair costs vary according to the type of garage, you should expect to pay between €45 and €122 for a brake diagnosis. The service includes labor and the cost of parts.

Brake pads cost €20 or more, brake fluid around €10 and labor from €40.

Preventing brake failure on a Honda Civic

If brake failure is a recurring problem in your vehicle, it’s easy to prevent. All you have to do is perform regular maintenance to keep your brakes in good working order, but also to find the cause of the problem.

That means regular inspections and brake system flushes. This is even more obvious in the case of brake fluid, which should be checked regularly. You should also check your brake pads to avoid total failure. However, you should be aware that brake pad deterioration is inevitable and cannot be completely avoided over time.