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I own a 2003 Honda Civic sedan and I have intermittent problems with my brakes. I am desperate because it's the first time a Honda gives me a lots of problems (I owned a 1996 Honda Civic sedan before that: Great car.)..Anyways, here is the story: My front discs were ready to be changed (90,000 KM) and my pads were used at 75-80% so I went to my garage to have 2 front discs changed and a set of pads as well (Honda parts). They cleaned my rear brakes (drums) also because they were still "ok". I noticed (I am not sure if it's before the break job or after...) that something was breaking my car while I was driving, I felt it came from the front end. After inspection at the garage, they suggested to change the callipers, it should solve the problem. I followed their suggestion but it did not solved my problem...Something was still breaking the car when I was driving. Since it was intermittent, nobody (even the Honda dealer) could determine the cause of this issue. Until smoke came from the back of my front tire (driver's side). Bingo! I knew now where the problem came from... However, noboby could determine the cause of this problem after bringing the car to the garage...When a test drive was done, it ran great...! Grrr...They noticed that the disc had heated but after doing test on the ABS system and Master Cylinder, everything looked fine...They suggested maybe to change the brake hoses in front, it should solve my problem... Not! the same problem occured (I needed to give my car more power so it could run normally...) while I was driving...! Does anyone has any suggestion for this problem? "Shut down" the ABS system temporarily? Would this be recommended to determine if the ABS system would be the problem? I don't know what to do anymore because when the problem occurs the garages are all closed (evenings, Week-ends), so nobody can actually investigate the problem, as it happens...Does anyone had similar problems?
Thank you in advance for your suggestions!!
Here is how I feel at the moment (economically and psychologically):

 
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I have a 2004 civic and the brakes are in the same condishion. I chase thr problem to the master clyinder. my civic is with out ABS. my porblem starts after the car is warmed up. The brakes apply while driving. on 4-21-10, the brakes locked up on the side of the road, the civic would not move..after it cooled down the brakes released and was driveable again. this time the wife had only driven 3 miles and I had a wrecker bring it home.. I put the car on jack stands, pulled the front tires and tested by running the car and sure enough the brakes started to apply as the engine warmed up. I chased the trouble to the master clyinder. the honda dealer is unable to explain why this happens. hope this helps you Georgekee@mchsi.com

 
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Thanks GeorgeKee!

I am sheduled to have a used Master Cylinder installed on my car next week for testing. I already removed the ABS fuse last week and the problem occured again...Therefore, I am assuming the ABS is not the problem...I will test everything with this used Master cylinder...Hopefully the problem will be solved...

Thanks again for your input,

Cheers!

Ric

 
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I have exact same problem and I have tried almosy everything I can think of,

I changed brake line, master clinder(used) calipers, rotors, but some how the problem does not go aways,

Have you fixed your problem yet???

Please let me know thank you!!

 
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Hi, my problem is still there...I don't have a clue what it is (even the Honda dealer...). Now a mechanic I now, took it personnaly and he is desperate to find the case of this problem. I just changed the brake pads in front since they were finished already (3 months old only (!!!) so we know the breaks definitly are applied most of the time...) and a new Master cylinder has been put on the car. No change to the problem... A hose was also been changed under the hood (Suggestion from the Honda dealership). Now the next step is to put another "brake booster" to see if there will be a difference. The only part I have not changed concerning the brakes is the ABS module...However, no "ABS lights" are showing on my dash and a mechanic has already bypassed the "ABS Module" and the problem was still occuring...That's why I doubt the "ABS module" would be the problem...I am very concerned and frustrated about all this fu%$/ brake problems, especially on a Honda Civic...I bought this car thinking these are usually reliable...I guess I was wrong, I will give some news back...

 
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Deuxxx, have you fixed your problem? This could help me is you have. Thanks, Cheers!

 
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Have you had this problem constantly for the past year? Or did it go away and now it has come back?

When was the last time the brake lines were bled? Has the brake fluid ever been replaced?

I don't know what the problem is, but those are important factors to consider and the flush and/or bleed should be done if not already. Rule out the simple/inexpensive fixes early in the troubleshooting process.

 
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FYI, Great news, the problem has been fixed, after one year (!) of having these brake problems...It was the brake booster...No one believes it (even the Honda dealers, who by the way, never solved my problem, they (I visited a few dealers) basically thought I was crazy...). Nobody ever changes this on a Honda Civic apparently...The brake system has been changed almost completely (disc, calipers, hoses, etc...) during a year...I only had the booster and the ABS module that were not changed...Fu%%ing car...The problem was fixed by an independant garage...Cheers!

 
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I know this old but I just had it happen to me. I have 2004 Civic base model. I come out and found a white plastic piece laying in the driver floorboard. Turns out it was the plug that activates the brake light switch. The little white one on the pedal arm. So, I replace the plug and move on. Later when I leave, I notice the car is not accelerating as well as normal. After about a mile smoke starts to role from my front wheels. Turns out I pushed the switch too far into its hole and cause the brake pedal to not return all the way back out. Causing the brakes to be engaged.

I got got it back home and adjusted the switch out (toward the driver) and everything seems to be fine now. Hopefully this helps