Wheels, Tires & Brakes Modifications Post Wheel, Tire & Brake related modification information and/or questions here

Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 12, 2012
  #1  
madonthemike's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
madonthemike is an unknown quantity at this point
Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

A few days ago I noticed that the brake pedal was harder than usual, I thought I would get my pads checked out during my next oil change. Yesterday I found out that none of my brake lights work when the brake pedal is pushed.

I tried with a new lamp, so its not the lamp. Lamps are dual filament, when i turn on my lights one filament comes on but the brake filament does not. The middle brake light (rear window) also does not come on.

Im strating to think its brake switch? Any thoughts? Brake fluid is above minimum level. Horn works, all the other lights work.

I will check the fuses tomoro.
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2012
  #2  
ezone's Avatar
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
ezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

See if the horn works. If it doesn't, then check fuses. Brake and horn share the same fuse (checked an 03 diagram since you didn't tell what year your car is). Fuse 7, 15a, underhood fusebox.

EDIT: you say your horn works. Duh.




Brake light switches occasionally go bad.

Too bad I have no clue what your car is. If you have an automatic, a bad brake light switch could keep you from being able to take the shifter out of park.

For the hard pedal, I'd have to test drive the car to understand what in the world you are talking about.
Does the engine run bad? That could cause low vacuum and a hard pedal.....
Depending on what I thought during the test drive, I may check for vacuum supply to the booster first, followed by a basic booster pump check. Then maybe look for pads rusted and seized into the caliper brackets, or something like that.

HTH

Last edited by ezone; Apr 12, 2012 at 10:46 PM. Reason: Reading comprehension fail.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012
  #3  
madonthemike's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
madonthemike is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Originally Posted by ezone
See if the horn works. If it doesn't, then check fuses. Brake and horn share the same fuse (checked an 03 diagram since you didn't tell what year your car is). Fuse 7, 15a, underhood fusebox.

EDIT: you say your horn works. Duh.




Brake light switches occasionally go bad.

Too bad I have no clue what your car is. If you have an automatic, a bad brake light switch could keep you from being able to take the shifter out of park.

For the hard pedal, I'd have to test drive the car to understand what in the world you are talking about.
Does the engine run bad? That could cause low vacuum and a hard pedal.....
Depending on what I thought during the test drive, I may check for vacuum supply to the booster first, followed by a basic booster pump check. Then maybe look for pads rusted and seized into the caliper brackets, or something like that.

HTH
Thanks, Im going to get the car checked out this weekend. Sorry for not including the model : 2003 Civic DX Automatic.

yeah working horn leads me to think its not the fuse. The shifter has no problems going out of park, engine runs smoothly - havent notice anything strange.

Is it a coincidence that both the hard brake pedal and light problem came at the same time.

I would just like to elaborate on the brake pedal hardness. In normal condition there is pedal very little resistance. In the current condition, there is very little travel and higher resistance - dont know how this translates to the braking system.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012
  #4  
ezone's Avatar
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
ezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Originally Posted by madonthemike
Is it a coincidence that both the hard brake pedal and light problem came at the same time.
Probably, but nobody will know for sure until both problems are solved, and the causes evaluated.


Brake lights all share the same ground point.....pull off the plastic trim below the opening for the trunk lid and they all share the same bolt....
I don't really have any other helpful info, other that get a wire diagram and maybe some test equipment for the brake light dilemma.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012
  #5  
madonthemike's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
madonthemike is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Originally Posted by ezone
Probably, but nobody will know for sure until both problems are solved, and the causes evaluated.


Brake lights all share the same ground point.....pull off the plastic trim below the opening for the trunk lid and they all share the same bolt....
I don't really have any other helpful info, other that get a wire diagram and maybe some test equipment for the brake light dilemma.
I tried with a new lamp and it works, so turns out that all three went out at the same time! What are the chances, What this means is that the pedal travel issue is completely unrelated. Will keep you posted.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2012
  #6  
ezone's Avatar
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
ezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Your first post said

"I tried with a new lamp, so its not the lamp."

Your last post said

"I tried with a new lamp and it works,"

SO what went wrong here?

(I don't have much room here, I have chased my tail over a similar situation.)


The chances of all 3 bulbs going out at exactly the same moment are pretty slim. (Unless the car was rear ended while the brake was on. The filaments could all be bent in the same direction, I've seen it before.)

They probably went out one at a time, you only just now noticed (or someone told you about) them all not working.

HTH
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012
  #7  
lazlong's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,662
Likes: 2
From: Funkytown, Tx
Rep Power: 235
lazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud of
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Hard brake pedal is a bad brake booster.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012
  #8  
ezone's Avatar
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
ezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

Originally Posted by lazlong
Hard brake pedal is a bad brake booster.
Not necessarily bad, but more like not working right, for some other reason.

Bad booster? Doubt it.
Not working (or barely working) is much more likely, from another cause (loss of vacuum to it).


I have not yet seen a brake booster truly bad on any of the Hondas in my 8+ years at this particular dealer.
That doesn't mean it is not, but it's just not my first suspicion at all.

HTH
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2012
  #9  
lazlong's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,662
Likes: 2
From: Funkytown, Tx
Rep Power: 235
lazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud oflazlong has much to be proud of
Re: Brake Pedals Hard, Brake Lights not working

^^ I can see that. A bad booster hose is is more common.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dorval Andre
General 7th Gen
34
Jun 3, 2024 08:11 PM
Flipg123
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
1
May 8, 2015 01:15 PM
MamaBear2015
Electrical, Wiring, and In Car Entertainment
1
May 3, 2015 02:17 PM
ORskier
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
2
May 3, 2015 12:54 PM
bsmiley
7th Generation Civic 2001 - 2005
3
Apr 27, 2015 01:27 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:53 AM.