Troubleshooting Honda Civic Electric Brake Problem [4 Common Issues]

A car means a dream and If it is from a modern brand and model, then there is nothing to say. Yes, I’m talking about a modern honda civic model with an electric brake system. But if it happens that you are suddenly faced with a situation within days of buying your Honda Civic where the dashboard starts beeping. Dashboard start beeping? Yeah!! It’s beeping and shows an electronic parking brake problem.

Oh my gosh!!! I’m sure you will feel emotional thinking about how I fixed my “honda civic electric brake problem.” Fortunately, you can fix the problem by yourself with a bit of technical knowledge.  Also, identifying the true causes of the problem can make the troubleshooting process a lot easier. 

So if you’re one of the many Honda Civic owners who have experienced this problem, don’t worry. Here, I will help you diagnose the issue and get your electric brakes back up and running quickly.

What Does Electric Parking Brake Problem Mean Honda Civic?

An electric parking brake (EPB) allows your vehicle to hold the wheels when you park it. However, the car will roll away while parking if there is an electric parking brake problem in your Honda Civic.

It’s easy to know when there is an electric brake problem. The infotainment screen in your car will show the message regarding the malfunction. But it will not specify the issue. Hence, you must troubleshoot the Honda Civic problem.

Why Is My Honda Civic Electric Parking Brake Stuck?

The parking brake in your Honda Civic can happen due to a faulty EPB system. Nonetheless, the problem can occur due to various reasons. That’s because several parts are involved in the braking process.

Pulling or pressing the parking brake in your Honda Civic transmits a signal to the servo motors to turn on the electric brake. These motors are usually placed on the rear wheels.

Moreover, a lot of calipers are there in these servo motors. In short, the whole system is quite complex, and a problem in a single part can cause an electric brake or e-brake problem.

A List Of Honda Civic Electric Brake Problems

Here’s a list of the most common Honda Civic electronic brake problems:

1. Defective electric parking brake switch
2. A bad electric brake servo motor
3. A bad or dead battery
4. Faulty wirings or blown fuses

These are the most common e-brake problems in Honda Civic from 2016 to 2021. The 2022 model is still new in the market, and I haven’t heard such complaints about that yet, but it is not risk-free. Hence, keep scrolling as I explain how to fix the electronic brake issues in your Honda Civic.

Honda Civic electric parking brake problem how to fix (2016 to 2021)

Fixing an electronic brake is not brain surgery, but you still need to be careful, or else you may worsen the situation. Here’s a detailed guideline on how to fix each and every electronic parking brake problem in your Honda Civic:

1. Fixing a defective electric parking brake switch

First, to know whether there is a problem with the e-brake switch, wear a seatbelt and put the gear on neutral. Then press the brake hold button. If it works, the motor is still fine; the problem is with the parking brake switch. For more details about the brake hold, see our article on brake hold on honda civic.

The best solution to this problem is to replace the switch. You can either go to a mechanic or buy this Electronic Auto Hand Brake Button Parking Switch and replace it.

Follow the steps below to replace the brake parking switch in your Honda Civic:

Step 1: Disassemble the parts

First, use a flathead screwdriver and pry off the parts around the electric parking braking switch and econ button. Now, disconnect the wire connector, and then you can remove the whole compartment.

Step 2: Put the electronic parking brake switch

Now, remove the parking switch from the part and set the new switch there. Check the OEM number while buying the switch to ensure it fits properly.

Step 3: Reinstall the parts

Then again, set the compartment to its place, connect with the wires, set the parts you removed, and then check if the electronic parking brake works well.

2. Fixing the electric brake servo motor

While checking the switch, if the brake hold system does not work, there may be something wrong with the servo motor. You need to find the servo motor inside the wheels and remove it first. After that, you must install a new motor to fix this problem.

Replacing the electric parking brake servo motor in a Honda Civic is complex. If I tell you, a few lines from me will not help you much. Hence, it will be best to take your vehicle to a mechanic.

However, suppose you have all the necessary tools, such as pliers, hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc., and have a lot of experience repairing vehicles. In that case, you can check this video to understand the whole process and replace the motor alone.

3. Fixing a bad battery

A bad or dead battery can also lead to faulty electronic parking brakes in your Honda Civic. If the switch and the motor seem fine, then get the battery out and check if it is fine.

You can check the battery in your Honda Civic using a digital multimeter. The battery is fine if you get a reading of 12.6 volts. If not, then the battery is either damaged or dead. Replace the battery with a new one to fix this problem.

However, a loose battery connection or corroded terminals may also cause electronic parking brakes to fail. While checking the battery, also check the connections and terminals.

Clean the terminals well and check if the battery is properly connected to the wires. If not, connect them properly and check if the electronic parking brake works.

4. Fixing the faulty wirings or blown fuses

The EPB system is connected through a lot of wires from the switch to the dashboard and the electric motor and the battery. A faulty or burned wirings or blown fuses can damage the electric parking brake in Honda Civic. Such problems usually occur due to rough driving.

You need to go through all the wires, connectors, and fuses associated with the EPB system to fix this issue. Open the button compartment to see if everything is fine in that area. Then, check the dashboard area and the motor and battery compartments to ensure everything is fine.

However, you will need a multimeter to check the wires. Besides, you will have to open up a lot of compartments in your vehicle. If you do not have the necessary tools or any prior experience with such work, then it’s better to visit a mechanic.

Ways to Reset Electric Parking Brake on a Honda Civic:

You need to reset the electric parking brake on your Honda Civic in order to make the e-brake after you do any fixing. The process is quite simple, and here is the step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Hold the brake

First, put your foot on the brake pedal and hold on. Then turn on the ignition and switch to neutral gear.

Step 2: Pull up the electric parking brake switch 

Now, pull up the e-brake switch in your Honda Civic and release it. Then again, pull up the switch, but hold it in this position until you hear a beep sound. Again, pull up the switch for three seconds.

Step 3: Release

Once you hear the beep sound for the second time, release the e-brake switch. Now, the parking brake is reset, and it should work fine.

How do I Manually Release An Electric Parking Brake?

Manually releasing an electric parking brake is crucial when carrying out a service. You will need the following things to do this process:

• Scan tool
• 12-v power source
• Electric connectors

First, you must reset the brake system per the manufacturer’s recommendation. Then, the electric connectors link the power source and the electric motor. You need to wind back the piston to check the polarity. If the piston is winding in, you need to reverse the connection to ensure it is winding out.

You need to make sure that the rotor is moving freely. Then get into your Honda Civic and turn on and off the parking brake button repeatedly seven to eight times. It will auto-adjust the system, and the brake will be all okay after this. You can check this video to understand the whole process well. History of Honda Civic

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