I own a 2007 Civic SI Sedan. I am the original owner and for the past year and a half I have had this weird thing happen...but it would only occur about once to twice a week. My husband never believed me until it happened to him one day and scared the **** out of him.

Now it is happening much more frequently...about 3 to 4 times per day.

When I am driving and I just barely put on the brakes to slow down, sometimes my car just doesn't react to putting the brakes on. Not any slowing down or anything. I have to let my foot up off the pedal and press it again in order to work.

Like I said, this happens very very randomly. It happens so frequently now that I can play around with it to explain it more.

When it happens, I can slowly and gradually press the brake pedal until it touches the floor completely and hold it there and my car will still not react to the brakes being put on.

I find this to be very weird and dangerous (since I have 2 babies in the back seat most of the time).

I have not taken it to the dealership because it happens so sporatically that they probably wouldn't even know what I am talking about and my husband is an automechanic and isn't even sure what it could be.

Any clues?

 

It sounds as though the master cylinder is failing, mostly called by passing the rubbers inside.

What needs to be done is have the master cylinder replaced.

Check around and find prices on the master cyl, before you buy, prices vary wildly from one place to another.

 

+1!

 

check all of your wheel rims for wet spots, it might be a wheel cylinder, a much cheaper repair, but still a dangerous situation...

 

It is only happening sporatically though...would that still be the master cylinder? And my car only has 56K miles on it. Why woul it go out so early? Is that common?

 

That's the classic sign of a bad master cylinder. A slow steady push will let the pedal bleed down, a quicker jab will expand the rubber piston cup allowing it to work normally. It may get better at times, but in the end it's only going to get worse. Replace the master cylinder as soon as possible.

 

I have a Honda Care Plan that it is covered under. Problem is they want to drive it first to see if that's the problem. But it only happens every once in a while. I don't see how them driving it will help them to see what it is because I guarantee it won't happen when they are in it.

 

Whats the chance of it being an ABS pump?

 

Somewhat possible. We used to replace them at Honda sometimes, but I think it was mostly on odysseys. We used to have to put plastic caps over the ends with sealant on them too to keep them from sucking in air.