On my way home today from work I noticed that my 2000 Honda Civic EX (341k miles) was hesitating at multiple intersections where I had to make a full stop.

After I got home, I noticed that my brake lights were on when I got out of the car. I traced this issue down to a worn out brake pedal pad, pieces of which were on the floor, which I have ordered a replacement for now.

While I am waiting for this, I am wondering if the fact that the brake lights were on non-stop during my drive might have impacted the erratic shifting of my transmission when starting from a stop. I did not notice anything odd while driving on the freeway, only when trying to get the car going from a stop.

Can anyone confirm if the brake light switch is wired into the computer and somehow affects the transmission? Hoping that the brake pedal rubber stop is the only issue and that my hesitation going from a stop will be gone as well when that is replaced.

Thanks! PmgR

 

Logically, it would seem that there would be no connection between brake light and engine operation, and that your two issues would be coincidental. However, since the brake light signal also happens to feed into the ECU... I am retracting my original "Logical" statement and am open to learning something here. Thank you mimog3 for your personal experience. This lends credence to a relationship between the brake switch and engine operation.

OP, do as mimog3 did and place a small bolt through the brake pedal switch pad hole on the brake pedal arm and see if your issue with the engine clears up. If so, you know that when your replacement pedal switch pad arrives, your issues will fade away.

 

Thank you for your response. Is that also the case with an automatic transmission?

I did find a circuit diagram in the shop manual (attached). Looks like there is a connection GRN/WHT that goes to the ECM/PCM and the cruise control unit.

Just wondering what the ECN/PCM would do with the signal when it comes to an automatic transmission.

 

I also found his image. The center dashed box is the PCM. So it looks like a faulty brake light switch might impact the shift solenoids?

Anyway, hopefully my new brake pedal pad arrives tomorrow and then we will see if the shifting issue is gone or not as well.

 

Installing the new clip will fix the issue. Same thing happened to me. I’d come from a stop and feel some weird hesitation on acceleration and then it would go away. But anytime I stopped and accelerated again it would repeat itself. When I felt the issue I immediately thought transmission fluid was low and topped that off but as I went to pick up something from my garage I saw the brake lights on. Then saw the clip in pieces on the ground. I put a screw through the hole in the brake pedal assembly to shut the tail lights off. Took the car for a spin and the hesitation went away. Ended up going to the dealer and replacing the screw with the proper part. All has been good since then. I have a 00 ex coupe auto. Previous owner zip tied the interlock for the shifter so that’s why I could still shift with the cap broken.

 

Thanks for the confirmation Mimog3. Looks like we have the same car. They don't make them like this anymore. I have 341k miles on it and original engine and transmission. Never been rebuilt either. Original head as well. I do transmission fluid changes every 30k miles and oil/filter changes with fully synthetic oil (Mobil 1) every 15k miles. Only recurring issue is oilpan gasket leak about every 100k miles. First one was replaced at around 90k, second one around 215k and currently I have a Felpro PermaDry gasket on it. Needs to be replaced soon as well, appears to be a bit better than the Honda gasket. I think these gaskets get damaged when the timing belt is changed and the engine block is supported with a wood block under the oilpan. That's my guess.

I put in the new brake light stopper last night and did my regular drive to work today and absolutely no issues with the transmission or the engine wanting to stall.

So maybe for a manual transmission it won't make a difference, but for an automatic it certainly does.

Anyway, all is well now and the issue has been resolved. Thank you everyone for your responses.

 

Glad to hear you got her fixed OP. Great response mimog3... very helpful and concise for anyone who comes looking in the future with this problem.