What causes the Civic to fail to start and display a check brake system message?
2 Answers
The main reasons why a Civic fails to start and displays a check brake system message are as follows: Excessive carbon buildup in the idle air control valve, intake manifold, intake valves, and combustion chamber: Too much carbon deposits and dirt in the intake manifold can change the cross-sectional area of the air passage, resulting in an overly rich or lean air-fuel mixture. This leads to abnormal combustion or engine shaking after starting, and in severe cases, the engine may fail to start. Issues with the fuel injectors: Leakage or excessive carbon buildup can cause a lean air-fuel mixture during startup, making it difficult to start the engine. Problems with the charcoal canister or canister purge valve: Malfunctions in the charcoal canister or canister purge valve can also make the engine difficult to start.
This starting issue is quite common in Civics, especially for models with push-button start. You usually need to press the brake pedal first. If the brake system warning light appears on the dashboard, it might indicate a faulty sensor in the braking system - like the component specifically detecting whether the brake is depressed. The vehicle then mistakenly thinks you haven't pressed the brake, preventing engine start. Having driven similar vehicles before, when encountering this situation, I'd first try firmly pressing the brake pedal several times to see if the dashboard light responds. If that doesn't work, it could be a blown fuse or poor wiring connection - it's best to check the status of relevant fuses in the fuse box. Always pay attention to dashboard warnings while driving to avoid roadside breakdowns. Regular brake system maintenance checks can help prevent such troubles.
