AboutGary J. Meyer II Expertise The types of questions I can answer would be related to Honda automobile diagnosis and repair procedures. I can't diagnose every car via email because some tests just require a good old fashion road test.
Experience I am a Honda automobile technician with twenty years of new car dealership experience. My first few years as a Honda tech date back to when Honda cars were still offered in carburated models. In the last few years, I've been exposed to the integration of hybrid powered cars, the Natural Gas powered GX Civic, and electronic features ranging from voice activated GPS navigation to power sliding doors. I have been certified as an ASE Master Technician and passed the L1 Advanced Engine Performance test in 2000. I opened my own independent import repair shop specializing in but not limited to Honda automobiles in 2008. Operating my own shop has re-energized my enthusiasm for automobiles.
Publications a few articles www.articlesbase.com, advertisement in East Coast Ink Magazine Spring 2009 and Fall 2009
Education/Credentials ASE Certification, attending American Honda's training center and web based training American Honda provided, New car dealership management training
Awards and Honors 3 time Honda Top Tech finalist, achieved Honda Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Level Training status,achieved a training level of 99 percent of all current American Honda Traning center Modules and self study proformance modules in 1999, Re-certified ASE Master technician, L1 Advanced engine performance ASE certification
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Honda - Temporary brake failure of 2002 Honda Accord EX
Question My son rear ended a saturn that was stopped at a stop sign. He was approaching the saturn at the speed limit and attempted to slow down gradually to stop behind the other car. From the beginning he got no response from the brakes. He pressed the pedal all the way to the floor three times with no response and couldn't avoid the other car. When the responding officer had my son back the car to the side of the street, the brakes worked. The folks at the body shop drove the car in their parking lot but were not able to recreate the problem . Have you had any knowledge of this problem occurring? The car had just had regular maintenance two weeks prior to the accident and no brake problem was noted. What could cause brakes to completely fail one moment and be fine the next?
I do not have any knowledge of this problem occurring with the braking system that is on your Accord. What speed was your Son travelling when he first applied the brakes? Can I assume this was a paved road? What type of road and weather conditions were there at the time of the collision? If the road surface was damp or if there was any type of sand or slippery debris on the pavement, the car may have just been modulating the Anti lock braking system. This modulation would be associated with some slight kickback felt in the brake pedal an a faint rapid buzzing sound. That is the car rapidly modulating, basically it is releasing the wheels braking force until and the re applying braking force until the skid is under control.This can give the car a longer braking distance but allows for directional stability, which prevents a sideways skid. If one or more of the wheels reached a slip ratio of zero (locked up and skidding) the ABS system would modulate and cycle allowing the locked wheel to rotate again. This modulation is similar to older cars when the driver would pump the brake to prevent a skid. If the ABS system had a failure, it would most likely store a trouble code in it's control unit. Has the body shop checked for any codes. My Son was involved in a collision with a six inch curb that caused about three thousand dollars of suspension damage. He described the brakes as failing also, but after the car was repair I made him drive with me on a dirt road and bring the car to quick stop. He explained that the brakes felt like they were not working. The incorrect thing to do if the ABS is modulating is to release the brake pedal. I had him continue to hold the pedal steady and we came to a stop.
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