New Civic Type R handbrake issues?

New Civic Type R handbrake issues?

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Discussion

LongQ

Original Poster:

13,864 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th May 2009
quotequote all
I have seen reports from a year or so ago about handbrake recalls for Civics in both Aus and the UK.

Is there still a problem with these?

I have spoken to someone who took delivery of a brand new Type R about a month ago (brand new registration, build date not know at the moment) and over the weekend it was parked on a hill when the handbrake failed and reversed across the road and into a wall.

Fortunately the damage is limited to the bumper and a few paint chips on the tailgate and nothing else, vehicle or human, was involved. Looks like there is just enough bumper damage to need a new one.

I have seen some reports of this problem on other sites but not found anything searching here. Anyone got any comments or personal experiences of this?


..........

Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 5th May 15:52


Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 5th May 22:17

Dave^

7,519 posts

260 months

Tuesday 5th May 2009
quotequote all
i've had to loosen mine off!!! i got it early january this year, and after 2000miles, the rear wheels were disgusting....

narrowed it down to the handbrake being to tight.... seems fine now....

vtecstu

1,079 posts

190 months

Tuesday 5th May 2009
quotequote all
IIRC the problem was with the ratchet on pre-2008 models - when I picked mine up from the dealer (although made after the problem was fixed), the dealer said that when putting the handbrake on I shouldn't press the button in - just pull it straight up.

ETA: definitely shouldn't be the 'known' issue if the car is only a month or so old - more likely to be something specific on your mate's car.

Edited by vtecstu on Tuesday 5th May 22:15

LongQ

Original Poster:

13,864 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th May 2009
quotequote all
Dave^ :

No suggestions so far that the handbrake is sticking on. Interetsting thought though. If that was the case and the brakes were slighly hotter than usual when applying the handbrake migth the extra temp cause the problem? I have no ides how the Civic handbrake is designed to work sothis could be a daft question.

vtecsty:

Is your information suggesting that only cars built in 07 were problematic? If so I would tend to agree that an 09 reg, despite the known 'production exceeding sales' problem at Swindon is unlikely to related to a vehicle registered in late March 09.

On the other hand I have seen some comments that suggest the problem was around in mid 08, despite the recall. Also with the sort of deals that have been on offer for Type Rs one has to wonder if they may have found a overlooked field of them somewhere that may be older than expected.

Thanks for the input both of you.

Anyone else got any related information?

vtecstu

1,079 posts

190 months

Wednesday 6th May 2009
quotequote all
There is more detail on www.civictype-r.co.uk if required, but Honda acknowledged the problem in early 2008, with regards to the handbrake on 2006 and 2007 model Civics - link to a BBC news story on the recall is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7312427.stm

Doesn't say exactly whereabouts the cut-off is, but I was told that it had been addressed already when I bought my Type-R from new (January 08) and I'd be surprised if your mate's car had this issue - as said before I'd say it was more likely to be a specific fault with his car than something general - should get it checked out.

Having said that, probably still worth him not pushing the button in when applying the handbrake. No idea if it's necessary, but since the dealer told me to do it I'm too scared not to!

(mods - think I'm allowed to post links to other forums, but apologies if not!)

Dave^

7,519 posts

260 months

Wednesday 6th May 2009
quotequote all
LongQ said:
Dave^ :

No suggestions so far that the handbrake is sticking on. Interetsting thought though. If that was the case and the brakes were slighly hotter than usual when applying the handbrake migth the extra temp cause the problem? I have no ides how the Civic handbrake is designed to work sothis could be a daft question.
this happened to my mate's focus st when he first got it....

he took it out for a spirited thrashing, parked on a hill, applied the handbrake to red hot (thus espanded) disks....

brakes cooled, (thus contracting) meaning that the handbrake was no longer as effective.....

result? one fecked st and one angry neighbour with an st shaped hole in his hedge.... :lol:


LongQ

Original Poster:

13,864 posts

240 months

Wednesday 6th May 2009
quotequote all
Dave^ said:
... he took it out for a spirited thrashing, parked on a hill, applied the handbrake to red hot (thus espanded) disks....

brakes cooled, (thus contracting) meaning that the handbrake was no longer as effective.....
I could sort of relate to that although one might hope that the manufacturers would come up with a design to cover that possibility given the nature of the cars ... rolleyes

However I don't think that is the case here.

Can't check any answers to such questions at the moment as he's not back from a trip until Friday/Saturday.

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

250 months

Wednesday 6th May 2009
quotequote all
Go to civinfo.com there is information about the handbrake problem.

There is someone who bought a civic and was assurred that the recall had been done by the dealer. Unfortunately the car susequently rolled into a parked car.

You check online if you have the vin number what recalls are required have been done. There is a link from the civinfo website.

Edited by CatherineJ on Wednesday 6th May 17:58

Dave^

7,519 posts

260 months

Wednesday 6th May 2009
quotequote all
LongQ said:
Dave^ said:
... he took it out for a spirited thrashing, parked on a hill, applied the handbrake to red hot (thus espanded) disks....

brakes cooled, (thus contracting) meaning that the handbrake was no longer as effective.....
I could sort of relate to that although one might hope that the manufacturers would come up with a design to cover that possibility given the nature of the cars ... rolleyes

However I don't think that is the case here.

Can't check any answers to such questions at the moment as he's not back from a trip until Friday/Saturday.
i suppose it's only the odd extreme case.....

but i always leave mine in gear anyway, lol