Natwerk Designs

Help with Honda Accord 2003 TCS/Breaking lights on?

I read the answer of the Honda Guy to Tykat. My question to Honda Guy is if the lights came on because of bumpy roads. What can be done to fix the problem? How I could find if the front strucks or rear shocks causing the problem or the engine may have a problem? I took the car for a diagnostics test and the following code came out. 61-1, 65-1, and 68-1. The shop reset the codes but the lights still stayed on. Currently, I am living in Panama and I am having problem driving here, because Panama roads are miserable; potholes and the roads are badly design. I drove into a street curve and puncture the left front tire badly plus other incidents climbing the curves. The streets and parking lots are very narrows. Any suggestion are very well appreciate. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. Your problem may be as simple as checking the switch located on the brake pedal arm. There should be about 1/8" (3 to 4MM) of clearance when the pedal is not being depressed. Easy to check, just follow the pedal up under the dash and work it with your hand to check the clearance. Unscrew the retaining ring and move it out if this is the case. May or may not be the problem, but worth checking.
2. If the engine is not misfiring then the chances are that the car is actually going into the TCS mode. The TCS mode is engaged whenever one of the drive wheels looses traction and starts to spin faster than the other. This will happen on muddy roads, wet roads and extremely bumpy roads. Once the light comes on it will not go off for the remainder of the trip. the codes that you report aren't Honda engine diagnostic trouble codes. they are for the Anti-lock brake system and traction control system. to get the engine DTCs that would indicate if you have a misfire problem or not, you need to have the technician use a generic scan tool to download the OBD II codes using the 16 pin connector under the dash panel. that will give you any codes that may be stored in the onboard diagnostic system. If the check engine light has not come on then it may be an electrical or suspension. you can check the shocks for signs of oil leaks around the cylinders. the front struts usually last about 10 years but if the roads are that bad they may be. more likely you may have a problem with the ABS system because of the codes you report the code 65 is for low brake fluid level. there is a sensor in the brake cap that measures the brake fluid level that may be sticking or you may really have low brake fluid. I expect you already checked this but if not, use clean brake fluid to clean the float in the reservoir cap and correct the fluid level by adding more if necessary. the code 68-1 is for continuity in the brake lamp switch. that switch is at the top of the brake pedal under the dash. My guess is that the switch is either loose or failing and breaking contact when the body shakes going over bumps. If it were my car I would replace the brake light switch as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. that sounds more like the cause of your problem than the other possibilities. hope that helps