So i was just driving home. I was doing about 30 and shifted into 3rd and the car was moving REAL slow. So i pushed the pedal and it went up 5 mph in like 10 seconds. So i shifted into 4th and floored it and it pretty much stayed right where it was at. Then i saw a few sparks fly out of the left wheelwell. So i pulled over and turned the car off and popped the hood. There was a small amount of smoke and it smelled but i cant explain the smell. I waited for the smoke 2 stop (about 30-45 seconds) then started it up. No more smoke so i hit the gas a few times and got out and there was still nothing. I got back in and drove it and there were like 2-3 more sparks but no more acceleration problems. It feels too hot by the left front wheel inside the engine bay and by the wheel. Anybody have any idea what the hell just happened? It would be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

-Andrew

 

I'm thinking for some reason your left front brake was grabbing real hard

 

I hope thats all it was that would be great. But wouldnt it be pulling a LOT if one brake was grabbing while i was accelerating? And wouldnt it spark a lot more than just a few times?

 

Sounds like a dragging brake. Usually there is just smoke no sparks. The wheel will get hot. It doesn't take a lot of braking force to overcome the engine in a Civic, so the car may not "pull" noticeably.

The situation can come and go. Test drive a few miles without using the brakes much then park and feel the wheels. One hotter than the other means it is dragging. If only one wheel is affected, it is either the caliper or the hose to that wheel. It's simplest to just replace both. You also may need a new rotor and pads because overheating will warp the rotor and you never should run used pads on a new rotor.

 

So i needed new brakes the left one actually wasnt bolted on right and fell the hell off. And my control arms were both shot 2 ****. So im getting it all replaced and will be back in action tomorrow by 4