After getting rear-ended, I just had a new bumper installed and a new tailpipe at my local bodyshop, these two features - CBMS & VSA, aren’t working. As well, I had to reset all of my XM radio channels, which seems strange. They replaced only one of the rear camera sensors on the bumper. I guess the others were still intact. I’d rather have them all replaced. The cruise control isn’t working now, either. They say that they scanned and couldn’t find anything wrong. I have an appointment Tuesday. Hopefully they will take it to the dealer. Does anyone have any experience with these two issues?Thank you!!

 

Sounds like your battery was disconnected if you had to reset the XM channels.

Start the car, leave it in Park, and if your CBMS dash light is on, have someone push the brake pedal and see if the rear brake lights work. If they don't, the brake lights have to work in order for the CBMS (and cruise control) to know if you are pushing on the brakes or not. If the CBMS comes on intermittently (your brake lights will work sometimes, not always), it likely is the Brake Light Switch (around $25) 36750-SJA-013 part number I believe. These brake light switches are common issues on Honda/Acura. The part is installed just above the brake pedal...no tools required. A shop will charge you around $200 to replace it, though it's a 5 minute job...takes longer to diagnose it than change the part.

Otherwise, give the CBMS and VSA a few days to reset (keep driving it), and if still an issue on the day of your appointment or it is intermittent, let the dealer diagnose it which they will do with an OBD reader.

 

MANY THANKS!!! I appreciate your details!!
I will check it out in a few minutes. 😊👍🏻
(currently getting new windshield installed)

 

What did the dealer say?

 

Hi! Thanks for asking!
Well, the car is back at the body shop today. There were other issues to address, enough for me to type up a list, print and give to the service manager. He was not familiar with the CBMS system so I printed a page from the manual. He also wasn’t familiar with the audible alerts system on the rear sensors so I printed that diagram, too.

Anyway, I did what you said to do, start the car, leave it in park and have someone ck the brakes. (Dash lights were still on). I didn’t have anyone nearby at the time, so I just backed up close to a window so that I could see the lights thru my rear view mirror.
The brake lights were on. The VSA & CBMS lights still stayed on.

The service manager called this afternoon. They are unable to locate the source of the problem and they want to send it to the dealer. But he needs the insurance company to authorize that. Is that normal? He called an insurance company and spoke to someone about it but it was the wrong company. So now that he has the correct company, he has to speak to them in the morning because they are back east.

Basically, he told me that the cruise control, ACC, VSA and CBMS are up front, and don’t have anything to do with the sensors in the back. He told me that all they did was unhook the battery, work on the bumper, the sensors, the dented body panel, and the tailpipe, which are all in the rear, so he doesn’t think that the VSA and CBMS have anything to do with the work they did.

Isn't everything connected? Is there an electronic problem that is beyond their scope? Does all of the electronic wiring go to the same place, so if there’s a short or damage in the wiring or sensors, isn’t it going to glitch the whole system?

Thank you so much for your input. I want to try to be as knowledgeable as I can when speaking with him tomorrow.

 

The CBMS and cruise are integrated with the brakes through the Brake Light Switch, I'm not sure how/if it is integrated with the rear bumper or wiring itself in the rear. Maybe someone else can chime in.

A dealer/mechanic can hook up a OBD to your car and see what codes are being thrown, even clear them. If you can't get it to a dealer yet, I would ask how old is your battery? If it's over 4 years old, have it replaced because a weak/old one will cause electrical gremlins in the RL (there is a voltage regulator that will cause some dashboard lights to come on if the battery voltage is low). I replace my battery every 4 to 4.5 years (just did this past weekend) because a "TPMS" malfunction light came on for no reason. The battery group size is 24 (must have a flat top, no raised water fills to fit the positive connector), or you can get a group size 34 which is the AGM version...more expensive, but longer lasting.

If your brake light switch is faulty, this is how they test and replace it.
Brake Light Sensor Test and Repair

 

Awesome! You rock! I’m hoping the ins company approves the car to go to the dealer today. I will give the body shop your info, though. Maybe it’s an easy fix. Thank you so much!

 

Thinking about the battery. I don’t think it’s four years old yet. I’ll check though. Thank you!