Stuck parking brake? Anyone had this happen?

[torinsmom]

So, my son had a blowout this morning. Luckily, he was on a quiet street and was able to get off the road. We changed the tire and I was taking it to the shop to get a new one put on. When I went to back it up, I had to press the gas really hard to get it to move. It felt like the parking brake was on, but it wasn't. The tire guy at Walmart said it might be the transmission starting to go, but it has never shown any signs(hiccups, shifting out of gear, etc) Then the manager came over and watched the wheels as I tried to back up. He said it looked like the parking brake was stuck, even though it was not on according to the light and position of the handle. When I would try to engage it, the foot pedal would not click like usual(4-5 clicks) It would just go straight down and then release if I pushed it again. They suggested I take it to the service center right up the road to get it checked. They couldn't get to it today, so I guess they will check it on monday.

Has anyone had this problem with a car, and does this sound similar? It drives forward almost normally, but you can hear a little dragging. Going backwards, you have to actually burn rubber to get the car to move and even then it's very slow. My son says it was a little like this yesterday and was really bad when he backed out of the driveway this morning. Teenagers....why don't they tell us these little details?

Any help of advice would be appreciated.

 

[low-key]

just keep driving it, you will wear the break out

 

[torinsmom]

just keep driving it, you will wear the break out

LOL, not driving it at this point. It is sitting at the garage until they check it out. The guy did say not to drive it far, because if the brakes get too hot, they stop working Luckily, the service station was only 1/2 mile away.

 

[lsyorke]

Back in the "old days" they use to check the emergency brake in the inspection station. They would roll the car and then pull up the emergency brake..except the cable broke when they did mine. Had to back the car out(the brake doesn't work in reverse) and they were able to manually release the cable, which I then had to pay to get replaced.

 

[bigredbill]

I had that happen to my pick-up last year. I had someone come over and manually release the break, then I later took it into the shop. I would not drive normally on it - take it in and have it looked at. The cable may only need to be cleaned and lubricated.

 

[torinsmom]

I had that happen to my pick-up last year. I had someone come over and manually release the break, then I later took it into the shop. I would not drive normally on it - take it in and have it looked at. The cable may only need to be cleaned and lubricated.

I am hoping that's what it is. I can't afford a transmission. He won't drive it until it's fixed. He is still in high school and no job, so it won't be a big deal to be without it. How did they manually release the brake? My son says he's never even used the e brake, so he doesn't know how it could be stuck

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you're burning the tires off, it's not your transmission. Stuck parking brake isn't THAT uncommon, and should be a relatively minor fix. It is worse if you have rear disc brakes than if you have drums, but still not a big deal for any competant shop.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't know if the brake had anything to do with the tire blowing or not. The tires were pretty bad, and I should have replaced them sooner. As soon as the shop fixes it, it's going straight to the tire place.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't know if the brake had anything to do with the tire blowing or not. The tires were pretty bad, and I should have replaced them sooner. As soon as the shop fixes it, it's going straight to the tire place.

Stuck brake probably didn't do in the tire unless it was REALLY stuck. OTOH, a blown tire could easily damage the parking brake cable.

 

[torinsmom]

Stuck brake probably didn't do in the tire unless it was REALLY stuck. OTOH, a blown tire could easily damage the parking brake cable.

DS said it was doing the same thing when he backed out of the driveway yesterday morning before he had the blowout. I remember hearing the car revving, and then catching some rubber, but when I looked out he was already going down the street. So I don't think the tire blowing out damaged it. I don't really know how it would get stuck when it hasn't been used though.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

DS said it was doing the same thing when he backed out of the driveway yesterday morning before he had the blowout. I remember hearing the car revving, and then catching some rubber, but when I looked out he was already going down the street. So I don't think the tire blowing out damaged it. I don't really know how it would get stuck when it hasn't been used though.

Yeah, was probably a problem already & it's just a coincidence the 2 happened at the same time.

 

[torinsmom]

We just got the car in October. It's a 2000 and only has 91000 miles on it. An old man owned it, but he had been in a nursing home for a year. His daughter drove it 1-2 times a week just to keep it running but other than that, it sat. It was/is in really good cosmetic condition, with all the service records, so I hope this is just a small setback.

 

[Judique]

We just got the car in October. It's a 2000 and only has 91000 miles on it. An old man owned it, but he had been in a nursing home for a year. His daughter drove it 1-2 times a week just to keep it running but other than that, it sat. It was/is in really good cosmetic condition, with all the service records, so I hope this is just a small setback.

If by any chance the blowout tore the boot or the boot was torn already, the cables are probably bad.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I have a parking brake story. About two years ago, my sister had just purchased a new (but used - 25,000 miles) BMW X5. She took her friend to a city about 50 miles away to have dinner and see a concert for her birthday. Around 8:00 p.m., we got this quite ticked off phone call (not ticked at us, just in general) from my sister. They were parked at the restaurant, and the parking brake on her "new" car wouldn't release. They looked in the owner's manual, and it said there should be a long, orange tool in the tool kit that is supposed to be stuck in some hole to release the brake when it sticks. OK, so they looked in the tool kit, and there was an indented space for the phantom tool, but it was missing. So much for the complete 14-point inspection of the new, used vehicle! She called the BMW emergency service line, and they sent a tow truck that took them all the way to the BMW dealer near our house. They needed to be picked up at the dealership, so they called us.

I felt so bad for them. My sister thought she would have to eat the cost of the concert tickets (they were going to see Train!). We picked them up and lent my sister DH's car for the weekend. It was a simple fix at the dealership, and they gave her the mysterious orange tool in case it happened again. She mentioned the missed concert because the dealership failed to ensure the tool kit was complete. The service manager said he would submit it as a claim to corporate, and they sent her a check for $160! Guess they like to keep their customers happy! Train was back at the same theater last year, so she took her friend to make up for the missed birthday celebration.

 

[arthuruscg]

How did they manually release the brake? My son says he's never even used the e brake, so he doesn't know how it could be stuck

Well, he needs to use the Parking Break even in a automatic.

Usually the Parking break can be manually released but the process varies based on what car it is and what type of rear break and parking brake setup it has.

Example, My Taurus has the parking brake built into the rear disk caliper. When the parking brake is engaged, the piston for the disk brakes rotates outwards to push the break pads against the rotor. To manually release the break, I had to pry the arm that rotates the piston back to the normal position. Now, that only worked for the passenger's side, the drivers side was broken internally. The only way to completely fix my car was to replace the parking brake cables and the brake calipers.

 

[SaraJayne]

Well, he needs to use the Parking Break even in a automatic.

Usually the Parking break can be manually released but the process varies based on what car it is and what type of rear break and parking brake setup it has.

Example, My Taurus has the parking brake built into the rear disk caliper. When the parking brake is engaged, the piston for the disk brakes rotates outwards to push the break pads against the rotor. To manually release the break, I had to pry the arm that rotates the piston back to the normal position. Now, that only worked for the passenger's side, the drivers side was broken internally. The only way to completely fix my car was to replace the parking brake cables and the brake calipers.

I've never once used the emergency brake (and I've been driving for 22 years).

Actually, I don't even think my current vehicle has one.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I've never once used the emergency brake (and I've been driving for 22 years).

Actually, I don't even think my current vehicle has one.

I think (and someone will correct me if I'm wrong) that all vehicles must have a parking brake, because it's standard equipment for parking on a hill. But it might be a foot operated brake down by your pedals - a lot of newer automatics have this type.

I use my parking brake a lot just out of habit from driving a manual car, but having lived in a very hilly area of Seattle, it's also useful to know how to use your parking brake to safely street park on hills. Turn your wheels so that if you roll, you'll roll into the curb, and then set the parking brake. Easy peasy, but if you live in a flat area and rarely street park, then you might never come across it.

 

[SaraJayne]

I think (and someone will correct me if I'm wrong) that all vehicles must have a parking brake, because it's standard equipment for parking on a hill. But it might be a foot operated brake down by your pedals - a lot of newer automatics have this type.

I use my parking brake a lot just out of habit from driving a manual car, but having lived in a very hilly area of Seattle, it's also useful to know how to use your parking brake to safely street park on hills. Turn your wheels so that if you roll, you'll roll into the curb, and then set the parking brake. Easy peasy, but if you live in a flat area and rarely street park, then you might never come across it.

Yes, you are correct. I just got back from errands and checked for the e brake. It's a foot pedal near the driver's door.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Anyone who's ever parked on a hill with an automatic w/o using the parking brake will notice an audible "clunk" when you get back in your car, start it, and take it out of park. It's hard on your transmission to leave it in Park on a hill w/o using the emergency brake.

 

[RunDanceSkate]

All vehicles have parking brakes to use when "parking" (even on a flat surface) the regular brake is a foot brake or stopping brake.

The parking brake provides a much stronger hold. Using your parking brake regularly will help keep your rear brakes adjusted. The parking brake is cable operated, not hydraulic like your brake pedal. Setting the parking brake keeps the cable tension and rear brakes adjusted.

As well it takes the stress off your transmission, transmissions are more expensive than brakes. so its a better idea to have the cheaper part do the work and the more expensive part as the backup. When you use the parking brake properly, the vehicle will not move after releasiing the brake pedal, this is because the parking brakes are holding the vehicle and the expensive transmission has no stress on it.

1) when parking, hold the brake pedal and shift into neutral or park.
2) while still applying pressure to brake pedal, set the parking brake
3) release the brake pedal
4) shut off engine, and park as normal