Potential parking brake problem

[Herknav]

Cold weather + parking brake set = immobile car?

Had to back the car up a bit; it has been sitting a week or so in the cold. Yesterday (9 F) I went out to back it up just a bit. It presented resistance backing, and when I stopped, the parking brake went up VERY easy. I assume that the cold combined with mechanical movement has snapped my PB cable.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Could it be frozen or stuck instead of broken? What is the best way to get it lose again so I can get the car moving?

I have no lift or stands or anything here, and it is a bit hard to skinny my fatass underneath.

Thanks for the help

 

[Royski]

What year is your car?

I believe the fisrt few years of the s197 had an issue with the cable gettign frozen. This was later fixed with a cover over the cable if i remember correctly. Not sure what to do about it when it happens though.

 

[uniquestang]

i had this problem before and i had the same response lol. your parking brake cables are frozen. dont use your parking break in freezing weather, just park it in gear to avoid this problem. of course your brakes wont literally freeze its the cable somewhere is freezing. once i stopped using the parking brake in freezing weather everything was fine and for now on i just use it in good weather and also works fine then. i also called ford to ensure this was it and they told me the same. freezing weather was the issue.

 

[1FastS197]

Cold weather + parking brake set = immobile car?

Had to back the car up a bit; it has been sitting a week or so in the cold. Yesterday (9 F) I went out to back it up just a bit. It presented resistance backing, and when I stopped, the parking brake went up VERY easy. I assume that the cold combined with mechanical movement has snapped my PB cable.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Could it be frozen or stuck instead of broken? What is the best way to get it lose again so I can get the car moving?

I have no lift or stands or anything here, and it is a bit hard to skinny my fatass underneath.

Thanks for the help

mine did the same thing yesterday... it was 12F when i got up... apparently the cable freezes to the sheath that covers the cable... let it sit in the sun or take a blowdryer and heat the cables up... they will let loose... i have had my car do it the past two mornings... i left it up the first morning and couldn't drive the car... this morning i just put it in gear and left the E-brake down and it was frozen to... hasn't hurt the cable yet but we shall see how long it can take to mess it up...

 

[RED09GT]

I'm pretty sure I've read of a TSB on this somewhere...

 

[stkjock]

Herk - I'm shocked at your post... this is a well know issue... and yes there is a TSB

http://s197forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10989&postcount=41


it's only a sticky at the top of this page....

 

[Herknav]

Right, so basicaly I am out of luck... car is out of warranty... not to mention I live in Germany...


So, here is hoping it clears itself up when the weather gets warmer... good news is that I have another car to drive right now...

Thank you all for your input and help.

 

[stkjock]

just get a big heater....

 

[1FastS197]

just leave the E-brake down... the cable is what freezes... just be sure to put it in gear when you park it...

 

[Herknav]

just get a big heater....

Won't work, I have a carport... a heater big enough to warm up my car would probably burn down the house... I will just wait till the weather warms up... it will eventually, we are just in a cold snap.

just leave the E-brake down... the cable is what freezes... just be sure to put it in gear when you park it...

Already done.

 

[JeremyH]

Mine froze a couple times last winter. If you are in a pinch and need to drive the car u can release the brake handle and slip the cable ends out of the mechanism at the rear spindles. I had to do that once, and then about 10 mins later while driving i heard the cable let loose and i reattached the ends when i got to work.

 

[kevinatfms]

release the handbrake and rock the car back and forth, they will loosen up enough to drive to where you need to go.

 

[Herknav]

Weather finally warmed up enough and the cable released. The parking brake lever still is very "loose" for the first couple inches of travel and doesn't apear to engage the brake, but if I pull it up further, it works.

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[Kaldar142]

I had the same issue, fixed it years ago and now its back again... =/

 

[ZmanM3]

I rarely use my parking break. I just put it in gear.

 

[bullitt boy]

after its thawed spray some de-natured alcohol into the cable / sheath this will help to keep it from freezing up.

 

[Bingo]

Fucking A. Took 11 years and goddamn Fort Drum, NY to make it happen, but I finally experienced this. Only had to drive it a quarter mile with brakes dragging, luckily. Hopefully it warms up here sometime soon so it can thaw and I'm glad it's not a mechanical issue.

 

[Herknav]

Holy Shit! Threadcromancy!

 

[ZmanM3]

Old threads never die, they just fade away.











Until Bingo brings them back.

 

[Rapture]

Mine did this in California. Not freezing. I was out of town driving home. Noticed resistance when leaving the parking lot. Figured it was the e brake but didn't have a choice but to hit the highway. Smelled my breaks burning up and pulled over. Had a shop disconnect my e brake. Been disconnected ever since. I do have an auto though so I guess I don't need it.