After i gave my car a tune up i noticed the e brake doesnt come up automatically anymore after shifting from park. I have to manually pull the release valve right next to it. Is there a fuse or relay for this? It gets kinda annoying after a while lol. Thanks for any help!

CAR:
1991 Cadillac De ville 4.9 FW

Not too familiar w/ the 91, but my 96 relies on engine vacuum to release the E Brake, so I might suspect that. K_C

KC is right. It is vacuum operated. Check the vacuum diaphragm on the parking brake.

opk it stopped working oafter a tune up? ceck the vacuum line around the rear bank, especially torats the transmission, u probably knocked one off while working the rear plugs

yu mit hav a vacyoum leek oar a leeking ddiafram imo

I'm having the same problem with my '91 DeVille. It's been intermittent for a while, but lately, the automatic release doesn't work at all. I pulled the vacuum line off the actuator diaphragm, and when I put the car in gear, there is suction on the line. Plus, all the climate controls/vents are working properly, so I don't think vacuum is the issue. From what I'm reading, it sounds like the diaphragm on the parking brake is worn out. Now the problem is, where do I find one?

Remove the vacuum hose and pull a vacuum on the diaphragm with a hand help vacuum pump to see if it will hold vacuum. If you don't have one, just use a length of vacuum hose and suck on it. Plug it with your tongue and see if it will hold vacuum. Those diaphragms are pretty common I believe.

Remove the vacuum hose and pull a vacuum on the diaphragm with a hand help vacuum pump to see if it will hold vacuum. If you don't have one, just use a length of vacuum hose and suck on it. Plug it with your tongue and see if it will hold vacuum. Those diaphragms are pretty common I believe.I'll try that, thanks.

I haven't been able to find the diaphragm at NAPA or Rock Auto. Any other suggestions?

http://www.gmotors.com or a junkyard maybe.

Issue aside, it's been my standard practice never to use the ebrake in any car. Came from driving VW's back in the 60's. Always gave problems and I figured it was a whole lot easier to just not use them. In a vehicle that relies on engine vacuum to operate them - and other systems as well - it's good to know they can be a source of vacuum leak and check 'em for that. Curious to know if I stand alone on this practice. On the DeVille some pull that vacuum hose off the diaphragm and plug it. K_C

My automatic parking brake release is working again. I replaced the vacuum actuator diaphragm (GM part number 01611496). Received excellent service (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-dealership-reviews/140399-plaza-cadillac-cadillac-tony-parts-department.html) from Mark in the parts department at Plaza Cadillac in Leesburg, FL.

I learned from Mark that you only have to remove the little nut above the actuator (see picture below) to swap it out. It's still a pain to get to with an open-end 5/16 wrench, but if I can do it, anybody can.

I know I don't need the automatic release, but it's one of those old-school Cadillac features (like the trunk pull-down--mine still works perfectly) that's kind of fun to use.

http://www.gdwriter.q45.org/DSC02242.jpg

That's great info on ebrake failures. I've lived with it intermittently for a while and considered it part of a general vacuum system failure. Does your guy have any info to provide on vacuum failures in general??? Could provide insight. Those parts guys are a source of info not to be underestimated. K_C

I think it's just a failure of the vacuum actuator diaphragm, which is a $30 part. Once I replaced that, the parking brake release worked perfectly.

I could tell I had vacuum by holding my thumb over the parking brake line and shifting from Park to Reverse. And since the vacuum-related climate control parts all worked fine, I figured it was the actuator that had finally worn out.

Issue aside, it's been my standard practice never to use the ebrake in any car. Came from driving VW's back in the 60's. Always gave problems and I figured it was a whole lot easier to just not use them. In a vehicle that relies on engine vacuum to operate them - and other systems as well - it's good to know they can be a source of vacuum leak and check 'em for that. Curious to know if I stand alone on this practice. On the DeVille some pull that vacuum hose off the diaphragm and plug it. K_C
With the old VW beatles if you pulled the handbrake on when the brakes were hot and left it overnight, the next time you used the brakes the pedal would bounce up and down from the warped drums. A couple of hard stops would round them up again but it was a PIA.

Those old bugs offered to many a PIA, however, some how today I miss the overall simplicity of them. My last VW was a 67 and still ranks as one of my favorite rides, all things considered. K_C