Parking Brake No Longer Releases On It's Own

[NoFear365@yahoo.com]

An interesting problem just started a few weeks ago. Every now and then my parking brake stays down even though I'm in gear. Either 1 of 2 things have to happen in order to make it come up. I have to manually pop it or I have to simply wait and try again after a few minutes of sitting.

Anyone ever have this issue? What should I do?

[JimD]

What year model car? Different years use different release methods.

[NoFear365@yahoo.com]

Woops!

Sorry about that - 1996 Eldorado ETC

[JimD]

Vacuum release. Sounds like you have leaking or pinched vacuum hose under the dash or under the hood.

[NoFear365@yahoo.com]

Anyone here ever to a repair on this? I've yet to get under the dash to investigate. Just wondering what I'm getting myself into here...

[Ranger]

Start by checking the vacuum diaphram on the parking brake mechanism.

[92EldoTC]

also check the hose going to the resorvoir, should be on the right side in front of the wheelwell

[Murphyg]

I had a similiar problem with my 93 sls.

(Is it just your light staying on or is the brake not disengaging ?)

After putting it in gear the brake light would stay on.
But it felt as though it was realeased.
Every now and then I had to tap the bottom of the pedal upwards and the light would go off.
But like I said it felt like it was released and was no indication of any drag.

Then one day the whole pedal was sloppy. But the light would go out if I was to manually bring the pedal up. And still no sign of any drag.

The next time it was up on the hoist we looked at it and found that the cable was streched. It took some heat and a load of WD but we were able to loosen the adjuster without breaking it.

Once the slack was taken out of the line it would release the way it was supposed to. For a bit anyways. Was certainally better. 98% .
Thats when we discovered that one of the the rear calipers were sticking abit as well.
But they only seemed to stick when using the parking break Sounds weird I know ?

Anyways......
Im preety sure my 93 had the vaccum as well. Think I was told that here when I brought up the problem.
Apparently is the usual cause.
But for me it wasnt.
So there is something else to look at.

Good luck

[92EldoTC]

Originally Posted by Murphyg

I had a similiar problem with my 93 sls.

(Is it just your light staying on or is the brake not disengaging ?)

After putting it in gear the brake light would stay on.
But it felt as though it was realeased.
Every now and then I had to tap the bottom of the pedal upwards and the light would go off.
But like I said it felt like it was released and was no indication of any drag.

Then one day the whole pedal was sloppy. But the light would go out if I was to manually bring the pedal up. And still no sign of any drag.

The next time it was up on the hoist we looked at it and found that the cable was streched. It took some heat and a load of WD but we were able to loosen the adjuster without breaking it.

Once the slack was taken out of the line it would release the way it was supposed to. For a bit anyways. Was certainally better. 98% .
Thats when we discovered that one of the the rear calipers were sticking abit as well.
But they only seemed to stick when using the parking break Sounds weird I know ?

Anyways......
Im preety sure my 93 had the vaccum as well. Think I was told that here when I brought up the problem.
Apparently is the usual cause.
But for me it wasnt.
So there is something else to look at.

Good luck

I have the same problem. After I put the car in gear, the brake disengages but the light stays on. so i have to use my foot to bring it up so the light will go off.
I was poking around under the right front of my car and I found that the hose going to the vacuum resorvoir was disconnected. Before I found this problem, the brake would set, but it usually took more than a few pumps to set it. When I put the car in gear though, the brake would disengage and the light wouldnt come on.
After I connected the hose back to the resorvoir, the pedal felt like it was softer and I didnt have to pump it as many times.. After putting the car in gear till this day the brake disengages but the light stays on.
Im gonna have to do what you did as far as the WD-40 and heat.
Since yours is a 93, Im pretty sure we have the same setup e-brake wise.
How did you go about making the cable tighter?
thanks

[Ranger]

The adjuster for the cable is under the car. Probably under the drivers seat or in that area. The vacuum is for releasing only and has nothing to do with pedal feel or pressure to set it. If the light stays on after release, then the pedal is not coming up far enough to hit the light switch. You can verify this by lifting the pedal with your toe. If the light goes out, that is the problem. Lube the pedal mechanism and adjust the cable if there is too much slack in it. Also check the parking brake mechanism on the rear calipers. If they hang up (not release) there will be slack in the cable and if you then remove that slack, you will have a dragging rear brake. Check that first.

[thu]

I had similar thing happen to my STS. Turns out that the entire mechanism in the footwell needed to be replaced. Something broke. Dealer did that under warranty.

[Murphyg]

Originally Posted by 92EldoTC

..............Im gonna have to do what you did as far as the WD-40 and heat.
Since yours is a 93, Im pretty sure we have the same setup e-brake wise.
How did you go about making the cable tighter?
thanks

The heat and the WD were to loosen up the adjuster. It was quite seazed.
Mine was in the rear pretty well centre of the car by the gas tank.

Recieved a lot of posible reasons here.
Looks like a few things to check.
Good luck and have fun.

[92EldoTC]

gonna have to do some adjusting!
Not a real big problem, the lock and release works and im pretty much used to lifting it the rest of the way with my foot.
Good luck Murphyg