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Last Parade
join:2002-10-07
Port Colborne, ON

Last Parade to vue666

Member

to vue666

Re: GM recalling pickups and SUVs

said by vue666:

Not using your emergency brake on a regular basis can result in the emergency brake cables seizing...

When I was buying my (used) 2004 Colorado with just over 200,000 km, I tested the e-brake on the lot when I was done. It hesitantly went right to the floor and wouldn't come back up. The truck would not move after that. The cables were rusted and seized -- it had never been used.

A couple days later I saw the dealer reduced the price, and went in for the kill. A couple was checking it out, and I reminded the salesman about what I did to the e-brake. He said.. "oh yeah... forgot about that". Needless to say, the couple could not test drive the truck, they left, and I bought the vehicle knowing that I'd be in for a challenge. No problem as I got it for $5000 and I knew what else was wrong with it anyway.

The salesman hit the rears with some lubricant and one of the sides freed up a little but it was still very hesitant to move. I managed to get it down to a recommended mechanic a few km away, who had to replace every single piece of e-brake mechanics from the rear drums to the pedal; they were all fried.

After I put a whole summer's work into the truck to make it virtually like-new (including redoing the front brakes, which are notoriously terrible and notoriously hard to change on this truck), I set the e-brake every single time I park.

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

when i sold my Taurus earlier this year, the people who came to look at it brought a friend with them who knew about cars...i pulled it out of the garage and started it for them so they could hear the engine (etc) and see all the lights working...without asking first, the friend gets in, and rams the emergency brake pedal to the floor...my heart fluttered a bit as i never use it, and i told him i wished he had asked me first before doing that, as it is possible it might be stuck there now...he hit the release lever and it came back up...i suppose that is one advantage of doing the "recommended" maintenance on the car (rather than the simple oil change, some places do some brake maintenance and lubricate things as well, for a little more money)...fortunately, disaster was averted, but i wasn't too happy when he did that.
vue666 (banned)
Let's make Canchat better!!!
join:2007-12-07

vue666 (banned)

Member

On occasion in the winter I've had the emerg brake freeze on overnight. This can happen when during the day it is mild and wet, then the temperature drops to below freezing overnight. It hasn't happened all the frequently but has happened...

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone

Premium Member

I've had that happen as well and it's a little unnerving if you don't know what's going on.

Last Parade
join:2002-10-07
Port Colborne, ON

Last Parade to dirtyjeffer0

Member

to dirtyjeffer0
said by dirtyjeffer0:

, disaster was averted, but i wasn't too happy when he did that.

was he advised there was a normal functioning part of your car not functioning? Not really his fault.

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

1 recommendation

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

no, but it is common knowledge (especially for a "car guy") to know that emergency brakes on automatic transmission equipped cars are not usually used...when buying a used car, and needing to certify it, it is likely something that may need to be fixed for the safety.

Last Parade
join:2002-10-07
Port Colborne, ON

Last Parade

Member

said by dirtyjeffer0:

no, but it is common knowledge (especially for a "car guy") to know that emergency brakes on automatic transmission equipped cars are not usually used...when buying a used car, and needing to certify it, it is likely something that may need to be fixed for the safety.

meh, excuses. I don't leave shit on my cars in a broken state.

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

said by Last Parade:

meh, excuses. I don't leave shit on my cars in a broken state.

in case you haven't been reading, it wasn't broken...i just never used it.
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned)

Member

said by dirtyjeffer0:

said by Last Parade:

meh, excuses. I don't leave shit on my cars in a broken state.

in case you haven't been reading, it wasn't broken...i just never used it.

chicken and egg

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

said by peterboro:

said by dirtyjeffer0:

said by Last Parade:

meh, excuses. I don't leave shit on my cars in a broken state.

in case you haven't been reading, it wasn't broken...i just never used it.

chicken and egg

the reality is, when i was bringing it for service, it was being serviced as a maintenance item...if it weren't, surely it wouldn't have worked...therefore, i don't "leave shit on my cars in a broken state".
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned)

Member

said by dirtyjeffer0:

the reality is, when i was bringing it for service, it was being serviced as a maintenance item...if it weren't, surely it wouldn't have worked...therefore, i don't "leave shit on my cars in a broken state".

1. Did you learn anything from this?

2. There is no maintenance for e-brakes other than using them or removing them to administer lubricants.

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

i should start using the ebrake on my Kia, just to be sure it continues to work...to be honest, i've never used an ebrake on any of the automatic transmission cars i have owned over the decades and it has never been an issue.
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned)

Member

said by dirtyjeffer0:

i should start using the ebrake on my Kia, just to be sure it continues to work...to be honest, i've never used an ebrake on any of the automatic transmission cars i have owned over the decades and it has never been an issue.

Newer cars may have advanced designs that negate corrosion so you may never have to.

dirtyjeffer0
Posers don't use avatars.
Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

said by peterboro:

Newer cars may have advanced designs that negate corrosion so you may never have to.

well, i'll try to remember to start using it anyway...it will at least help out with the transmission, even though i have a long warranty on everything.

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone

Premium Member

said by dirtyjeffer0:

well, i'll try to remember to start using it anyway...it will at least help out with the transmission, even though i have a long warranty on everything.

I would not operate on the assumption that a warranty would cover something like this if they determine you never used your parking brake.
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned) to dirtyjeffer0

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to dirtyjeffer0
said by dirtyjeffer0:

said by peterboro:

Newer cars may have advanced designs that negate corrosion so you may never have to.

well, i'll try to remember to start using it anyway...it will at least help out with the transmission, even though i have a long warranty on everything.

Once a month should do, especially in the winter. That said with new complete enclosures of the cable from the interior engagement device to the caliper it may not be necessary.

dirtyjeffer0
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Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

when i get my tires switched out in the spring, i'll see if i can get a peak at how my car's system works.