Ever since I bought this car last December, the emergency brake is stuck in the down position. I push the button in and it doesn't budge when i lift it up. Any suggestions?
Thanx, Marie

 

Well you should be able to pull it up even if the button wasn't working. I do not have to push in the button to pull it up on my 89 firebird. HMM so either there is something stuck in the hinge area of the handle (lose screw or even something like a penny) or your cable is stuck on something or bound between somthing on the underside of the car. Or the mech at the rear brakes are locked up some how. Does your car feel like the rear brakes are working? Oh when you say it doesn't move, dose it move any, a cm or so or is it like pulling on a bar welded to the car? If it gives a little it may be that for somereason your e-brake cable is pulled to tight or something. It could also be a rusty cable, but that would give if you pulled hard enough, just wouldn't release after putting it down.

SO I would pull my rear wheels off and make sure the rear brakes are working right.

Check the cable and see if it is bent, stuck between something.

If not try lossening the cable at the rear of the car and see if the brake comes up any.

Then if all is good pull your console off and look for any obstructions.

It may just be the handle

 

Hey, thanx for all the tips.

I like the way you put that "does it feel like pulling on a bar welded to the car?" lol.....as a matter of fact, yes it does feel like a welded bar.

I think the rear brakes are all right. I had the car inspected and it passed. Brakes and all! If it has any affect on the rear brakes, would my mechanic have noticed it, I mean is it something that wouldn't have passed inspection?

I guess I have to remove the whole console to see if something is stuck in the hinge huh?

hey thanx for all your suggestions, i'll look into them,
Marie

 

My guess is it is the handle (thats why the machanic didnt find anything). I just had to take my e-brake handle out and replace the cable that comes from it. (not alot of fun the take out). If you do take the counsle off to look at the handle, you only have to take to top part of the counsle not the whole thing (now that would be way too much work). There is probably something stuck, bend or broken in the workings of the handle gears.

Hope that helps, if not just ask away

 

Thanx, as soon as this heat wave ends, I'll go out there and try it!
I yanked on it the other day and it does budge like 1/8-1/4 " (no clicks)....So i guess it's safe to say that it doesn't feel like it's welded to the car!

 

Well let us know what u find out. If its an auto car like mine I wouldn't worry too much about it, I don't think I ever used it for anything except a few times playing around if u know what I mean. And a couple of times to get un stuck, if u pull it up a little it will help getting out of mud. It keeps the rear wheels from spinning so freely.