E-brake handle recoils up

[Panzer909]

Hey guys-

Let my car sit for about a week without touching it and when I finally went to go for a drive, I released the parking brake lever........and now it recoils back up just enough to trigger the warning light. Nothing major, but is there a quick adjustment or anyone have this happen to them before I have to tear my den apart to look for the Haynes manual or factory CD? Just another annoying "do dad"........

[Lapponia]

Hi Jonny!
Can you use the brake but the ratchet don´t lock? I had a similar problem last winter and it happend all of the sudden. In my case, I had to pull/twist the button out and go fishing for the long coiled spring inside the lever. Spring had advanced inwards in the lever and was of no use of function. So Jonny, go for the button and the spring. Then put a washer with a diameter little bigger than the spring on the pushing rod. Put on the spring and the button again and, voilá it will work again. The washer will prevent spring disappear in the lever.
Rolf

[Panzer909]

Hi Rolf,
I think you had a different issue. My E-brake works fine, its just that when you release it, it travels about an inch back up, setting off the brake warning light. I simply need to find a way to have it rest on the ground completely when I drive the car.

I'm guessing the cable is just stretched a bit and needs a simple adjustment but I'm not sure how to do this (hopefully easy) fix.

[DarylJ]

Originally Posted by Panzer909

Hi Rolf,
I think you had a different issue. My E-brake works fine, its just that when you release it, it travels about an inch back up, setting off the brake warning light. I simply need to find a way to have it rest on the ground completely when I drive the car.

I'm guessing the cable is just stretched a bit and needs a simple adjustment but I'm not sure how to do this (hopefully easy) fix.

If you don't know what you're feeling for, you may need to take the seat out, but there is an adjustment where the cable attaches to the handle. I think you're right - it probably is slack and may be pushing the handle back up.

It's just a screw (connected to the handle on one side and the cable on the other) with a lock nut on it to keep it in place.