Engine starts but car won't move...

[Deleted User]

Make sure it is only TAPPING.

You don't want to be wellying it with a lump hammer.

Strider590

So there we go, jammed/rusted rear brakes......

Can't help get them unjammed, but in future try not to drive too slowly through flood water, not only is it the best way to get stranded, but it also gets into places that can cause later problems.

I've been known to wait on the entrance to flood water so that I can get a good run at it without people getting in the way, or getting stranded behind someone.

Testing your brakes afterwards should always be done (scrubbing), this heats them up and dries out the water.

colino

If it stalls when you try and drive it away, (I'm surprised a little Clio doesn't just drag the seized wheel along), identify which wheel it is and clout the centre of the wheel (trim off) several times with a very big hammer. If that doesn't shock it off, you'll need recovered as it sounds like the shoes have came off their stops and are now physically jamming the wheel.

bazster

I used to get this occasionally with a Vauxhall Astra after driving in very wet weather.

I concur with the brute-force advice, always worked for me. Handbrake off, 1st gear. Give it some revs and drop the clutch quickly. Worst that can happen is it will stall (but make sure there is clear space ahead of you!)

Norman_Castle

With the engine off and car in gear to stop it rolling, or a brick either side off the front wheel, take the handbrake off and look underneath at the back of the hub. Get a friend to put the handbrake on and off and watch the free wheel, you will see what should be moving. Compare this to the stuck wheel, there may be an arm which should move but doesn't , if so try moving it manually. If this fails, with the handbrake off, try hitting the wheel nuts with a hammer assuming you can do this without damaging anything.

[Deleted User]

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Get a friend to put the handbrake on and off and watch the free wheel, you will see what should be moving.

You won't see anything moving, because all the moving parts are internal.

there may be an arm which should move but doesn't, if so try moving it manually.

There isn't an arm. The handbrake mechanism is all inside the drum.

If you can't shock the shoes free, it's going to be pig of a job to get the drum off.

rainbow_791

colino wrote: »

If it stalls when you try and drive it away, (I'm surprised a little Clio doesn't just drag the seized wheel along), identify which wheel it is and clout the centre of the wheel (trim off) several times with a very big hammer. If that doesn't shock it off, you'll need recovered as it sounds like the shoes have came off their stops and are now physically jamming the wheel.

The back wheel does just get draggeed along, I only say this for second as do not want to be destroying that tyre.

Thanks for your help

rainbow_791

Strider590 wrote: »

So there we go, jammed/rusted rear brakes......

Can't help get them unjammed, but in future try not to drive too slowly through flood water, not only is it the best way to get stranded, but it also gets into places that can cause later problems.

I've been known to wait on the entrance to flood water so that I can get a good run at it without people getting in the way, or getting stranded behind someone.

Testing your brakes afterwards should always be done (scrubbing), this heats them up and dries out the water.

I always thought to drive through flood water slowly, but it is so rare that I have to drive through anything more than a puddle

bazster

rainbow_791 wrote: »

The back wheel does just get draggeed along, I only say this for second as do not want to be destroying that tyre.

Thanks for your help

The wheels will not get dragged along if you drop the clutch quicker than you normally would. It will either free-off or it will stall.

bazster

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

If you can't shock the shoes free, it's going to be pig of a job to get the drum off.

Not necessarily. I had to take the drum off once when I couldn't shock the shoes free on my Astra, it didn't need much persuasion.