Handbrake malfunctioning

Shelle

A few weeks ago, whilst taking my car (Honda Jazz) out of the garage, I discovered that despite taking the handbrake off I could move the car. At first I thought there must be something obstructing the car, but after checking I realised there was nothing there to stop car moving.

I eventually got the car to move by really reving the engine and "breaking" the hold.

i was concerned that this might happen again, and/or would be perhaps damaging my car, so I brought my service forward by a month. Garage said that if there had been anything wrong they would have found it during routine checks for service.

Yesterday afternoon It happened again (in the garage!) but didnt need as much reving this time to get it to move.

My concern is whether this is damaging any other part of my car. Any ideas what is wrong before I email the garage? Anything that can be done as a diy?

Thanks!

anewman

This could be a stuck handbrake cable, one possible problem is inadequate heat shielding between exhaust and cable causing the handbrake cable to melt. If the handbrake cable is damaged it will need replacing and shouldn't break the bank.

vikingaero

Shelle wrote: »

A few weeks ago, whilst taking my car (Honda Jazz) out of the garage, I discovered that despite taking the handbrake off I could move the car. At first I thought there must be something obstructing the car, but after checking I realised there was nothing there to stop car moving.

I eventually got the car to move by really reving the engine and "breaking" the hold.

i was concerned that this might happen again, and/or would be perhaps damaging my car, so I brought my service forward by a month. Garage said that if there had been anything wrong they would have found it during routine checks for service.

Yesterday afternoon It happened again (in the garage!) but didnt need as much reving this time to get it to move.

My concern is whether this is damaging any other part of my car. Any ideas what is wrong before I email the garage? Anything that can be done as a diy?

Thanks!

Sounds like the brake pads are stuck to the discs. Doesn't really damage them to break the bind with a bit of revs. Have you been garaging the car when it's been raining or is your garage damp.

When you look at your brake discs are they ultra shiny or are they rusty?

Shelle

The car is always in the garage overnight, and yes it had rained (quite a lot!). Cant remember if it had been doing a lot of rain the last time it happened though. Starnge though, as I have had the car 3 years and I am sure I have put the car away in the rain before as this is typical brit weather !

To be honest with you I dont even know what the brake discs are! I know where the water bottle is, how to check the oil and my tyres and that is about it! Sorry!

Think I will contact garage and see what they say.

vikingaero

Shelle wrote: »

The car is always in the garage overnight, and yes it had rained (quite a lot!). Cant remember if it had been doing a lot of rain the last time it happened though. Starnge though, as I have had the car 3 years and I am sure I have put the car away in the rain before as this is typical brit weather !

To be honest with you I dont even know what the brake discs are! I know where the water bottle is, how to check the oil and my tyres and that is about it! Sorry!

Think I will contact garage and see what they say.

Not to worry.

Just as an example I park my car outside on the drive and the design of the alloy wheels leaves the brake discs exposed and they turn rusty really quickly. The rust fuses with the metallic particles in the brake pads and with the handbrake off the car won't move. It sometimes takes a little extra revs to break the bind and it sounds worse than it really is. It happens more when I haven't driven the car for a few days as the rust can bind more firmly.

tomstickland

I'd leave it parked in gear with the handbrake off, or on very lightly.

blossomsuz

I also have a Honda (Prelude) and this happens to me when its been raining. Its just the rear brakes sticking a bit. I drive up the street with my handbrake on lightly and it sorts its self out
This happens even when there are new brakes on the car and the handbrake had been adjusted.

newlywed

On a fiesta some years ago I had the handbrake cable "seize" (apparently). This gave a similar thing. Initially only reversing would release the brakes after the handbrake was down but eventually it seized completely and the brakes wouldn't release at all. I was stuck in a multistorey car park and had to get the AA to release the back brakes to get the car down to a tow truck which was too large to get in the car park!!! :rotfl:

I needed a new handbrake cable.

iluvmylexus

seems to be common on vw's, i had polos and golfs that suffer from this if they are left standing for a while best leave the handbrake off if in a garage
if this has been happening the garage will be able to spot it by looking at the discs