Calling all auto mechanics,weekend warriors and car enthusiasts

[Whittlin]

How about this for Off-Topic. Talking

Weird thing happened when my roomy and I left for work this morning.
We live in the Denver Colorado area and had a snow storm yesterday. Temps in the 20s.

My roomy went to work and came home yesterday with nothing interesting happening.

This morning she disengages the E-brake and it won't go in all the way, if she pushes it in, it springs about half way out.She backs out of the driveway presses on the brake and said it was like pressing against a wall. No give whatsoever.
Brakes hardly work at all.

Long story short. We drove around the neighborhood for 20 minutes or so while she worked the brakes and got them to the spongy stage, then decided to go to work.

By the time she got to work, they were mostly okay, but still a little on the weak side. E-Brake was mostly in, but not completely.

And last weird thing. When I was initially following her around the meighborhood. I was sure she was hitting the brakes, but no brake lights.
After 300-400 yards or so, I started seeing them. (Now I could possibly not been able to see them at first for the bright hazard flashers, but I don't know, so I thought I'd throw it in.)

Seems like something got wet and froze overnight, but...

She drives a 2002 (4-cyl, manual tranny) Toyota Tacoma.

What the heck is that about?

Anybody? Talking

[Anthony Filetti]

Kel,
...not too sure but a lot of times the emergency brake cable gets stuck if not frequently used...but your guess is as good as mine...

[Whittlin]

Afraid not.
Driveway is a good little hill. She uses it all the time.

Looked on the internet for help, but either I'm not typing the right search string or it's a bit of a mystery.

Only thing I could find was on a Mustang club. Was similar, but not the same.
Another weird thing. She has a Toyota, I have a Mustang. My little pony is fine.
Of course, my little pony is garaged, but I'm sure that has nothing to do with it.

[Kenny_S]

My guess froozen brakes, e-brakes work off of your regular brakes. couls have been frozen and the heat from activating them constantly before heading to work, caused them to melt any ice or snow or water, that accumulated in the brakes. Just a guess. why haven't they done it before?? I don't know. Just a guess.

[wade clark]

You might try this: Put her car in YOUR garage!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Move south young man............no snow ha ha

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Just wait a couple of years, Global Warming will take care of it!

[Whittlin]

Guessing you got something there Kenny, back to the 50s today truck's fine.
Sure was ugly yesterday tho'. Gonna spend a little time underneath it today and make sure there aren't any suspicious leaks.

You know Wade, thought of that, but would you believe it, that truck just don't fit. (At least not without a big prybar and a lot of sweat equity. Besides, then I'd be asking you about my E-brake. Wink

Oh Hi-Ho, Went to Glendale one summer in August. 110 in the shade, think I'll take the snow.

There you go Lynn, that outta do it. Happy

[Claude]

I'm not sure from your description, but it may be possible you got some water into your brake lines. If the water froze, then nothing much would happen when you pressed on the pedal. I'd suggest, though, you go to a brake-fixing place, tell them the problem, and get it fixed professionally. Brakes are not something to be casual about.

Claude

[stickman]

When my parking/e-brake sticks I spray it with lubricant(all along the brake cable) really drench it and then get in the vehicle and work the pedal and release over and over and see if it starts working better

if you use it all the time and this is the first time it has happened it was probably frozen.

have done this several time over the years with good results.

but by all means if your not used to working on cars and are not comfortable with this you should take it to someone who can check it out .

I'm one of those people who think vehicles are the worst investment you can make so I usually buy an old used car for somewhere under 3000 and limp it along as far as I can then I go buy another one.

car payments are not for me.rather spend my money on other things.