NDMedia

Alright ladies and gents, over this past weekend I had this problem. I picked up my GT a week or so ago, so naturally I was bummed it was having this issue already. However, I didnt give up and hvae it towed to the dealership like many would. I jumped on here and a few other forums and noticed that there was a TSB out and generally there was no way to resolve the problem. However, I found a way to fix this if you are in a bind and have no time for a dealership run.

My scenario and resolution:

I rarely park on a hill, but I went to visit my parents over the weekend and did so. It was snowing/sleeting and freezing over night. I woke up the next morning to pull the car out and drive out. The Ebrake was stuck. Id release the ebrake and there was a lot of play in the handle, like the cable broke.


My first attempts to resolve:

Pour hot water over the brake caliper and rotors. It didnt work.

My second attempt:

Let the car warm up. It didnt work


My final attempt and successful attempt.

Grab two spray bottles with piping hot water. Get down on the concrete (yes it was damn cold), and start spraying the ebrake lines. MAKE SURE YOUR EBRAKE IS DOWN. In the temp I was in the water refroze as it sat after I was spraying it. However the heat warms the line up enough to release the cable! It worked after about 15 min of spraying and the cable released itself.


There ya go. Hope this is helpful for some.


George

Teeland

This happened to me last winter. We had a very cold night, low of about 12 I think, and the next morning my wife called and said the em brake would not release. I came home and the lever was all loose. Had the car towed to the dealership where there were at least 3 other GT's with the same problem waiting in line.

We were told there was a TSP out on the problem but still had to wait until the following day for the parts to fix it. They did tell me that the problem was fixed and that I wouldn't have to worry about it again. So far so good. This morning we had a low of 18, so I guess I need to go check it out!

ohnoesaz

Yes, the older mustang's have boots that tear on the ends of their e-brake lines where it goes into the caliper. Mine too, but arizona doesn't freeze.

Is your car new? That would be weird if the boot was tore.

MUSTANGLOVER73

i havent had any problems yet. that could be dangerous!!!

RED121572

Right after I bought my car, I was lucky enough to catch a thread that some peeps were having the "frozen E Brake" problem. I dont use the E Brake at all during the winter.

htvsean1

Same here....I try not to use the 2 brake at all during the winter. I just park it in first gear.

aclass

Sometimes you have to have the E-brake, thats what it's for! I'm not very happy right now b/c it happen to me for the first time yesterday and I called the dealer this morning and he said bring it in and we'll "inspect" it. I dont want it inspected and then have the problem occur again. I need it fixed.
I explained the TSB but it didnt seem to help. How are dealers suppose to handle these kinds of situations when there is a bulletin on the issue? Should I try another dealer?

05_blk_gt

I had the same problem with my 05GT but luckily got it fixed under warranty. I believe they just replaced the cables but I could be wrong

BWfVA

Well this is the first I have really heard about it happening and my warrenty just went dead on my car and to beat it all My ebrake stuck the other morning when it was so cold but when I just backed the car up a little bit it released.