I'm thinking my e-brake is seized.. My buddy wanted to wash my car for me yesterday, so I let him move it to the wash bay (a whole 50 feet).. But he gets in, and doesn't let off the e-brake and takes off. I hear that bitch squeeling like a pig, so I yell at my buddy to stop and release the e-brake, he finally does, as he's getting into the wash bay. We finish washing the car, I leave to go home, (e-brake off now) and I feel this really weird slight vibration under the gas pedal...

Then notice this really loud howelling, gets louder as the speedometer climbs. The noise gets softer as I decelerate. Also note- after letting off the accelerator, it decelerates by itself faster than usual, without me using the brakes at all. It also guzzles gas at an alarming rate. I'm thinking the increased consumption is due to something dragging. I'm guessing it's that brake.

I was told that we have a drum brake behind the rear rotor. That drum is the e-brake. Is that correct?

What do yous guys think? Is there a way to check those brakes? Am I fucked? I'm kinda scared to drive the car right now.

Cliff notes.

1. Friend drives my car 50-ish feet with e-brake on.
2. Car now makes loud howelling, decelerates quickly, and guzzles gas at an alarming rate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you, guys.


Ryan.

 

Oh, and it pulls to the left a little, too.

 

Are yous guys befuddled? 20+ views, and only me talking?

I gotta mini-meet to attend to this afternoon... So I need to know asap..

 

Hmmm...are our e-brakes self adjusting? Trying pulling it up and releasing a couple of times, maybe that will cause it to adjust to normal. Just a thought.

 

I forgot I put my e-brake up on my car and I managed to go in reverse down a driveway and try to plow through snow on the street. I did this for about 5 minutes while getting stuck in the snow. I realized my e-brake was down and released it, driving off in the snow. Havent had those symptoms you're talking about.

 

No snow here. Nice 70 degree weather.

 

This was a while ago man. My point was not because of the snow, but because I rolled down a steep driveway with the e-brake on and then I proceeded to go forward with my e-brake on until I realized it. Oh and it's a nice 75 here right now.

 

Ryan. did you try what Moodist said?

 

I know the e-brake sucks in my car also. If im on a hill with ebrake on and not in gear, it will roll.

 

try whacking the drum around the ebrake a few time with a hammer.

 

I would like to know this too. I've been having the same symptoms lately with the vibration on the gas pedal and the quick deceleration. I don't ever remember driving with the e-brake on though.

 

No, because we don't have a self-adjusting e-brake.

 

Driving a few feet in R should adjust the e-brake. It may also have nothing to do with the e-brake.
You can also adjust it manually. A service manual has the procedure. I don't have access to mine right now, but maybe someone else does.

 

Yes the e-brake is in the hub of the rear rotors like a drum brake and I think both sides have it so maybe the driverside is sticking.

 

Any chance it could be your trans???

 

Ultra highly doubtful. My transmission should be just fine. I don't think the howelling from the rear end would be from my transmission.

 

Well, I tried banging the hell out of the e-brake drum, but that did nothing, than last night I applied the e-brake, then released it, and it came loose. Buuuuuut, now it's still making the loud howelling, and the rapid deceleration. I'm thinking it could possibly be the wheel bearings? I'm befuddled.

 

Nobody has any ideas?

 

idk man... sounds like its time for a dealer/mechanic to have a look.

if its still making the noises and behaving funny... you could be doing more damage the more you drive it.

 

ebrake is useless, just take it out.

 

Not true.

 

Replace the brakes yet?

the ebrake is kind of useless. If you decide to park on a hill put the car in Neutral and apply the ebrake...the car will roll...the bastard is heavy. What can else do you expect? lol

First time I experienced that I said

 

unless you have a manual car, i dont see the point to it.

 

Mine always held just fine. I could put it on any hill, leave in neutral, and apply the e-brake, and it would NOT roll. Until people started driving with it on.

 

Honestly it's there to put your car in Park the right way. If on a hill, put the car in neutral, apply ebrake while your right foot is on the power brake, then put in in park. The idea is so you don't get that nasty clunk sound when you throw the car in gear when the tranny is cold when starting the car later on.

 

Basically. You're right.

 

buy a manual

 

who drives their tranny cold? like i said, for an auto i dont see the point.

 

No, what I meant is when the tranny is cold during a cold start, it makes the nasty clunk sound if the tranny isn't sitting right. I know you've heard that sound before.

 

Dude....the ebrakes won't cause any problems like that. Your rotors might have been too hot when you wash it and when you put cold water on it, it will warp.

 

my tranny has never clunked on any kind of starts.

 

Turns out it's a bad, reallly, really bad front passenger wheel bearing. Cost $280 P&L at Jackson Acura. I also got a new job at the dealer.

 

after all that mess....

That's worse than what I thought it was.

 

Now apologize to your buddy for yelling at him =]

 

No. My buddy still deserves it. That was the second time he did that.

 

 

280 for 1 wheel bearing? now i know remember why i dont use the dealerships anymore.

 

Yeah, me too. At another shop, I got the wheel bearing, rear shocks, and motor mounts done for $400 OTD.