Twice now I have had my '05 TL 6-speed have what seems to be a stuck parking brake. It has been pretty cold here each time (below 20F) each time. The first time, I had to drive it down from a 7 story parking garage to have it towed to the dealer. Before I even called AcuraCare, I rocked the car back and forth, pulled the handle many times, but nothing changed. Sitting on a downhill sloped garage, the car did not roll on its own. I went down one floor, waited 10 minutes, then went down another. My driver's rear hub was pretty warm by the time I got down to street level. Of course by the time the dealer took a look at it, nothing was wrong. They said they took it apart, cleaned it, lubed it, and gave the car back to me.

Today I was leaving the grocery store and it was dragging again. I just pulled the brake handle up and down a few times and rocked the car back and forth and it appears to have released itself.

Now I am afraid to even use my parking brake since it is staying cold now.

Any ideas? I am concerned with the holidays of having a car that is not drivable with no dealerships open to work on it or give me a loaner.

 

The cable is freezing up, if you have an AT have them dial it down a bit. If an MT, I guess its time to use parking blocks for RV's

 

When I lived in a snowy climate I never set the parking brake overnight for fear of it freezing. I always just put the car in gear (Manual Trans) and parked it.

 

according to an acura tech on here: check the rubber boots where the park brake cable enters the backing plate- some have been found torn or cut from road debris- like a cv boot gets torn

Any moisture in there will freeze while you park...then dry out and be warm at the dealer when they cant find the problem
check those first

 

fyi: the park brakes are a mini set of drum brakes located inside the rear brake rotor
See how wide that hub is?
the inner side of that is the drum for the park brake shoes!

 

I have had manual trans cars for the past 15 years and just do not trust leaving a car in gear without the parking brake set. Just makes me nervous. Prefer having it in gear as well as having the brake set.

Next time I take it in to complain I will mention those boots. I have yet to get under this car myself. My oil is due for a change in a month so that is probably the next time it will be in.

I actually thought about parking blocks the other night....but figured it may be a bit redneck of me to have my Acura parked with big day-glow orange parking blocks.

 

they dont HAVE to be dayglow~ some small block of wood will do
We use `chocks` on the race car all the time

If the car is in 1st or reverse on a MT- its not going anywhere, assuming its in the gear AGAINST the direction of gravity. 1st for nose uphill reverse for nose downhill
Ok- on ice it would slide regardless, but `curbing the wheels` and leaving it in gear is good
See the owner book for more help

the park brake is a backup, if you see its parts you would laugh.
A/T cars have a `parking pawl` gear which -most of the time- holds...but use the park brake just in case

 

You could always carry a small propane torch and crawl under the car- heat the brakes,,,,

 

 

Update -- Finally took it back to the dealer again for an oil change and mentioned the parking brake freezing up again. They ordered new parking brake cables and will be installing them this week. So hopefully that solves that minor issue.