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Park Brake Diagnosis

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Aztek and 2003 Buick Rendezvous. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Were you sent here from a Brake System Symptom Test? If so, go to step  4. If not, go to next step.
  2. Were you sent here from a Park Brake Symptom Test? If so, go to step  4. If not, go to next step.
  3. Is the symptom related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release? If so, go to next step. If not, go to GENERAL DIAGNOSIS  under TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  4. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. With the park brake RELEASED, attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

    Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag? If so, go to step  11. If not, the go to next step.

  5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. Apply the park brake. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

    Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag? If so, go to next step. If not, the go to step  7.

  6. Release the park brake. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction in the amount of drag. Did the rear brakes exhibit a significant reduction in the amount of drag? If so, go to step  21. If not, go to step  11.
  7. Visually check the park brake cable connections and the cables that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle for disconnections and/or damage. Were any or the park brake cables disconnected and/or damaged? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  9.
  8. Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. See PARK BRAKE CABLE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After completing the repair and/or replacement, go to next step.
  9. Check the adjustment of the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Was the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step  11. If not, go to next step.
  10. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake? If so, go to step  16. If not, go to next step.
  11. DO NOT depress the brake pedal with the brake rotors and/or the brake drums removed, or with the brake calipers repositioned away from the brake rotors, or damage to the brake system may result.
    • Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums. See BRAKE ROTOR  or BRAKE DRUM  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
    • If equipped with rear disc brakes, inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. See PARK BRAKE INSPECTION - DISC  under PARK BRAKE in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION.
    • If equipped with drum brakes, inspect the park brake hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. See PARK BRAKE INSPECTION - DRUM  under PARK BRAKE in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION.
    • Check the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition.
    Does the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators or adjusters require replacement? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  13.
  12. Replace park brake hardware components as necessary: Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary:
    • If equipped with rear disc brakes, see PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
    • If equipped with drum brakes, see ADJUSTING SCREW  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
    After completing the replacement, go to next step.
  13. Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement. Did the park brake cables move freely? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  17.
  14. Check the adjustment of the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Was the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step  16. If not, go to next step.
  15. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  26.
  16. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag. Release the park brake. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag. Did the park brake apply and release properly? If so, go to step  28. If not, go to SYMPTOM LIST  under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS in TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  17. Disconnect the park brake cable connections that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle one at a time and check each cable for free movement. Do any of the park brake cables accessible on the underside of the vehicle require replacement? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  19.
  18. Replace any of the park brake cables that do not have free movement (not releasing properly). See PARK BRAKE CABLE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After completing the replacement, go to next step.
  19. Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible INSIDE the vehicle at the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement. Replace the front park brake cable if it does not have free movement. See PARK BRAKE CABLE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you find and correct a condition? If so, go to step  24. If not, go to next step.
  20. Replace the park brake pedal assembly (not releasing properly). See PARK BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After completing the replacement, go to step  25.
  21. Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARK BRAKE  under ADJUSTMENTS. Is the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step  27. If not, go to next step.
  22. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step  27. If not, go to next step.
  23. Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums, if they have not yet been removed. See BRAKE ROTOR  or BRAKE DRUM  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Check the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition. Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary.
    • If equipped with rear disc brakes, see PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
    • If equipped with drum brakes, see ADJUSTING SCREW  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
    Did you find and correct a condition? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  26.
  24. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step  27. If not, go to step  26.
  25. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step  27. If not, go to SYMPTOM LIST  under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS in TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  26. Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. See Equalizer under PARK BRAKE CABLE  in REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Adjust the park brake. See appropriate procedure under PARK BRAKE  in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Did you complete the replacement and adjustment? If so, go to next step. If not, go to SYMPTOM LIST  under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS in TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  27. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag. Release the park brake. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag. Did the park brake apply and release properly? If so, go to next step. If not, see SYMPTOM LIST  under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS in TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  28. Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis. After completing the operation, the system should be okay.
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