[Marimbaroach]

I have a 2010 Insight and when I went to leave for work this morning, I could not get the parking brake to disengage. I depressed the lever all the way down, but was unable to move the vehicle either in reverse or any forward gear. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

I did have the shocks and struts replaced a few weeks ago. Is there a brake adjustment procedure that the mechanic perhaps forgot to do after he completed the suspension job? Is there a way I can readjust the brake myself, or do I have to get the car up on a flatbed and take it back to the mechanic?

Please advise. Thanks in advance.

 

[Garrydhu]

AFAIK there's a manual way of disengaging the h brake, involves lifting the plastic cowel,,,,,not a mechanic, come on ppl,this guy needs help

 

[Marimbaroach]

Having it towed on a flatbed to the dealer since my mechanic is too far away. I hope they can get it on/off the tow truck in one piece!

 

[Marimbaroach]

Guess what? Towed it to the dealership and now it's working fine. No problems. WTF??

 

[egads]

I would still have them adjust the parking brake.

 

[RedDevil]

After driving through rain or during frost my rear brakes tend to stick a bit.
When I start driving it acts reluctant, then a bang and the brakes are free.
This happens about once a month.

On one occasion during frost, after driving through salty sludge the day before, the brake would not release at all.
I stopped the car, confused.
Then, thinking it over, I put it alternatingly in Reverse and Drive, applying light throttle. After rocking it gently twice or so like this, it came loose with a bang.

Since then I leave it in Park or Reverse without applying the parking brake under these conditions.

My Nissan Almera had the same issue BTW. I never saw this as something specific to the Insight.

 

[Marimbaroach]

It did happen after a hard rain. I'll have them adjust the e brake. Brake felt a bit "stiff" even before the rain, too

 

[Garrydhu]

Dangerous

After driving through rain or during frost my rear brakes tend to stick a bit.
When I start driving it acts reluctant, then a bang and the brakes are free.
This happens about once a month.

On one occasion during frost, after driving through salty sludge the day before, the brake would not release at all.
I stopped the car, confused.
Then, thinking it over, I put it alternatingly in Reverse and Drive, applying light throttle. After rocking it gently twice or so like this, it came loose with a bang.

Since then I leave it in Park or Reverse without applying the parking brake under these conditions.

My Nissan Almera had the same issue BTW. I never saw this as something specific to the Insight.

If it was me,I'd get that issue sorted asap

 

[RedDevil]

If it was me,I'd get that issue sorted asap

It is just the rear brake pads sticking to the disc. Add some brine and water and it cakes and won't let go by itself.
But it usually breaks free at the first motion of the wheels.
If it were the brake cylinders sticking then yeah, it would see the dealer the same day. But it ain't.

This is not uncommon in our wet climate, it happened on my previous car too.

 

[Zwolfe]

I've had the e-brake engaged before on several different Honda's ... then disengage and try to move and the bloody thing doesn't want to.

Usually this is the result of at minimum a couple days of sitting with the e-brake on.

Then I drag the rear tires until they break free and they're good to go again.

 

[Garrydhu]

Must be a design fault so,as Ireland has a temperate/wet climate, and I've never heard of it happening here,on any car

 

[Zwolfe]

Must be a design fault so,as Ireland has a temperate/wet climate, and I've never heard of it happening here,on any car

I've had it happen from 2nd Gen & 3rd Gen Accords and 1st Gen Odyssey's.

Usually the automobiles are of the higher mileage variety so a spring or something may not have quite the performance of yesteryear, or its flash-rust that needs to be broken free. I'm not entirely sure.

Either way, it's better to use the e-brake here and there or gradually you'll lose it.

 

[Marimbaroach]

I had two mechanics look at it. They found nothing wrong. My regular mechanic who I trust said it was probably flash rust. The banging around of getting the car up onto the flatbed probably dislodged it. The car has high milage for its age. Over 160,000. Can't wait to see what else is in store for my high milage...

 

[TRI]

Before parking it try to get some heat in the rear brakes so the moisture can evoporate from the pads.

 

[Zwolfe]

Flash rust usually isn't that big of a problem. Don't engage the parking brake if you know the car is going to sit there a long time and regularly use the parking brake when you know it's going to sit somewhere for short periods of time so you don't lose it. Like going to work, a store, at home for the night and you're leaving the next day again, etc.

Parking brakes at least on Honda's are a use it or lose it sort of thing at high miles. I wouldn't be surprised if the case is the same for other automakers.

Give it enough gas those rear tires 'should' break free, though. Usually this sort of thing happens with brake drums in my experience ... which the Insight has.

I wouldn't be afraid of the high miles though, with regular maintenance it should take you over 300k miles I would figure.