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Handbrake pedal stuck!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pandaballs, Nov 10, 2010.

  1. pandaballs

    pandaballs New Member

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    Hi guys, I'm a newbie and owned a Prius 2007 (25K on clock) for just over two weeks now. It's good, very practical for our lifestyle (prior to this I was driving a Mini Cooper S for years but we have a baby due next month).

    Anyway, I did something real stupid last night.
    While parking up the Prius, I pushed the handbrake pedal real hard.
    I actually remember saying in my head, 'maybe that was too rough,' thought nothing of it and left.

    The wife calls this morning and informs me that the handbrake pedal is stuck and the car won't budge.

    Has anyone else experienced this before?
    Any suggestions? Solutions?

    Please advise.

    Many Thanks, M
     
    #1 pandaballs, Nov 10, 2010
  2. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Uhh... tell her to push it really hard with 2 feet?
     
    #2 Bob64, Nov 10, 2010
  3. pandaballs

    pandaballs New Member

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    Thanks Bob.
    She says she's pushed real hard. No spring and it's completely stuck! :(
     
    #3 pandaballs, Nov 10, 2010
  4. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Have you tried to push hard on the driving brake with one foot first, then push the parking brake with the other foot?
     
    #4 2009Prius, Nov 10, 2010
  5. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    You have to push it harder than you did in order the release the brake. H
     
    #5 Hal W, Nov 10, 2010
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I also suggest pressing hard on the service brake while attempting to release the parking brake. Pressing the service brake pedal allows the power system to compress the brakes, releasing some of the tension on the parking brake.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Nov 10, 2010
  7. pandaballs

    pandaballs New Member

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    Thanks everyone for the help.

    It appears that the fault was with my wife.
    And as far as I can tell, the brake peddle is working fine.
     
    #7 pandaballs, Nov 11, 2010
  8. kohnen

    kohnen Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member

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    Time to get a replacement!
     
    #8 kohnen, Nov 11, 2010
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Pushing the service brake on a UK prius does not help release the parking brake as this version has disc service brake and drum parking brake, completely different systems.
     
    #9 Britprius, Nov 13, 2010
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Good point. The Gen II Prius in the U.S. use the same rear drum brakes for both service and parking. It used to be quite common here, but not so much anymore.

    Tom
     
    #10 qbee42, Nov 13, 2010
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