Frozen Handrake

[simon field]

Hi

BRAVO HGT

Had the handdbrake freeze on on Tuesday Night - result in Wednesday morning was that the rear passenger side tyre was dragging on the road! Left car until the evening and it had freed off but now i have loads of slack in the handbrake?

Just about holds the car but no where near as good as before?

Any ideas why it shoudld have so much slack in it - have had a quick look (in the snow!) and both cables are still attached and appear to be pulling when the handrake is applied?

Could i have stretched the cable that easily?

Any ideas would be great

Thanks

 

[Ozric-Al]

Check the guide chap - all detailed there as we've probably all had this problem at least once.

 

[simon field]

Handbrake

Hi

I saw the page in the repairs section - i have printed it off ready for a look at the weekend.

Gromet on the end looks split so i guess thats where the water gets in.

Cant work out why the handbrake is so slack now it has freed of though? The car is maintained by my local FIAT dealer (and they are good!) and it is usually only 3 clicks for full on - now the lever is almost vertical!

I think y neighbours heard some new language on Wednesday morning but it is a relief (!) to find it seems a common problem.

Any ideas on the slack handbrake would be appreciated though

Thanks
Si

 

[Ozric-Al]

Maybe you stretched the cable? Are you sure the handbrake is actually working and that the cable has not snapped?

 

[simon field]

Handbrake

Thats what i thought, that i had snapped the cable. Checked it and it is operating both calipers so it cant have snapped - must have stretched it or it is on is last thread (!) and is about to snap?

I think if i change both cables it should be back to normal and it should prevent the freezing on happening for a year or two?

There is no adjuster or compensator on the caliper that i can see?

Si

 

[Tim]

that same thing happen to me on tusday night and my HGT buddy.

was a bugger, but luckly my cable seems to be ok. is it sumthign the HGTs are prone to.?

 

[Simon]

Handbrake

Its the first time its happenend to me but a mate of mine had a coupe and he used to get the same problem.

Its down to the design of the cable i suppose, not really the car.

Think i will fit some nice new ones - should keep the water out for a year or two.

 

[simon field]

Handbrake

Ordered some new cables from FIAT which will cost me £48!

Reason the handbrake has gone so slack since it thaweed out is that the adjuster nut under the lever had undone itself! Every time i was pulling the lever to try and release the frozen brake, it was catching on the side of the centre tunnel and slowley undoing its self!

Tightened it down by hand, pulled lever up and handbrake back to normal.

Sprayed loads of WD40 on cable ends (as described on website) and hopefully no more problems until new cables fitted.