Haven't driven the car since last Sunday and now the E-Brake will not disengage. Tow truck on the way and I will keep you updated as to what happens.

 

Same thing happened to me. It started with freezing weather conditions. E-brake would not release in the mornings. The first time I had it towed they kept it for 3 days, could not reproduce the error, told me there was nothing wrong and to just give it more gas or don't use the brake (nice advise huh?). Brought it home, had it towed back the next morning. They finally reproduced the problem and are replacing the brake and all the cables. 7 or 8 more days in the shop. I have already had the fuel tank replaced and had it in twice for squealing brakes. The brakes still squeal and dealer won't do anything about it. They are trying to tell me this is normal. The car I initially loved is turning into a lemon!

 

The dealer told me it was frozen. It does make sense, but it shouldn't happen. It was wet and engaged for a week. They told me not to use the E-Brake for a week or so, and then engage it.

 

Not that this is an excuse for the car manufacturers, but in the old days, we used to refrain from setting the e-brake in wet/freezing weather because the cables used to freeze up. Guess it still happens, thanks for letting us know to be careful.

 

Did they tell you definitively whether it was the pads freezing to the disk, or the actuating mechanism (cables and linkage) that froze?

What happens to the guys with slotted and drilled rotors?

 

I would think it would be part of the linkage freezing. If it was just the pads freezing, the handle would still "feel" as though it was disengaging, it would just be hard to drive the car.

 

He said it was the spring loaded part where the cable splits at the rear.

 

I got mine back from the dealer tonight. They said is was a failed seal in the parking brake cables and they replaced them all. It will be down to 16 degrees or so tonight so I will see how it does in the morning.

 

I've had the same problem a couple of times. My e-brake sticks a little bit (it does not stay fully engaged) on cold mornings. The first time I got halfway down my driveway before I realized the car did not feel right and noticed I had about 1/2 an inch of play in the cable. I let the car run for a few more minutes and after messing with the e-brake it finally disengaged. Same situation has occured a couple of times in the morning. This is going to be a real pain come January when it really starts to get cold here. I've stopped using the e-brake overnight. I'm really curious to see if anybody gets the problem resolved by their dealer.

 

Same problem last Friday night... had it towed to the dealer. got it back Tuesday.
Dealer replaced the spring, cables & seals....
This is the first car I've had a problem with in cold weather... the others all had rear drums...
I actually left my Mustang in 6" of snow in my driveway last year and didn't have any problem w/ the e-brake... :scratch:

 

well we will see tonight gonna get cold and maybe some snow..........................

 

Any word from the people who had this "fixed" by the dealers? My car is having the same problem and I wanted to know if replacing the cables, springs and seals really helped. I don't have the option of not using the e-brake since it is necessary to engage the e-brake to use my remote starter since my car is a manual. And with this cold weather I am definitely taking advantage of my remote starter.

 

While under my car I noticed that the rubber accordian style covers for the e-brake are disinegrating. They are located where the cable meets the wheel. It is obvious, and way to early for a car that is a year old. For you people that have had e-brake repairs - did Ford have to replace those covers ? :scratch:

 

I have had mine repaired and I've only had 2 opportunities to try it in below freezing temperatures. So far so good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Here is a picture of the cable cover on my car. The view is looking up from the ground.

 

18000 miles on my car and the brakes have never squealed once

8 days to fix an e-brake? darn I'd tell em to give me the parts and I'd do it.

 

Folks, the Mustang isn't the only Ford with e-brake problems. Although my Mustang hasn't had a problem yet, my 2004 F150 has. The design of all Ford products with rear disc brakes is simular. Problem is lubrication and linkage design. My dealer "rearranged" the linkage and took everything apart and relubed. No problem so far. By the way, before mine hung up I started getting a vibration like a tire going flat. dealer says the little e-brake drum was sticking. Last words were " try not to use the e brake too much"

 

I definitely need to get this looked at by the dealer then. Today, I had the opposite problem happen. I left my car in the garage last night and since my garage stayed above freezing I had no problems at first. But, by the time I got to work (in 6 degree weather), my e-brake had frozen in the disengaged position. It was then difficult to engage the e-brake to park the car. I've never had this problem before, so there must be some design problem with the 05. I plan to schedule a service visit today and will let you guys know how it goes.

-TRB

 

Same thing happened to me ... and it took 3 trips to the dealer. They changed the rotors & brake pads but it would still freeze. Then they changed all three e-brake cables and the problem went away. And I got new brakes in the back !

They said they contacted Ford of Canada but it was the first time they'd heard of this problem... Guess they know now

 

My e-brake also stuck "off" tonight. Took a bit to get it to engage again, I guess the heat from the exhaust warms up the linkage.