Parking brake issues

[EdmundIJones]

Hi,

The wife has taken the W203 to her parents for the week and is reporting that the parking brake is playing up.
She says that if you release the parking brake the red warning light stays on with a beeping. If you pull the peddal up a little with your hand or foot it stopes and the light goes out, however if you let go, the pedal drops about a cm and the right comes on again.

It sounds to me like the cable is stretched after the last time it was used or something needs tightening.

Could somebody give me some advice so I can tell her either what to-do or tell her to go to a cheap garrage and tell them what the problem is so they can fix it quickly.

Many thanks
Ed

 

[BlackC55]

Take the back seat up and undo the mechanism cover (two 8mm bolts and one 13mm) and lubricate the mechanism and tighten the 13mm nut a couple of turns.

 

[AndyPCD]

It sounds like the cable needs adjusting.

If she takes it to a cheap garage they would be able to do it all they have to do is lift up the rear seat remove the inspection panel int the middle of the car under the felt material under the seats and the adjuster is there.
It may also just need the mechanism lubricating as that can some times cause the light to stay on as the mechanism does not return pulling the cable all the way back, which in turn pulls the parking brake mechanism back to turn the light off.

I hope this is of use to you

 

[EdmundIJones]

Thats what I thgouth from reading around but just apprechiated having somebody confirm my idea. Unfortuantly I'm not with my wife so she will take it to the local garrage tomorrow and tell them to give this a go.

Why do these things always happen when I'm not around to whip out my spanner set? I'd be more than happy to deal with this one at home.

 

[EdmundIJones]

Also, can I just add, you guys are super fast!

I really do apprechiate you taking the time in helping me out.

 

[BlackC55]

Thats what I'm here for!

Happy to help.

 

[EdmundIJones]

In which case I have another question, engine related, so I'll start a new thread

 

[EdmundIJones]

BlackC55, I see you're a Mercedes specialist not just a very smart chap and you do mobile servicing. My wife is currently down in Milford on Sea (near Lymmington), if she really gets into some bother can can't sort things out with local guys if this the type of mobile work you'd undertake?

What sorts of rates do you charge for call outs?

I'm just scoping out the potential answers to her questions as I'm one the one who will never hear the end of it if she has hassle!

We're also looking to move down to that area also and it would be good to have a good reliable guy who knows his onions for such things. I prefer to go to people I trust and so far you're knowledge has been very indepth.

Ed

 

[EdmundIJones]

An update on the parking brake issue.

My wife took it to the local garrage today and the guy there said it is the spring in the brake mechanisum (I'm assuming he means behind the pedal arm) and his recollection is that you need to buy a whole new assembly.

Now, does this sound right?
If so what sort of costs would I be looking at. For now he has tided it up with a cable tie so the warning beep isn't going but surly this would be an MOT failure?

 

[AndyPCD]

I would still get him to have a look at the adjustment on the cable first as i have not replaced many mechanisms due to the light staying on but have adjusted many cables for this problem

 

[EdmundIJones]

Thanks Willow132,

He has tied it up for the time being so when the Wife returns home next Tuesday I'll give this a go myself. Are you talking about the adjustment under the rear seats or taking the bolt from a rear wheel and using a screwdriver to lock it in place to tighten up (that may be for something else?)

 

[AndyPCD]

Im talking about the adjustment under the rear seat. But you will have to check the rear wheels are still free after adjusting the mechanim under the seat

if you PM your email address i will scan the working instructions and mail them to you

 

[EdmundIJones]

I've not got enough posts yet to do PM but here is my address: [email protected]

Many thanks
Ed

 

[AndyPCD]

Hi Ed

I have sent the info over to you hope this helps

 

[EdmundIJones]

Many thanks Andy, it all looks straight forward, just one question:
"Point 2.3 - remove battery" - whats this about? Does it mean disconnect the main car battery or something else?

 

[AndyPCD]

I wouldnt worry about that with every document that come from mercedes it states you should disconnect the battery.
I cant see how disconnecting the battery is related to the brakes

 

[AndyPCD]

Just re read it it is only applicable to a clk black series!!!!!

 

[EdmundIJones]

Just double checking but if I over tighten the cable, I suppose I slacken it off by just undoing the nut a little that you use to tighten it up?

Also can I ask where this document came form? Is it like a Mercedes offical workshop manual for the trade? What do they call it?

Such a thing would be invaluble for me.

 

[AndyPCD]

Yeah just loosen it off again but just a couple of turns on a spanner should be enough. The only real thing to make sure when you adjust it is that the rear wheels are not binding.
The document is an official mercedes document that they use in the dealer.

They call them WIS documents

 

[EdmundIJones]

Hi guys,

I've just had time to tighten the brake cable and the light went out, wheels seem to not be binding so all good there but I did notice a few things:

1. If you put the foot brake on and then release it with the pull handle there is not much spring back in the pedal (maybe a very small amount), you have to push the handle back in fully and pull the foot pedal up with your foot, once there it stays and it's happy.

2. I'm doubtfull if the parking brake is doing much at all to be honest, I engaged it so the light was on and pedal pushed down firmly and pulled away, there wasn't much of a hint of resistance.

Thoughts?