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Frozen Parking Brake: -1 F

Discussion in 'Model S: Driving Dynamics' started by YYZ-IAD, Jan 25, 2019.

  1. YYZ-IAD

    YYZ-IAD Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2018
    Messages:
    284
    Location:
    Reston VA, Buffalo NY, Toronto ON
    Hi

    First winter with MS. Was parked outside last week in -1F temps with considerable snow.

    Next morn, I could not drive car F or R. Wheels just felt locked up. A warning message on dash about parking brakes - and seek Tesla service. On second try five mins later, brakes did release and I could drive. No more message.

    Has this happened to others in cold climates? Even in warmer temps, the parking brake makes a "clunk" sound when it releases as I first drive in R.

    thanks
     
  2. Holo

    Holo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2018
    Messages:
    118
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    My brakes appeared to be locked a couple of times this winter. Though the car was in the garage so temperature never went below about 40 oF and I never got a warning message. The only indication was that when I attempted to reverse out of the garage, the car hesitated for a moment and then there was a rather loud clunck which I interpret as the brakes releasing. Disconcerting.
     
  3. Evbwcaer

    Evbwcaer Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2014
    Messages:
    741
    Location:
    Minnesota
    I think there are two separate issues here....I've had both.

    -If your car feels "stuck" when you try to drive after being parked for a while, your pads are probably "rusted" to your rotors. This happens, generally, when there is moisture and/or salt on the rotors and then you park the car for a while. You just have to cycle between D and R and eventually you'll get a big clunk, the rotors breaking free from the pads. This is not a problem.

    -The S/X have a separate little parking brake on the rear rotors. This is electronically actuated and you can sometimes hear the little servos noise going in or out of P. I just replaced this entire assemble on my 2014 S, 70,000 miles, live in salty MN. The little pad that squeezes the rotor to put the car in P slides on two metal pins/shafts. My shafts became so badly corroded/fouled that the pads could not slide freely. I got dash messages saying "Parking Brake Failed to Release," or something like that. I made a short thread about it a few weeks back. Anyway, I suggest cleaning and greasing these pins if you ever have the rear wheels off and live in a salty environment. When the parking brake is stuck, you can't really feel too much drag, its not like the car feels locked down, as it does when the main pads are stuck to the rotors. Clean them with a scouring/brillo/Scotch pad and grease with some hi-temp grease.
     
    • Informative x 1
  4. doctorwho

    doctorwho Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2014
    Messages:
    1,131
    Location:
    Eurobin, Victoria. Australia
    The other reason this can happen is that the solenoid that actuates the park brake can also freeze, a tap with a rubber mallet is helpful
     
    • Like x 1
  5. Evbwcaer

    Evbwcaer Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Minnesota
    I am still not sure what happened in my case, chicken or the egg. Did the solenoid stop working, so the pad stopped sliding, so the corrosion took hold? Or, did the corrosion eventually lock down the pad, which then stressed the solenoid while it pushed against a stuck pad and caused the solenoid to fail?

    Either way, I think keeping those shafts clean is cheap insurance.

    Here is a picture.
     

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    • Like x 2
  6. YYZ-IAD

    YYZ-IAD Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2018
    Messages:
    284
    Location:
    Reston VA, Buffalo NY, Toronto ON
    It happened again the other night. Parking brake locked up after sitting for about 3 hours. It was close to 0 F out - and snow was around wheels. Warning on dash to get parking brake serviced. I was able to go forward - although brake was still partially engaged for a distance of about 20 feet -- then released. Will get it to service when I can - but not easy to get to closest center and they have full calendar for weeks.
     

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