Parking brake release
 

just picked up a CPO last week. on cold starts, my brake release lever does not release my parking brake. it takes about 3 to 4 tries to get it to release. is there some special way I'm supposed to pull the release?

CPO - bring it back to the dealer.

and the dealer said...... "normal." But this morning, it took 5 tries and pause for a minute and another try. it seems like I have to wait like a minute for this to work. Isn't it just a cable linkage inside? Nothing too scientific in there, I don't think. I think the dealer can just tighten the cable and be done with it...

in any case, I'm going to take a video of myself trying this several times in the morning and cursing at the same time and show it to the SA.

Is the car sleeping outside at night? It happened once to me when I left it for 3 nights at -15 celsius...it took me 4 minutes since I started the engine to disengage the brake. ;)

Dumb question: are you pulling the lever all the way (about 2", or when it won't go back anymore) when releasing the brake? Sometimes I kinda half-pull it and it gets stuck, but pulling all the way releases it.

Pre facelift, should still apply:
http://workshop-manuals.com/mercedes...ce_and_repair/ + next page
http://workshop-manuals.com/mercedes...ce_and_repair/ + next pages

I yank it hard. Perhaps too hard. I'm afraid that my wife won't be able to do it. On a second thought, can I just leave it in Park without engaging the parking brake? we do park on a hilly driveway.......

Maybe the handle came loose and doesn't fully engage the cable that releases the brake?

but that doesn't explain the fact that I can disengage just fine when the car is warm....

If the E-brake is a metal cable, then what I said would make sense, but if it's tied into the hydraulic brake system, maybe there's a blockage in the brake line somewhere, and turning on the car normalizes the pressure in such a way to clear the blockage. In that case, you may want to bleed the brakes and replace the fluid. Does the car have to be 'warm' or just 'on' ?

Only the cold start is causing the issue. For example leaving it over night or not driving for 6 or 7 hours. And I do think it's a metal cable.

I'll explore more at the dealer and report back.

It may depend on the outside temperature,especially in winter since it's a metal cable.

CPO E350 and hilly driveway here so I use the ebrake every day. Car sits overnight, sometimes 2-3 nights with the ebrake on and it is easily disengaged each time. 0 problems from about 10deg F to 60 (that I have owned it). Something is definitely wrong with yours whether the dealer sees it or not.

I seldom use mine on my 2015 but I notice a similar thing not fully releasing when cold. seems like a light spring or some lubrication is gummy. Everyone in the EU used their parking brake. Comes from habit of manual transmissions. for sure this is not a normal situation IMO.

my car gives the "release break" warning sometimes on cold days,
event though I don't use the break.

takes about 3-5 violent pulls to get it to stop.

Thanks for all your data points. I'm going to leave it overnight at the dealer so that they can replicate the situation. I also took a video of my pulling the darn thing 5 times. I'll get an answer by early next week.

i dont use the E brake as much. leaving it on P will do the trick but of course that depends on the driver and the situation.

having said that, your brakes can simply be the hottest part in your car especially after driving it hard or if youre a "use the brake instead of easing-off the gas pedal to slow down" kind of driver. now imagine a super hot metal on a very cold temp. its like fusing the 2 surfaces together. now im not saying its normal and i would still insist on the dealer to fix it. its CPO so i wouldnt worry too much. goodluck mate.

I had the same issue on my 2014 E350 and I got it fixed from the dealer under manufacturer's warranty. Here is the work they performed as listed on the invoice:

B CLIENT STATES PARKING BREAK RELEASE IS DIFFICULT TO RELEASE WHEN COLD
425857 PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WITH MOUNT REMOVE/INSTALL, REPLACE PART(S) IF NECESSARY

28060

PARKING PEDAL IS VERY STICKY AND NOT RELEASING FAR ENOUGH TO HIT PARKING BRAKE SWITCH//

REMOVE PARKING BRAKE ASSY..

D&A ASSY AND CLEAN ALL ANTI CORROSION COATING FROM LOCK DRUM COIL SPRING.. PEDAL ASSY NOW MOVES FREELY//

RE-INSTALL PEDAL ASSY AS NEEDED


Hope this heps

Same thing was done to my C350 two weeks ago after having the same symptoms as described here on this thread. It is 98% better, but I get the sense it is only a matter of time before it happens again.

I had the same concern. So they are going to replace the parts and it will be here in 24 hours. I don't know why they don't have parts available right there but i'm glad they found the cause.

Thank for all your feedback. You people are great.

p.s. I actually prefer the foot actuated parking break over the 2017 model e-brake where there is only small button. I keep imagining myself going down a hilly road where my regular brakes fail and having to stab on the emergency brakes. not sure those small buttons on the 2017 model will do the trick....

you have no idea how much i hated this every single time i would go out somewhere and comeback, i would have to pull that thing then somedays it would be a few times before it would release

I just wanted to report back to the thread that the issue seems to be solved. They replaced the mechanism and it's much tighter. I don't even have to yank it hard anymore. I guess these things get loose over time.

They should have just used a foot release like other cheaper cars instead of making a number of complicated pulleys and levers to string the wire all the way up to the dash. Oh well, I think this is the engineers' way rather than a pedestrian's way.

I took mine in for the 40k service and this was on my list as well. They said it is very common on the 2014 model year.

Yeah, my 2014 was doing the same thing, so when I brought it in for its A service, I mentioned it to the SA: he said "normal." I said, no! Got the car back and it's maybe 10% better, ugh. I'm going back on whatever my next warranty need is and insisting more firmly they address it. Thanks for the headsup, maxshop!


Edward

I'm raising an old thread here, but I now have the same problem on my 2013. Did dealer replace parking mechanism with part #: 204-420-15-84?