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Seized Emergency Brake, NoIcon Displayed

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grandprixgtp2001

New member
Hey everyone,

Yesterday I rotated my tires in my garage, but before I raised the car on stands, I put the emergency brake on for the first time since I have owned it. Its a 2001 GTP with 269,000km's on it, so it has a lot of wear on it. When I was finished, I released the e-brake and while reversing out it was fine, but when I put the car in drive, that's when you can hear and feel the e-brake grab and screech while I try to move forward. There is no e-brake icon flashing or displayed on my dashboard at all. The e-brake pedal does have some slack before it starts to get resistance when pressing down. I have no idea on what to do. This car has given me nothing but problems, I just want to scream. Hopefully someone can help me out! Thank you.
 


Usually e-brakes are not used very often and rust. Then when the do get used they don't return to proper position. Just take off your rear wheel and rotors and check it out. There are drum style emergency brakes on the inside of your rear rotors. My guess is some with some cleaning and lubing of the cables your emergency pads will return. Once you get them free and working you may want to use them more often to keep them working. Here is a vid that show the rear brakes 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Brake Change - YouTube
 
Thank you for the reply and video link. Unfortunately when I rotated my tires, the steel rails (don't know the real name of it) that I put the jack and stands under have rusted so bad that they have warped/crumbled and moved under the weight of the car. I was nervous the whole time I switched tires. I do not believe they are safe enough to withstand the weight of the car for an even longer period of time. Basically I am now stuck having to tow this car to the shop to get them to fix it?
Besides this brake issue I have the following problems:

ABS and TC lights on dash-
Power Steering seems to have gone
Holes in resonator and both mufflers have split- quoted at $750 to repair
Wheel bearing
3rd gear doesn't change until the car hits 80km's! Sounds and feels like its redlining
My key does not come out when I turn the car off, need to fish my fingers in steering colum to press release button
list goes on......

any one else have the amount of issues i have?
 
jack ut up at the end of the trailing arm (end that bolts to the unibody not the hub assembly)
#5. At the front, jack ut up where the front control arm bushing is.

FD97940.gif
 


Thank you you both for that info. I will definitely try that out. Can I put a jack stand under the trailing arm or only the jack itself? Thanks again
 
on my 97 there is a spot for a jack stand. looks like the frame of the car. lifting spot for front is on the same post. i can take a picture of the rear jack stand spot if needed
 
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If you can that would be great. I've done some basic repairs to my car, but have never lifted a car from somewhere other than the rails. An actual picture would help me feel more secure versus a diagram
 


this is the spot for the stands. its right next to the fuel filter. this is for the rear. next post will be front. this is on the other side of the car as well.

GEDC4205.jpg


GEDC4207.jpg


and this is where you lift it at.

GEDC4204.jpg
 
this is where i put the jack stands in the front. right in front of that bolt head.

GEDC4211.jpg


this is where i jack it up at. its the big black metal subframe part that goes across the car.

GEDC4209.jpg
 
Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I have printed the pictures, will walk my dog, then get at it. Hopefully all goes well. Thank you again!
 


just read your second post. abs and trac light is from the bad wheel bearing. fairly easy and not real expensive to fix. exhaust, just put a new resonator on or glasspack (for deeper sound) find a friend wiht a weler and weld it on. get stock tips at a junk yard. doesnt even come close to $750. i dont know much about the key, but there is a solenoid that has to be replaced ( i think). It could be worse.
 
For the trans not shifting try doing a trans service. Drop the trans pan and replace the filter and fluid. Add a quart of Lucas trans fix (available at the auto parts store) Your car needs Dexron III trans fluid probably about 6 or 7 quarts plus the the Lucas should do ya. You can search for a pan drop or filter change on your car on you tube to see a video. I know it exists I watched it to learn myself. I had similar issue on high mileage GP and this worked great.
 
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