It is below zero here today and my parking prake light is stuck on. This has never happened before today. After coming home last night (vehicle at opperating temp) and then the car sitting over night. I turned on the car and after letting it warm up for a few minutes I backed out and off I went. I notice that the parking brake light had not gone off, even though the lever was in the off position. It did not seem as though the brakes were sticking, but the light won't go away.
2007-01-13 05:45:05 · 10 answers · asked by aaron_shirley751 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
the freezing point of uncontaminated brake fluid is -40 degree F. most parking brakes are mechanical not hydraulic. your brake probable has dirt or ice buildup around the cables or other components. try setting and releasing several times. this usually will release a sticky parking brake.
2007-01-13 06:21:19 · answer #1 · answered by ben e 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Brake fluid can freeze if it has some water in it, as the water will freeze. However, in your parking brake issue this is a mechanical linkage and due to the cold it may not be completely releasing. Try pulling the release and forcing the release with your foot or hand. If this does not work take to a mechanic before you have some brake damage assuming it could be dragging slightly.
2007-01-13 06:55:01 · answer #2 · answered by gary o 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Brake fluid is made to have a high boiling point and also a low freezing point. It is not likely that your fluid is frozen, if it were your brakes would not work. The most likely cause is dirt/debris from the road is stopping the mechanism from returning to the fully off position. The light usually comes on with very little movement of the brake lever.
2007-01-13 05:54:16 · answer #3 · answered by renpen 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This may be crazy late. I'm not sure if anyone actually read the posters question. They didn't say their parking break was stuck or their brakes were frozen. When the parking brake light is on and your parking brake lever is released it could mean two things..
1. brake fluid is low (typically its just time to replace the pads don't just top it off). Once you replace the pads the fluid will go back up.
2. bad wiring its typically just a switch and could potentially malfunction
2015-02-16 00:28:00 · answer #4 · answered by Brian 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the freeze point of brake fluid but I have driven at -40 degrees. Brake fluid is susceptible to moisture though. Maybe you have condensation in the line. That use to happen to our trucks alot when I was in the service during cold weather operations.
Parking brakes use cable not hydraulics. If they are gonna give you problems they will do it when it is cold out.
2007-01-13 15:32:28 · answer #5 · answered by spudfarmer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard of it freezing, but I wouldn't bet against it. The fluid may get thicker, but still, cars operate in sub-zero environments all the time, like in the Arctic regions, Alaska, places like that, and they don't have problems. Check the brake fluid level. And sometimes, mechanical components tend to stick in cold weather, so maybe it's a switch or something. You also may have moisture in the brake lines, so that could freeze, and cause ice pockets and expansion in the lines. I would have the fluid flushed out and replaced, if I were you.
2007-01-13 05:52:54 · answer #6 · answered by Me again 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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Can brake fluid freeze?
It is below zero here today and my parking prake light is stuck on. This has never happened before today. After coming home last night (vehicle at opperating temp) and then the car sitting over night. I turned on the car and after letting it warm up for a few minutes I backed out and off I went. I...
2015-08-10 03:46:46 · answer #7 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't heard of brake fluid freezing. I suspect that your parking brake light is on due to an adjustment being needed on the switch. This is a fairly simple process and any qualified mechanic should be able to help you out.
2007-01-13 05:54:57 · answer #8 · answered by Mike F 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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The oil and antifreeze will be fine,but brake fluid will not be.Brake fluid draws moisture out of the air,an unsealed container will spoil in the conditions you described. If you use the fluid you will have problems with rust in your brake system and you will experience unsafe braking.
2016-04-02 08:13:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
brake fluid don't freeze but your parking brake cable will freeze causing your rear brakes to be on . try using a hair dryer on your e-brake cable .. I try not to use the hand brake in the winter had the same thing happen to me good luck
2007-01-13 07:04:28 · answer #10 · answered by spuds36 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋