On the Road Again

[smockers83]

This evening/night I made the trip to see my G and bring it out of hibernation. This is the earliest I've brought it out but it's been too nice to not get it. Right now I'm cleaning my JWT filter.

Last time I saw it back in February, I started it up and after awhile I wanted to back it up a little so all the exhaust wasn't in the garage. Went to do that, put it in R and it wouldn't move. It was very cold out for a couple of weeks (below 0 and single digits) and this was the first time it had been ran since December 24. Could that have been the brakes being frozen or something?

I haven't started it up yet tonight but once I get the JWT back on in the morning, I'll be looking to start it and see if I can get it to move (it's been a lot warmer, 40s and 50s). I'm a little worried if it'll move or not, I think it will, but if it doesn't, what could be the issue?

[pfarmer]

This evening/night I made the trip to see my G and bring it out of hibernation. This is the earliest I've brought it out but it's been too nice to not get it. Right now I'm cleaning my JWT filter.

Last time I saw it back in February, I started it up and after awhile I wanted to back it up a little so all the exhaust wasn't in the garage. Went to do that, put it in R and it wouldn't move. It was very cold out for a couple of weeks (below 0 and single digits) and this was the first time it had been ran since December 24. Could that have been the brakes being frozen or something?

I haven't started it up yet tonight but once I get the JWT back on in the morning, I'll be looking to start it and see if I can get it to move (it's been a lot warmer, 40s and 50s). I'm a little worried if it'll move or not, I think it will, but if it doesn't, what could be the issue?

Did you leave the parking brake on? I would have to look at this but on most of my other cars the parking brake is a little drum brake on the rear wheels of my disk brake cars or the actualy drum brake on my others (except my 53 and 55 Plymouths which were a band on the driveshafts, didn't work so well). If the parking brake was left on for long periods (again may not apply to the G) they sometimes would stick to the drums. Basically I have always been able to free them by putting in neutral and rocking the car by hand, I don't suggest using the engine for this.

A buddy of mine however had his cable rust inside the sheath and we WD 40d that one.

Your mileage may vary.

Perry

[Poyzinous]

What perry said about the parking brake is right. I never set the parking brake on my G, unless I'm on a hill. Flat surfaces, there is no need to. It is very possible for it to get stuck if it was on for weeks straight. When you put it in R, did the transmission engage? If it did, then just the fact that it was motionless means you needed to run it a bit. An auto transmission delivers power to the rear wheel via hydraulic power. Your transmission probably needed to build pressure. If you get on the highway you'll notice at 60 mph the car is at about 2600 rpm , but once the car is warm, it will spin at about 2300, since the fluid is at operating temp and pressure is balanced.

[smockers83]

No, I didn't have the P brake on and haven't had it engaged because I know of the freezing up of the brake line. I let it run for about 5 minutes probably before trying to move it. It engaged in R and it felt like it wanted to move but something was stopping it, but I didn't try too hard, didn't want to push it.

I'll let it run a little longer this time.

Thanks guys.

[telcoman]

No, I didn't have the P brake on and haven't had it engaged because I know of the freezing up of the brake line. I let it run for about 5 minutes probably before trying to move it. It engaged in R and it felt like it wanted to move but something was stopping it, but I didn't try too hard, didn't want to push it.

I'll let it run a little longer this time.

Thanks guys.

You should have gotten a stick

In a more serious note, perhaps in the future you should use it during the winter. There are plenty of nice dry clear cold winter days where you could take it out for a spin.If it gets dirty just take it to a car wash.

I think it is worse for a vehicle to just let it set for months than to use it during the winter.Just my $.02

Telcoman

[smockers83]

Well, I started it and let it run today. Brakes are frozen. I can do burnouts in my garage. Any advice?

[smockers83]

In the owner's manual it has a process for checking the Brake Booster. Could that help diagnose/solve my problem?

[smockers83]

I think I've solved my own problem. I did wash the car right before putting it in the garage to get all of the salt off. Could have rusted the rotors to the pads. All I can find about breaking them free is to just give it gas. Anything else I could do? I've been trying to break it free with some gas. Should I just keep doing that, give it more gas?

[telcoman]

I think I've solved my own problem. I did wash the car right before putting it in the garage to get all of the salt off. Could have rusted the rotors to the pads. All I can find about breaking them free is to just give it gas. Anything else I could do? I've been trying to break it free with some gas. Should I just keep doing that, give it more gas?

It could be one or more stuck calipers?

Perhaps jacking up the vehicle to see which wheels will not rotate.Then remove the wheels and gently tap the calipers with a mallet.

If that doesn't work why not at least check with the dealer service department?

Rather than possibly create an even bigger problem, worse comes to worse, let them send a flatbed to pick it up and you get a loaner.

[smockers83]

Used a broken golf club shaft and a hammer to pound the brakes a tad. Didn't work but I broke them loose by just doing a burnout in the garage. That was pretty fun and then a kind of loud bam when they broke loose.

[Poyzinous]

If you must know, i would have done the same thing. give it gas. I abuse it in other ways so it dont matter much...

[pfarmer]

I think I've solved my own problem. I did wash the car right before putting it in the garage to get all of the salt off. Could have rusted the rotors to the pads. All I can find about breaking them free is to just give it gas. Anything else I could do? I've been trying to break it free with some gas. Should I just keep doing that, give it more gas?

The rotor and the pads should not have rusted together if they were not in contact with each other when parked.

However when you start the car you put on the brakes, correct? So back to gently rapping the calipers may just do the tricks since it seems to me that problem may well be there instead of the pads. Other than that maybe your brakes are not releasing when pushed in because of an issue with the master cylinder.

Perry

[smockers83]

Well I've heard of other people who have washed their cars and let their car sit for awhile and they would have the same problem.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

I would be careful when you wash your car, if it's too cold, the water won't dry, and can cause many parts to freeze, I always wait for it to get warm before putting the soap and polish to er'.

Any more issues? Glad you managed to do the burnout and solve your problem at the same time

[smockers83]

Nope, no more issues. Once I drove five miles and got into town, it was done acting up (the brakes were pulsing pretty badly from the rust). At the time when I washed my car last, I had no choice but to wash it because I had to get the salt off before letting it sit for a few months. Now it's happy driving for summer.

Plans for the summer are some new Toyos (not sure whether I'll go with summer or AS yet) and to install a double din unit with GPS and upgrade all the other audio components. I have a set of Polk db components from your now disappeared Circuit City that were 50% off and missing a few parts for the tweeters, so those are going in the back, and I need to get another pair for up front.