85 300D HELP! not rolling??? brakes stuck? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

snipsa · #1 12-20-2004, 02:24 PM

A friend just called with a problem. He was on the way to work got on the road o.k. and the car just kept slowing down no matter what he did with the pedal. (I dont know if the car was straining or not) He pulled into a parking lot and now the car will not move an inch but it tries to (lurching forward or reverse with accellerator pressure but wheels dont budge) In neutral it also wont budge. He does use the parking brake every night and says it still seems to apply and release o.k.
Could a stuck parking brake cause this? Could It be some bizarre transmission problem/failiure? I dont know if it rolls a small amount then locks or if it will roll just not with the effort he is giving it. I am not with him and he is not mechanically inclined so the car is stuck until I get off of work.

It just so happens the lot is 100ft from my driveway.

If it is the parking brake, what are the methods to release?
Any other ideas what happened? I would think the engine could overcome the parking brake but he says no go.

HE JUST CALLED AGAIN:

He was able to get the car to move forward a few feet under much engine effort. He says engine seems to run fine so I am guessing the engine is just trying to lug the vehicle with stuck brakes or something. How do you un-stick the brakes? This car is his daily driver so it's not frozen from sitting too long or anything. And apparently he uses the parking brake every time he parks and has never had any trouble before.

Thanks in advance for any help and I'll let you know what happens.

Ben

SamuraiJack · #2 12-20-2004, 02:41 PM

I would check the wheels to see if any one was hotter than the other. Pulling left or right would also be a bad sign. That could be a frozen brake piston. It may free up when it cools down, but is likely to occur again.

Good luck

boneheaddoctor · #3 12-20-2004, 02:46 PM

If its not a frozen or stuck E-brake cable or e-brake, it could be a swollen line.

if its a front wheel crack a bleader on the offending wheel, if it frees it then he needs new flex lines....in fact thats a good way to check the rears too. if that doesn't help at al then its e-brake issues.

If he parked the car with the Ebrake set and it did it the next moring its a frozen cable.....I was always taught to not use the ebrake in winter for that reason.

P.E.Haiges · #4 12-20-2004, 03:02 PM

snipsa,

Jack car up one wheel at a time and try turning the wheels to see which one is stuck.

P E H

boneheaddoctor · #5 12-20-2004, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges

snipsa,

Jack car up one wheel at a time and try turning the wheels to see which one is stuck.

P E H

Right I should have written that as a first sentance...I just assumed he would do that first.

Eric Eliel · #6 12-20-2004, 04:52 PM

Parking brakes generally don't stick suddenly.

Stuck master cylinder (happened to me). To release you have to know whether its the front or back brake lines (try jacking up the car and turning the wheels like the others have said). Upon finding the correct line, release the brake pressure by backing off one of the brake fluid line nuts near the master cylinder. Have some towels nearby to catch that nasty brake fluid. If its the brakes you should be able to feel or hear some groaning from the brakes.

If the wheels all turn easily, its the automatic transmission. B2 piston problem.