3.0 L, 3 spd auto trans
I took my van in for inspection yesterday. It was rejected for the following:
1. No backup lights
2. Emergency/Parking brake pedal will not engage
2 questions:
1. I changed the neutral/safety switch. The backup lights now work, but only when the lever is just past the Reverse detent toward Drive on the gearshift lever.
I assume there is a cable which can be adjusted so that the reverse lights come on when the lever is in the normal Reverse detent position. I have
taken off the shroud around the steering column, but I see no obvious mechanism for adjustment.
Can someone help me with the fix, please?
Also, will that fix cause me to have to adjust the PRND21 indicator "bug", which is mechanical, electronic. If so, how is that done?
2. Emergency/Parking brake issue.
In order to get to the ebrake pedal to see what the problem is, I have unscrewed the 3 screws holding the left underside dash panel, but the
Parikng Brake release handle is preventing me from removing the panel entirely, and I can't figure out how to disengage it. Also, the Hood Relase
handle may also play into this problem.
Any help you can give me on this problem will be very much appreciated.
I feel certain that these problems are addressed in the forum, but I searched and searched, and could not find anything. I'm new here, so
any suggestions on effective search parameters would be welcomed.
Thanks very much, in advance for your time and expertise.

 

Look at the shifter cable on the trans, it's adjustable.

Look at the parking brake cables, isolate each section to find what's seized

 

"Look at the shifter cable on the trans, it's adjustable."

Do you know off-hand where it attaches to the transsmission? top, front, rear, driver's side, passenger side?

"Look at the parking brake cables, isolate each section to find what's seized"

My initial thought was that since the parking brake pedal didn't engage when depressed, was that it HAD to be in the pedal and it's associated mechanism itself. From your advice, now I'll start at the rear and work my way forward to the pedal.

Off to the garage to get started.

Thanks very much for your reply.

 

I haven't a clue how to determine where the cable attaches to the transmission. I would think that you were able to determine at the shifter side of the cable that there was no adjustment, you'd be able to find the other end of the cable where it attached to the transmission. I'm kind of confused that you found one end but didn't show any ability to find the other end?


I cannot make heads or tails what your parking brake issue is? Is it that the pedal is stuck to the floor and cannot depress or release? Is it that the pedal does not move at all?

 

"I haven't a clue how to determine where the cable attaches to the transmission. I would think that you were able to determine at the shifter side of the cable that there was no adjustment, you'd be able to find the other end of the cable where it attached to the transmission. I'm kind of confused that you found one end but didn't show any ability to find the other end?"

I'll find the other end; I just was trying to save a step.

"I cannot make heads or tails what your parking brake issue is? Is it that the pedal is stuck to the floor and cannot depress or release? Is it that the pedal does not move at all?"

The pedal travels fine, top to bottom. It also brakes the car when it is depressed; I tested it yesterday.

What it doesn't do is catch at the bottom when it is depressed.

 

"I'll find the other end; I just was trying to save a step. "


Good luck, you'll probably need to remove some things to get at it


"The pedal travels fine, top to bottom. It also brakes the car when it is depressed; I tested it yesterday.

What it doesn't do is catch at the bottom when it is depressed. "

That makes a lot more sense. So it doesn't ratchet. Simply remove the mechanism, and repair or replace.