cold weather brake issues

[johnceggleston]

for about a month, when it's below freezing, mid 20s, the dash brake indicator light stays on when i release the hand brake. this is first thing in the morning, later in the day after driving the car the light is off. ii can't feel or here the brakes dragging, but who knows.

 

i first thought it was freezing water related but now i'm thinking cable lubrication. any suggestions?

 

i guess i should jack it up when cold and turn the wheels by hand to check for dragging. is there anything else to consider?

 

i did have the 'no brakes' when cold the other morning but it was 14* then and i was looking for it.

 

thanks,

john

[Skip]

two separate problems

 

for the no brakes, you know about the check valve

in the vacuum line to the booster - correct?

 

light on sounds like the rear cables to the back brakes.

No mention of rear disc brakes so no doubt drums?

 

The cables and the drum hardware take a beating this time of year.

Clean and a good lube are in order to keep them freed up.

 

I like your idea of jacking it up testing these components.

[lostinthe202]

I park with the safety brake off (old habit from my datsun days) at home in the winter, but I get this light too in my '96 OBW when it drops below 15*. Not every time, but not infrequently. Pulling the cap off the brake reservoir and putting it back on has always done the trick. Seems the "low brake fluid" sensor doesn't like the cold so much. I never investigated much past the light going out since I never noticed any reduced performance.

 

Will-

[nipper]

What they both said.

 

 

nipper

[johnceggleston]

brake fluid sensor never occurred to me, i just thought it was cable related.

 

and i do have rear disc brakes, but the hand brake is drum of course.

 

sounds like it's time to check out the brakes, wish it were warmer.

 

thanks

[msmithmmx]

For the "no brakes" problem, I had the same issue when it was real cold outside. I disconnected the brake booster hose on both ends and ran WD-40 through it until it came out the other side. That did the trick. Thank You USMB,

[Major Lazy]

 

and i do have rear disc brakes, but the hand brake is drum of course.

 

 

I am confused by that somehow, can someone explain? rear disc but drum hand?

 

 

I had the same thing happen on my impreza a week or so ago, in cold (~15 F) temps the brake light was on. I never use the ebrake so that was not in the equation. I thought it was simply cold & therefore contracted brake fluid that was causing it. I used to have a ford crown vic that the brake light came on in the cold and went away once it warmed up. In that car i added fluid and the light never came on again. I have not checked the impreza yet, too lazy.

[lostinthe202]

I am confused by that somehow, can someone explain? rear disc but drum hand?

 

The rear discs have a small drum inside of the hub that fit around a pair of small shoes, this is the safety brake.

 

I have not checked the impreza yet, too lazy.

 

Hmm.... well I guess when you lose your brakes and crash into something, that will pop the hood for you. I suppose if you're traveling fast enough the hood might get rumpled enough that you won't have to do any lifting of your own, you can just peek in through the side....