Cadillac Repair: PARKING BRAKE RELEASE 1996 cadillac seville sts, cadillac seville sts, 1996 cadillac seville sts

Question
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Followup To
Question -
My car is 1996 Cadillac Seville STS. The parking brake will not release, unless I do it manually. Checked vacuum hose, in place, check electrical connection, wire is in place. I failed vehicle inspection and need to repair. Parking brake is suppose to release when transmission is placed in reverse or drive.
Any ideas on how to trouble shout the problem before I go the dealer. Mileage 148500.

thank you  

Answer
Hi Michael, What I do is disconnect the vacuum hose from the parking brake release solinoid and hook up a vacuum gage. Then start the engine and with my foot on the service brake pedal shift into R and OD and see if I get engine vacuum. If should be around 16psi. If so then the release solinoid is bad and needs to get replaced. In no vacuum then there is usually a switch on the top side at the base of the steering column. Remove that connector and see if vacuum is presant. If so then the vacuum switch is bad or misadjusted. If not then trace the connections back to the engine compartment and listen for hissing with the engine running which means there is a leak. Hope that helps. Bill