I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

My 2004 Crossfire Coupe (manual) is stuck in the garage and will not budge. It feels as if the parking brake is frozen and will not release. It could be as easy as that but I first wanted to make sure it wasn't drive train related or something else. Has this happened to anyone else? I'd take it to the dealer but cannot for obvious reasons.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Are you saying you can start the car, put it in gear start letting the clutch out and the car won't move and if you let the clutch out all the way the engine will die? Can you put the car in Neutral and push the car? Did you set the E brake the last time you parked it?

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Everything works just fine - except it feels like the tires are stuck to the floor! At first I thought there was something under the tire(s) preventing movement, but it was clear of obstructions.

It starts and revs just fine. It goes into gear (forward and reverse) without a problem. When you let out the clutch (again without problem) the car tries to move but is restrained from doing so. Again, it feels like the parking brake is stuck but just wanted to make sure first it was not a more major issue. That is one strong parking brake if that is all it is.

The parking brake was set when I parked it in the garage (habit).

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Wow, this is a new one on me. It really sounds like your emergency brake cable is froze up. I doubt if it has anything to do with your "traction control" acting up.
Just to be sure, jack up one side of the car and try spinning the wheels. If the rear tires won't spin but the front do, it's probably the brake cable.
With jack stands under the car, take a wooden stick and try beating on the cable housing to free up the cable.
If the front tires don't spin, then I'd say the traction control or anti-lock brakes have gone wacky. Maybe pulling some fuses will free it up.
Worse case scenario, your differential is locked up. But I doubt that.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

If it won't move in neutral with the engine off, it sounds like the E brake. Really bizarre! Never heard of this happening.

Jack if up and beat on it or find a way to release it like +fireAMX says. Let us know.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Dengebre, did you buy your car new, or used? Where are you located?
I'm only asking, to try to determine if you live in a "damp" location.
Any chance you may have got a hold of a "flood car"?

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

The mystery thickens...

I jacked up the car with the Ebrake off and the gear in neutral. Front wheels spin fine. I tapped the Ebrake cable with a hammer and there is no tension. I do not believe now that the problem is due to the Ebrake.

The left rear wheel turns fine. The right rear wheel turns a miniscule amount just before catching. The feeling is the same as when you try to spin the back wheels and forgot to take it out of gear. There is no brake pad rubbing that I can discern. Again, only the right rear wheel does not turn.

You had mentioned the traction control and possibly a blown fuse. Would a problem with the traction control only affect the right rear wheel??

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

I live in Tampa, Florida. I am the second owner of the car - it was previously a lease vehicle. I had checked out the VIN and am pretty confident it is not a flood vehicle. The dealer is pretty reputable in this area.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

It sounds like the caliber is froze up. Happened to me with my Jetta a few months back.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

I will pull the tire and check the calipers. I've already checked the fuses in the main box and all are fine.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Possibly a piston in the brake caliper seized up. Like the Toy mentioned. If it's only one wheel.
But you shouldn't be able to move it even a fraction of an inch.
Since you said the wheel would move ever so slightly, it almost sounds like the "play" between the ring and pinion.
I'm not trying to scare ya, and I'm only speculating here, but if it does have something to do with the differential, and since we don't have limited slip, one wheel could be locked up, while the other spins free.
I still think it's brake related.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Thanks, but I do not believe it is the caliper. I was able to pry the pads away from the disc with not much effort to where there is about a 1/16" gap on each side. No change in the problem. It still "feels" like it is catching as if it is was in gear (but it isn't).

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

That Is One Hell Of A Problem You Have... Try Talking To The Crossfire ... Tell It You Love It And Nothing But 91 Gas Until It Rusts...

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Here is an additional thought in response to Fireamx's question regarding moisture...

It was last driven during and garaged after a pretty hard rain here in Tampa. There is a very good chance that water got up into somewhere it was not supposed to with all of the splashing. Again, I've already checked the fuses in the main box. Anywhere else I should check?

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Well here's a news flash, after looking at the service manual it seems that the parking brake doesn't have anything to do with the brake pads and the rotor. It uses a brake shoe that could allow a slight bit of forward and aft movement even if it was applied. That also explains why they make so much noise when they're applied.
I still think your cable froze up on your right wheel. Keep hammering on it, but I'd use a piece of wood so you don't damage the sheath that covers the actual cable.
Or you may have a broken brake shoe that's jamming up the wheel.
Have you tried pulling your hand brake several times? Maybe trying to pull it even farther than you would do normally.

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

I don't know a dang thing about what to do for your issue, but I'm sorry that you're stuck. Must be extremely frustrating and I hope that someone on here can help you figure out the problem...there are so many very bright and talented Crossfire owners in this forum, and I'm sure they'll scour their collective thoughts and help you out...

Good luck!

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

Now that's funny! :D

Re: I'm Stuck in the Garage!
 

And the winner is... Fireamx!

The Ebrake shoe was literally stuck to the drum, and stuck like glue. It took some considerable effort to pull the drum/disc assemble off. The culprit apparently was having driven trough a torrential rain and then parking the car in the garage for a week or so. The resulting corrosion was enough to seize the shoe and the drum together like epoxy. This was a first for me having driven plenty of cars through plenty of rainstorms. Weird.

Thanks to all for your help. I will be off to buy a service manual now that I can get out of the garage.