Need Help with E-Brake

[rampid360]

ok, i just bought my first s14...love it so far, but the ebrake isn't working. it used to sort of work...clinging with all its power to keep the car from rolling away. the rear brakes work great, but the ebrake is just a mushy, miserable paperweight. As i know nothing about this car yet (had it for 1 day) i was hoping someone could save me the trouble of hunting down a repair manual.
Thanks

[S13Grl]

Another alternative to using the e-brake is to leave the car in gear when you turn it off. (this is a five-speed, right?).
Basically, when you shut the car off, pull the key out, engage the clutch, put it in first, and it won't go anywhere. I don't know if you knew this already or not.

For the brake, buy a Hayne's manual, take it to a professional if you don't know what to do.

[LanceS13]

If it just has a lot  of slack in it, it's probably just the cable needs tightening.  You can see the wing nut to tighten it if you lift  up the boot.  If it's firm and still  doesn't work....then....mmmmm....I have no idea  what it could be.

[my240likenoother]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from S13Grl on 8:16 pm on Jan. 27, 2002
Another alternative to using the e-brake is to leave the car in gear when you turn it off. (this is a five-speed, right?).
Basically, when you shut the car off, pull the key out, engage the clutch, put it in first, and it won't go anywhere. I don't know if you knew this already or not.

For the brake, buy a Hayne's manual, take it to a professional if you don't know what to do.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

not a good habat to get into leaving it in gear especially
when you get a front peice
i know 2 people that keep ther car in gear cause the e-brake was not workin
they get in the car start it up and let out the clutch thining or forgeting that its in gear
and bam right into the crube there goes the front peice or thos thins they put in the parking lot to spot you from going on the curb

[yenpit]

e/brake cables can rust INSIDE and sieze up. try adjusting first as Lance said. if that doesnt help, disconnect both cables at the calipers and have someone pull handle on &amp; off. if cables move freely theyre good. next check that the caliper hardware/linkage is moving freely. thats bout it!

[rampid360]

ok, i took everyones replies into consideration...and crawled under the car. Turns out, the dealer i bought it from didn't bother to make sure my car was safe. As it turns out, what happened was one of the cable hooks was NEVER connected to the caliper. After awhile, the other one came unattached (also leaving my rear pass. brake locked up.) I just popped the caliper back out and attached the hooks, oiled up the springs...works fine now.