car frozen and would not move this morning

alanhiggyno1

hi got this morning started car for 15 mins to thaw out and went out and car would not move forward or backwards.it seems it the wheels were frozen solid along with everything else underneath..how come this doesnt happen to other cars..did this happen to anyone else and what can i do to stop this happening again 2moro

biko

Did you leave it with hand brake on?

alanhiggyno1

ya i have to why..dont understand why it happens to other cars..do u thing thats the problem

KerranJast

Sounds like a classic case of frozen handbrake tbh. During such cold weather you should park the car on level ground and leave off the HB.

alanhiggyno1

99 opel astra..thx for helping too

MarkoC

Please do not leave the handbrale on, whatever car you driving, leave the first gear in, that stops car moving and you have no such probs like OP here ...
Now when that happened, you need a hammer and knock gently the droms wheres the handbrake pads, usually it works but might take a bit time.

biko

Really the best thing (in my opinion) to do is to release hand brake in the cabin and start the car or leave it in the sun until the ice melts.
Maybe rock it back and forth gently to see if the ice breaks off.

You can also take this warning to make sure you have right amount of antifreeze in the coolant and in the screenwash (it's not the same type of antifreeze).

alanhiggyno1

so ye reckon its handbrake then???cos its kinda interfering with work at the min too been late..ill leave hanbrake off and see what happens...if problem still persists what could it be

MarkoC

alanhiggyno1 wrote: »

so ye reckon its handbrake then???cos its kinda interfering with work at the min too been late..ill leave hanbrake off and see what happens...if problem still persists what could it be

Hows the clutch feels ? When you release the clutch any feelings the car "wants to move" ?
Any movement in front wheels ? Maybe the clutch release bearing frozen which is very rare ...

alanhiggyno1

clutch is a1 perfect. it wants to move but wont. same in reverse...i think ye are right with handbrake problem...

biko

Some info here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63867906
http://www.astraownersclub.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176425
http://www.astraownersnetwork.co.uk/showthread.php?t=81694
More on google

_Kaiser_

JUst out of curiosity...

What do you do in the case of an auto/DSG Passat (with the electronic handbrake) and a driveway that slopes down to the house?

Serious question Leave it on the road and risk someone skidding into it, or can ya leave it in P(ark) with the handbrake off?

alanhiggyno1

thanks for all the help guys will keep ye posted if that's the problem which I think it is..think I should have known it myself

biko

Leave in Park or Low Gear is like leaving it in 1st.
Along a declining street, park face down with front wheels running into the kerb so car can't go anywhere.
If no kerb get some stones/piece of wood to block the wheels.

_Kaiser_

Sitec wrote: »

Park mechanically locks the box so you will be ok.

Ok.. parked up for the night with the wheels turned and the parking brake off

I don't like how it moves forward a bit when I let the foot brake up tho.. makes me worry something is about to snap

bazzachazza

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Ok.. parked up for the night with the wheels turned and the parking brake off

I don't like how it moves forward a bit when I let the foot brake up tho.. makes me worry something is about to snap

Ever seen an American film or TV show they all leave it in PARK jump out and the car will move a few inches.

MarkoC

In Scandinavia and other cold counries they never teach people to use handbrake, the only time we use it is when you parked on a light hill and taking off, eben that is for women Parking is always with 1st gear in.
Theres absolutely no needs to use handbrake, well unless you drifting :pac:

So dont be afraid do not use it.

_Kaiser_

bazzachazza wrote: »

Ever seen an American film or TV show they all leave it in PARK jump out and the car will move a few inches.

Good point! Never thought of that.

alanhiggyno1

leaving handbrake off worked a treat.cable was frozen..thx for the help

biko

Boards saves the day

time_for_action

sorry to hijack your thread but i have a similar problem. i have the car in the garage (no door though) with the handbrake off and in 1st gear. its been fine the last few nights but this morning my problem was back. it seems as if im driving with handbrake on. back tyres wouldnt moved and when i put foot on clutch it completely stopped. it was a huge problem last year thats why the garage got a clean out:) it eased out after a few minutes but id like to sort the problem asap as i basically couldnt use the car last winter. its a petrol peogeot 307

biko

It's probably just sticky calipers. Get a mechanic to grease them for you.