Ford Focus '08 wont reverse after a cold overnight

califano

After a very cold night it wont reverse when engaged in reverse(auto transmission. Ive found what doesnt help is having the handbrake on as its like the brakes get fused to the cylinders. It really is like there is a cavity block behind each wheel. If i give it a bit of a rev in reverse the revs just go crazy. So i find its generally ok after a cold morning if i just leave it in P.
How to get it to reverse is to pummel the brake pedal on and off and try again and eventually it will reverse but just the other morning without handbrake on and just left in P i try to reverse and its as stubborn as when i had the handbrake on.
This was over the winter of the last 2 seasons and never occurs in the summer or spring. Only got my car serviced a couple months ago and didnt think to mention it as it didnt happen since last winter!.

Is this problem familiar to anyone?

CJhaughey

Your rear handbrake cable assembly needs servicing.
Take it to the mechanic and get him to fix it.
Cables probably full of water and corroded.

califano

CJhaughey wrote: »

Your rear handbrake cable assembly needs servicing.
Take it to the mechanic and get him to fix it.
Cables probably full of water and corroded.

Cheers CJ i hope thats it but does that explain why it happened when i didnt use the handbrake.

CJhaughey

califano wrote: »

Cheers CJ i hope thats it but does that explain why it happened when i didnt use the handbrake.

Probably your whole caliper assembly needs servicing, the slider pins can corrode and stick. The amount that the system moves is very small, a tiny bit of corrosion can cause problems like you describe.
When was the last time the rear brakes were serviced?

califano

CJhaughey wrote: »

Probably your whole caliper assembly needs servicing, the slider pins can corrode and stick. The amount that the system moves is very small, a tiny bit of corrosion can cause problems like you describe.
When was the last time the rear brakes were serviced?

Ok cheers that stands to reason. The rear brakes were not serviced since i bought it over 2 years ago. I was fully sure they were going to change the breaks this time but did not. It was a Ford motors company who serviced it the last twice too.

colm_mcm

could be drum brakes too.

Hal1

A pot of boiling water might free it? Just to get you going until such a time it can be repaired.

califano

CJhaughey wrote: »

Your rear handbrake cable assembly needs servicing.
Take it to the mechanic and get him to fix it.
Cables probably full of water and corroded.

CJhaughey wrote: »

Probably your whole caliper assembly needs servicing, the slider pins can corrode and stick. The amount that the system moves is very small, a tiny bit of corrosion can cause problems like you describe.
When was the last time the rear brakes were serviced?

Just to follow up on this, picked it up just now , thats exactly what it was good shout. €85

Mc Love

Its a Ford thing. It happened on my 08 focus and it happens on my 11 Mondeo after I wash the car.