Parking brake lever jammed after dealer fixed oil leak

[Sotoman]

Hi,

I have a 2005 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 with the 6.0L. I took it in to finally fix my long time oil leak since it was still under the 5 year warranty.

When I picked up the truck, I drove it home and when I attempted to apply the parking brake the lever was completely jammed in the up position. It would not move at all. I was finally able to force it down once all the way to the floor, but it did not engage the parking brake at all. The truck still rolled. I immediately called the dealer, they had me bring it back in this morning. They said I need a new ratcheting assembly for about $500.00.

I told them it was working 100% perfect when I last applied it at the dealer, and was broken when I picked it up. They talked to the diesel tech and he said that there was nothing they did around that area. He also said it was acting strange when he first tried to use it.

So basically they are saying it was broken when I dropped it off. Can't really argue when them anymore, and not sure what else to do. I am definitely not having them fix it.

I found the parking brake control for about $85.00 on thinkpartsguy.com. They stated it was the complete assembly. Not sure why Ford wants $500.00 for it. Maybe that included labor.

I'll tear into it tonight and see what I can find out. Has anyone else experience a similar issue with the parking brake? Just wanted to see if there were any tips or comments with this problem.

It amazes me how Ford won't admit to something they broke. Oh well, I just don't have the time to fight with them.

Thanks.

[Ro39]

mine is going back to the shop soon for the park brake not holding again. i know its not the adjustment on the back wheels. at first mine wouldnt hold, then i smoked it down and managed to dislocated a spring in there so there was no tension at all. i think it was over 200 for the assembly. i was also getting a master cylinder that day so i dont know for sure.

you wouldnt happen to have floor mats or anything on the drivers side between the lever and door/wall would you?

[Sotoman]

I just went and picked up my truck from the dealer. I told them I didn't have the money to fix it right now. They said when I am ready they can do the work for me. It was about $130.00 for the part, and around $400.00 for labor to replace the parking brake lever assembly.

I once again asked if there was anything that could have happened during the oil leak fix. He said no way. They did not do any work around that area.

I took the truck back to work. Before I went inside I decided to take a quick look myself. I looked at the assembly in the truck, played with the lever a little (still stuck). I then decided to follow the cable. I saw where it came out from the cab, then it went along the side of the frame.

About 2 feet back, the cable was pinched between a bracket and the frame. There was the problem. I can not beleive that the ford brake guy did not spend more than 1 minute to follow the cable and see this problem. Instead he pushed on the lever once, and immediately said it needed a new ratcheting assembly for $500.00.

Of course I called Ford immediately and they appologized and said they would find out why this happened etc...

The big question. If I did not know how to work on my own cars and agreed to have them fix this. Would they have still gone and charged me $500.00 for the job when all they needed to do is removed a pinched cable that they originally pinched!!

We'll never know. So back to Ford tomorrow for them to remove the cable from under the bracket. I may just do it myself tonight if I have the motivation after work.

[dikkstarr]

Originally Posted by Sotoman

I just went and picked up my truck from the dealer. I told them I didn't have the money to fix it right now. They said when I am ready they can do the work for me. It was about $130.00 for the part, and around $400.00 for labor to replace the parking brake lever assembly.

I once again asked if there was anything that could have happened during the oil leak fix. He said no way. They did not do any work around that area.

I took the truck back to work. Before I went inside I decided to take a quick look myself. I looked at the assembly in the truck, played with the lever a little (still stuck). I then decided to follow the cable. I saw where it came out from the cab, then it went along the side of the frame.

About 2 feet back, the cable was pinched between a bracket and the frame. There was the problem. I can not beleive that the ford brake guy did not spend more than 1 minute to follow the cable and see this problem. Instead he pushed on the lever once, and immediately said it needed a new ratcheting assembly for $500.00.

Of course I called Ford immediately and they appologized and said they would find out why this happened etc...

The big question. If I did not know how to work on my own cars and agreed to have them fix this. Would they have still gone and charged me $500.00 for the job when all they needed to do is removed a pinched cable that they originally pinched!!

We'll never know. So back to Ford tomorrow for them to remove the cable from under the bracket. I may just do it myself tonight if I have the motivation after work.

They would have charged you 600, 500 for the parts and labor[which the book says will take 4.3 hours, but it really only takes them 15 minutes to fix and 4 hours sitting in their back lot], and another 100 to remove the bracket that pinched the cable. That they did in the first place.

FORD>> <<ALL 6.0l OWNERS

[69cj]

Originally Posted by Sotoman

Hi,

I have a 2005 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 with the 6.0L. I took it in to finally fix my long time oil leak since it was still under the 5 year warranty.

When I picked up the truck, I drove it home and when I attempted to apply the parking brake the lever was completely jammed in the up position. It would not move at all. I was finally able to force it down once all the way to the floor, but it did not engage the parking brake at all. The truck still rolled. I immediately called the dealer, they had me bring it back in this morning. They said I need a new ratcheting assembly for about $500.00.

I told them it was working 100% perfect when I last applied it at the dealer, and was broken when I picked it up. They talked to the diesel tech and he said that there was nothing they did around that area. He also said it was acting strange when he first tried to use it.

So basically they are saying it was broken when I dropped it off. Can't really argue when them anymore, and not sure what else to do. I am definitely not having them fix it.

I found the parking brake control for about $85.00 on thinkpartsguy.com. They stated it was the complete assembly. Not sure why Ford wants $500.00 for it. Maybe that included labor.

I'll tear into it tonight and see what I can find out. Has anyone else experience a similar issue with the parking brake? Just wanted to see if there were any tips or comments with this problem.

It amazes me how Ford won't admit to something they broke. Oh well, I just don't have the time to fight with them.

Thanks.

Just for your knowledge, Ford is not your dealer. Dealers are independant and you do need to file a complaint with Ford customer care and the BBB.

[djshum]

What repairs were done for oil leak? What was bracket for that the cable was pinched between?

[Sotoman]

They said the oil was leaking from the block. They had to pull the motor out. Though they did it from underneath so they did not have to pull the cab off the truck. This is what I was told.

Then they found a second leak (needed the truck another couple of days) but they did not tell me where that was.

Not sure what the bracket was for, maybe the tranny. But it was the bracket on the driver side of the truck right below the driver side door. The bracket mounted to the outside of the frame with 3 bolts (2 on top and 1 on the bottom). The bracket went under the frame to something. Didn't bother to lay on the ground and check it all out.

The cable was between the bracket and outside of the frame. Pretty much just need to remove the 2 top bolts and loosen the bottom one and the cable could be slipped up and out from the top of the bracket.

Dropped it off this morning (to tired to do it myself last night). They still have the truck. Hmm. How long does it take to remove two bolts??

[dekean867]

Maybe the shielding on the cable was crushed and they had to replace it. I don't think they wouldn't stock E brake cables . Just a guess.