Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Parking brake won't engage Inspection at your home or office.

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Parking brake won't engage Inspection Service

How much does a Parking brake won't engage Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Parking brake won't engage Inspection is $105 with $0 for parts and $105 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1990 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-3.0LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$124.99Shop/Dealer Price$139.69 - $150.72
1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-2.8LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$119.72 - $130.77
1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-3.0LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$119.72 - $130.77
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-3.0LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$119.68 - $130.70
1971 Mercedes-Benz 300SELV8-6.3LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$119.75 - $130.82
1973 Mercedes-Benz 300SELV8-4.5LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$104.99Shop/Dealer Price$119.72 - $130.77
1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-2.8LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$124.99Shop/Dealer Price$135.28 - $143.00
1988 Mercedes-Benz 300SELL6-3.0LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$124.99Shop/Dealer Price$135.94 - $144.14
Show example Mercedes-Benz 300SEL Parking brake won't engage Inspection prices

Engaging your parking brake ensures that your car doesn’t roll when you park on a hill. This is important in a wide variety of situations, whether you’re parking at home and your driveway is angled, or you’re backing down a boat ramp to unload in the lake. If your parking brake won’t engage, then you’re relying solely on the transmission’s park setting to hold the vehicle in place, which is never a good thing. It could slip, and it could also cause damage to the transmission.

How this system works:

Most parking brakes are relatively simple affairs – really nothing more than a cable that attaches to the handle that sits between your front seats (or the parking brake pedal under the dash in some cars). Pulling the handle pulls the cable, which engages the parking brake assembly and pushes a pair of brake shoes into contact with the inside of the drum.

However, despite that simplicity, there are several things that could go wrong with your parking brake. The most common issue is simply that you need to adjust your brake shoes. However, there could be a problem with the cable (corrosion or wear, for instance), or there could be a problem with the handle itself, although this is rare.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Need to Adjust Brake Shoes: The single most common reason your parking brake won’t engage is a need to adjust the brake shoes. This requires removing the rear wheels, removing the drum, and then adjusting the wheel to spread the shoes apart. Both sides should be adjusted.

  • Cable Is Detached: Another potential reason here is that the cable may have come loose from one or both sides. The cable must attach to both rear brakes for your parking brake to work (if it attaches to just one side, the brake will engage but feel loose, and the car will roll on a hill).

  • Cable Is Loose at the Handle: A much less common problem is that the nut where the cable attaches under the handle is loose. If this happens, there will be slack in the cable, and pulling the handle will not engage the parking brake. This is most common after inexpert parking brake repairs.

  • Rusted Bell Crank: The bell crank is really nothing more than a lever that sits near the front of the parking brake assembly. These are prone to rusting, particularly if you don’t use your parking brake very often. If this is the case, your parking brake will not engage.

What to expect:

One of our experienced mobile mechanics will come to your home or office and inspect the entire parking brake system, from the handle to the bell crank, the cabling and the attachment points at the rear. The mechanic will also provide you with a full report that details the scope and cost of any necessary parts and repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect all aspects of your parking brake, beginning with the handle or pedal in the cabin. The mechanic will also inspect the cables, the shoe condition and adjustment and other aspects of your parking brake system. It may be necessary to remove one or both rear wheels, as well as the brake drums (if your car has drum brakes). If your car has disc brakes, the caliper and rotor may need to be removed to inspect the parking brake shoes, which are located inside the built-in drum on the rotor itself.

How important is this service?

If your parking brake will not engage, it will not prevent you from driving, but it does make parking on an incline risky. It’s possible that the transmission will slip out of park, and the vehicle will roll down the slope. One of our mechanics can fully assess your parking brake and advise you on what is needed to repair it.

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Real customer reviews from Mercedes-Benz owners like you.

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Rating Summary
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5,332
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Robert

17 years of experience
28 reviews
Robert
17 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz 300SEL L6-3.0L - Drive Belt Tensioner - Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Robert has a positive attitude and is very professional. He got my vintage (ancient?) Mercedes all patched up and running again. I would definitely recommend Robert without hesitation!

Shawn

12 years of experience
315 reviews
Shawn
12 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz C300 V6-3.0L - Oil Change - Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Shawn was on time, had all the tools and supplies, and finished on time. He was professional and cleaned up everything when the work was completed. I’d definitely recommend him to other clients.

Luke

16 years of experience
138 reviews
Luke
16 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz ML350 V6-3.5L - Intake Manifold Gaskets - Saint Ann, Missouri
Job well done!!! Luke was early to the appointment as he waited patiently while I got there. He knew exactly what he had to do in spite of the weather he continue on working and did an awesome job putting the parts back together. I will definitely recommend him to family and friends. YOU Rock!!! He is truly an expert at what he does.

Jerome

24 years of experience
415 reviews
Jerome
24 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz C300 V6-3.0L - Idler Pulley - Gwynn Oak, Maryland
SINCE JEROME REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT ON MY MERCEDES 300 I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS. MY CAR RUNS GREAT! MY MAN GOT MAD MECHANICAL SKILLS!

Excellent Rating

(5,730)

Rating Summary
5,332
192
54
29
123
5,332
192
54
29
123
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