Volkswagen Rabbit 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 Volkswagen Rabbit Parking brake won't engage Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1980 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.5LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1984 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.8LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1977 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.5L DieselService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2009 Volkswagen RabbitL5-2.5LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1982 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.7LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1984 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.6L DieselService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1981 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.7LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1978 Volkswagen RabbitL4-1.5LService typeParking brake won't engage InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Volkswagen Rabbit 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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Enrique

21 years of experience
244 reviews
Enrique
21 years of experience
Volkswagen Rabbit L5-2.5L - Ignition Coil - Altamonte Springs, Florida
Enrique was well informed and found the problem with my vehicle immediately. He was very professional, courteous and polite. I would highly recommend him to anyone requiring repairs on their vehicle. The entire experience was painless and I felt well looked after.

Theodore

16 years of experience
1601 reviews
Theodore
16 years of experience
Volkswagen Rabbit L5-2.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Renton, Washington
One time and friendly.

Thomas

12 years of experience
105 reviews
Thomas
12 years of experience
Volkswagen Rabbit L5-2.5L - Vehicle Engine Electrical - Grand Prairie, Texas
10/10!

Joshua

27 years of experience
709 reviews
Joshua
27 years of experience
Volkswagen Rabbit L5-2.5L - 80,000 Miles Maintenance Service - Dublin, California

Excellent Rating

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