2001 Chevy Camaro Part Lock Cable

Tiny
KEN_GONE_FLYING
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAMARO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
Good evening, I need some help. Back in mid February, I took my car to a Sears Auto Center for some routine preventative maintenance. When I picked up my car from Sears, the car was not as I had left it. I could not get the key out of the ignition once I got home, and at one point, couldn't even turn the key far enough forward to start the car. So after taking it back to Sears and them denying that they had anything to do with it, I took it to a GM dealership to get it fixed. The dealership cited that the problem was a "sticky park brake cable." I told the mechanic at the dealership that I had no problems with the car when I dropped it off and then 3 hours later, this problem arises when I pick up the car. The mechanic at the dealership said that there was residue on the park brake cable (and inside the rubber coating) which was causing the cable to stick. He couldn't tell what exactly was on the cable however. He tried to clean it, but he could only clean the outside, not the inside, so the part was still not good. My question is this: Given the location of the cable (which I don't know enough about) is it likely that Sears spilled something on the cable (or near it) which could have leaked onto the cable, making it stick.

Here is the work Sears completed on my car: Oil change, Coolant flush, power streeing fluid change, brake fluid change, and a fuel injection cleaning. Would any of those jobs be anywhere near any part of the park brake cable? Thanks in advance for your help.

-Ken
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 AT 6:57 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KEN_GONE_FLYING
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Anyone?
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010 AT 10:40 PM
Tiny
FACTORYJACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,159 POSTS
I am a bit confused as to the concern. You specified that the key would not turn off, and was hard to rotate to start, that I understand. The diagnosis was a sticking 'park brake cable', that is where I don't understand. I don't see how a sticking park brake cable(apply or release) would cause ignition key related issues. The symptom that I would most associate with a sticky park brake cable, is a park brake that won't release. Was this substance found on the cable, outside of the vehicle, or inside by the lever. I don't see that they could have got something on it, due to to it's location, or what they could have used that would cause it, with the maintenance you had performed. Are you located in a rust belt area of the nation, was it something thrown up from the road?
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010 AT 11:39 PM
Tiny
KEN_GONE_FLYING
  • MEMBER
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Thank you for your response. As far as rust is concerned, that isn't a factor because I have the park brake cable that was removed from the car and it looks to be in good condition. The only reason I'm asking about possible fluids being spilled and getting on the cable is becasue of what the mechanic that fixed my car suggested. Myself, not being a mechanic, I didn't really know how the symptoms ended up being related to the park brake cable. However, they replaced that cable, and it did fix the problem. My concern was that my car was fine when I dropped it off, and the ignition (getting the key out) was all messed up when I picked the car up. It seems that it had to have been caused in their shop since the cable didn't "fail". What do you think?
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Friday, March 12th, 2010 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
FACTORYJACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,159 POSTS
It is hard to say, it is your word against theirs. I am still trying to figure out how the park brake cable relates to the ignition key. Even if engine oil got on it and swelled the rubber, it would not happen in a matter of hours, I am not even sure if that is realistic. Was the cable that was replaced, one from a rear wheel to the equalizer, or was it from the lever to the equalizer? Do you even use the park brake, is this a manual trans car, or auto? After a brief review, just now, are we talking about the park LOCK cable, and not a park BRAKE cable? The service procedure show'if equipped'. This cable is inside the vehicle, and runs from the ignition switch mounted to the column, to the floor shifter assembly. If the cable sticks when park gear is engaged, it would prevent the key from rotating to off position, I am not sure of the affects when rolling to start, but in theory I suppose it could cause a problem. This cable would be completely shielded inside the car, and unless someone was under the dash, or in the center console, it would not have been tampered with. Has coffee, soda, or some other substance perhaps have been spilled on the console? Just more food for thought. This is the only thing that makes remote sense. The park brake is a standalone sub-system within the brake system, and the ignition is mechanical until the ignition switch is brought in to the picture.
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Friday, March 12th, 2010 AT 10:13 PM
Tiny
KEN_GONE_FLYING
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You are exactly right, it is the park LOCK cable, not the park BRAKE cable. I'm sorry about that. Its funny you mention drinks being spilled, becasue thats exactly what the mechanic that fixed my car said, maybe the Sears guy spilled a coke on my console. Even if I had spilled anything on it in the past, it wouldn't have decided to stick in the 2 and a half hours that Sears had my car. I am beginning to realizer that this will be difficult, if not impossile to prove Sears is responsible, but I at least wanted to get some educated opinions on the topic. I understand it is my word against theirs. I'm telling you 100% that I had no issues with this when I dropped my car off. Knowing that, wouldn't you say that they would have had to have caused this one way or another?
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Friday, March 12th, 2010 AT 10:52 PM
Tiny
FACTORYJACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,159 POSTS
Is it possible, I suppose. I wouldn't imagine soda going to work on it that quick. Were there any other signs, is the question. If something is spilled, and it made it to a place like a cable end, it would seem to me there would have been some other evidence or traces.
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Saturday, March 13th, 2010 AT 5:24 PM

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