Parking Brake Keeps Freezing - 2014 Silverado 1/2 Ton

[deer_hnter]

I live in W. Washington where we've had 2 cold snaps since the end of November. Each time, the parking brake has frozen on my Silverado when the temp has dipped into the upper 20s. No freezing rain, no snow, just clear skies with some light freezing fog and temps in the upper 20s. Parking brake pedal works as normal, the brake just didn't release.

 

First time I had the truck drug onto a flatbed tow and taken to Roy Robinson Chev where I bought it new. By the time they looked at it that afternoon, temps had worn and the brake released. They couldn't find anyhing wrong so sent me away to "monitor the situation".

 

Same thing happened again on night of 12/30. Had it again towed to Roy Robinson, and again, they could find noting wrong after temps had warmed and the brake released. This time they sent me away saying it was "operating as designed".

 

Not accepting this, I contacted GM and opened a case. I was referred to a district manager who contacted the dealership and was fed the same line of BS. She asked them about contacting tech to get them involved and Roy Robinson declined saying that it was "operating as designed".

 

District manager said I should get a 2nd opinion from another dealership. Called today and was told by that dealership that they'd seen this issue a couple of times on 1/2 ton Silverados and they'd had no luck on repairs - even after involving tech.

 

I'm now left with a $40k truck that has no reliable parking brake when temps below freezing. Pretty crappy when I tow my boat with this thing as well as hunt in the Cascade mountains with often cold temps.

 

As a lifelong Chevrolet fan and owner, to say I'm more than dissapointed is an incredible understatement!!

[sahls01gmc]

How often do you use your parking brake? I've got close to 300,00 miles (1/2 of them with a trailer) and I think I've used the parking brake maybe 10 times. The transmission holds just fine in park.

 

It sounds like moisture is getting into the lines or assembly and freezing in the "cool" temps. How mechanically inclined are you? I'd start looking at every piece of the parking brake assembly and ensure all moving parts are both sealed and lubricated. WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement...", it does help keep moisture at bay. However, I do agree that a new truck shouidn't be having problems like that.

[deer_hnter]

I was never a regular parking brake user until I bought this truck. About a month after purchase, I had to contact the dealer cause the truck would often roll a foot or two after being put into park. They blew it off as known for this truck and said I should be setting parking brake anyway. I accepted that until now when the brake is screwed. Right now is about the principle of having to worry about this on a fairly new truck and having a dealership that could give a rip.

[newdude]

Try and get them to clean and lubricate the components of the park brake system. Have yet to see any freeze up here (Rochester NY, oone of the lovely lake effect cities).

[deer_hnter]

They claim to have done that on Monday. Supposed to get cold again this weekend; we'll see....

[Spurshot]

Either elevate your concern of a lack of customer care with dealership management or find another dealer.

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess it's the cables freezing, either due to water intrusion into he cable conduit or a grease that isn't compatible with the temperatures you're experiencing. If so, the cables can be purged with a grease that has a low temperature compatibility using a cable greaser.

[redwngr]

No issues last winter with my 15. Lives outside, parks on a slope with the P brake engaged every time. We were well below freezing more often than not for about a 3 month period.

 

Something isn't right with your truck.

[SMiller]

Never used the park brake...

[Aussieshed]

Was at Lake Cle Elum in the midst of the snow and cold last week. Parked on a hill in 14 degrees and didn't move it for three days. No issue when I disengaged the parking brake and backed out of the snow. Was however mighty fun getting it up the hill with those crappy tires it comes with.

[diyer2]

I always use a parking brake, every vehicle I've owned, every time its parked. Come to a stop, engage parking brake, put trans in park, rear brakes hold vehicle not trans.

Single digits here a while ago, no problems.

[hurricanoday]

I have had my 15 denali outside every day in seattle and haven't had any problems.

[deer_hnter]

Update on the issue with my truck: after sending an email and posting on Roy Robinson's Facebook page, I was contacted by their General Manager tonight. He was more than understanding and is taking my case on personally to see it through to resolution with a hand-picked tech in their service department. He acknowledges that the design of my parking brake has had some issues historically, and that he's successfully fixed them in the past when he was in the service dept. I truly appreciate his willingness to listen to the concern of his customer. Dropping it off there in the AM to get the process started.

[chuckl1218]

Update on the issue with my truck: after sending an email and posting on Roy Robinson's Facebook page, I was contacted by their General Manager tonight. He was more than understanding and is taking my case on personally to see it through to resolution with a hand-picked tech in their service department. He acknowledges that the design of my parking brake has had some issues historically, and that he's successfully fixed them in the past when he was in the service dept. I truly appreciate his willingness to listen to the concern of his customer. Dropping it off there in the AM to get the process started.

 

Curious to hear the outcome. Sounds like someone is listening. Good luck...

[foo.c]

Interesting. I had an '04 Suburban that had this exact problem. It froze on a rare 10 degree F night in central Texas. We stopped using the parking brake whenever it got cold after that.

 

Kinda sad that a decade later it still happens.