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[Rob <becida AT comcast.net>]

At  1/24/2009 01:56 PM,Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:
> My mother's car is a 1993 Ford Tempo. It won't start, but I think the
> problem is the brake.  The key turns in the ignition, the dashboard lights
> light (all of them), but it doesn't make a sound. It's NOT the battery...I
> KNOW what a dead battery sounds like. That car has all kinds of interlocks
> with the brake and the shift (it's an automatic) and the brake and the
> ignition. You need to depress the brake to do anything, like start the car
> or shift out of Park. If the brake doesn't work, nothing works.
>
> The problem is that the brake pedal won't go down at all. I know absolutely
> nothing about cars, but I suspect something in the brake mechanism
> (linkage?) is jammed. I couldn't find a tow truck to get it to the mechanic
> before they closed at 2, so I have to wait until Monday. Can they even tow
> it if it's stuck in Park? I thought it would be nice if I could fix it
> before then and save some money and annoyance.Any suggestions for a
> mechanically-challenged person (that doesn't involve disassembling the car)?
>
> Lynn Wigglesworth
> Tioga Co. PA

Is it cold out, cold enough to have frozen some moisture in the brake 
lines? Is the parking brake on and frozen in place? The pedal not 
moving at all is an odd one, usually to pedal moves and nothing 
happens (a leak or bypassing the master cylinder). If it's cold and 
you could warm it up that MIGHT help.
FWIW getting the brake fluid changed every two years or so is a good 
idea just, brake fluid likes moisture and moisture will freeze and 
helps corrosion.
Not much help Lynn...




Rob
becida AT comcast.net