In severe frosts, it is not uncommon to encounter a situation when the car's engine starts, but the car cannot move due to the freezing of the handbrake. Auto mechanic Alexey Stepantsov explained how to avoid a rather expensive repair.
He clarified that the reason for the problem is moisture that has entered the handbrake cable mechanism through a damaged casing and turned into ice. The frozen cable does not allow the pads to completely move away from the brake disc.
In this case, it is not recommended to try to force the car off the spot, as this may lead to damage.
Instead, you should let the car warm up in a warm room or use a household hairdryer, carefully directing warm air to the area where the cable passes. The use of a construction hairdryer or open flame is unacceptable.
To avoid such a problem, it is recommended to avoid using the handbrake in the parking lot in winter if possible.
In cars with a manual transmission, you can leave the gear engaged (first or reverse, depending on the slope), and in cars with an automatic transmission, set the selector to the "P" position.
Regular maintenance of the brake system, including cable lubrication, also helps prevent freezing.