Feels like parking brake is engage when driving even if it's not.

BRAV4

MEMBER
2010 TOYOTA RAV4
2.5L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
65,700 MILES

I'm driving at 80kph on highway and it suddenly feels like parking brake is engage. I checked the parking brake and it's off. I checked the dashboard, no brake lights on. It's more noticeable during inclined. And when I set my foot off the gas pedal, it's slows down the car more quickly. I got it checked with the dealer, they drove it and said it was ok and "normal". They said if the parking brake is engaging it will not move forward. But it is moving forward even they don't step the gas pedal, so their conclusion was everything was OK. But I don't agree. I feel there's something wrong because it wasn't like that before.

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

The next time this happens, stop on a slight incline, shift to neutral, release the brake pedal, then see if the vehicle creeps downhill on its own. If it does not, put a block a few inches downhill from one of the tires so you don't have to run after the vehicle, then loosen the steel lines at the master cylinder. See if that lets the brakes release. If it does not, the first suspect is one of the front rubber flex hoses. You can tell which one by feeling which wheel is hot. If the brakes do release, either the brake light switch is misadjusted and is holding the brake pedal down a little, or the brake fluid is contaminated with a petroleum product like engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, or axle grease. You can verify that by looking at the rubber bladder seal under the reservoir cap. If the fluid is contaminated, that seal will be blown up and mushy.

It also could be the car is going into limp mode due to a dirty throttle bore which is common here is a guide to help fix that.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

Please run down this guide and report back.