merchauser

When depressed, the button on my handbrake gets stuck inside the housing and I need to pull it out so that the ratchet will engage the next time I need to use it.

I have shot some WD around the button and it really didn't help. I think the button is screwed on, but I can't get it to budge, and I don't want to use any tools that might deform or damage the button

Thinking once I get the button off, I can clean the inside out with some emery cloth and lube the spring?

dr bob

All sounds good. Spend a little inspection time looking at the pawl that the button is connected to near the base of the lever. Perhaps more common that the button sticking is that the pawl gets gunked up a little, preventing the spring from rotating it back after it's been disengaged. Cleaning and a small dose of spray lithium is usually all it needs.

After that, the whole lever may need to come out so the rod from the button can be lifted off the pawl and disassembled from (out the bottom end of...) the lever.

merchauser

It that area easily accessible without removing the seat?

dr bob

I'm not handy to the car to see.

I think you should be able to get in there after you remove just the carpeted cover. In other cars, I've figured out that these covered mechanisms are a magnet for dirt, crud, spilled drinks and anything small that was in a front pocket as you climb in and out. Shopping lists, toll receipts, etc. It all ends up in there it seems. Nothing like lost keys or sunglasses or something otherwise valuable of course. I'm never that lucky...

kombatrok

I had the same issue. It required removal of the handbrake and some quick work with a file to take down a sharp edge that was on the metal tube that the button rides in causing it to bind.

You can remove it easily without taking the seat out. Just a few screws hold the cover in place.

merchauser

thanks dr bob

took off the handle, some cleaning, PB blaster, and white lithium solved the problem!!!

a little disappointed that I found nothing of worth under the brake cover; you had me all jazzed up
that I was going to find another key, since I only one. did find an old peanut.....

dr bob

I think the most interesting thing I've found was an order of fried rice under a seat. You'd think that after a while the fragrance would have accelerated the PO's search for his missing dinner. Otherwise it's mostly gummy coins and receipts. No $100 bills, at least so far.

Glad you got it fixed!

Wisconsin Joe

The cool stuff is usually under the seat.

A 10mm socket (can't have too many of those), a couple golf tees, a few pens, maybe $3 in change...

And two New York Tri-Borough Bridge toll tokens. I hadn't seen one of those in a long, long time.