My 2011 limited now cannot move after been parked in garage for 7 months

[Fareastplaza]

I have no experience to park so long so I didn’t do anything to it during entire 7 months. Now I charged the battery, engine can start no problem. I can shift into all gears as I can feel the “roll” when engaging into “R” or “D”. But car won’t move at all, even take hard on gas. Does anyone have idea what’s going on? I applied hand break all the time during this period. Maybe that’s the bad idea. Or my transmission got issue?

 

[lord rigatoni]

did you disengage the parking brake before trying to drive?

 

[GripT4R]

Parking brake stuck on, pads stuck to rotor?

 

[Fareastplaza]

Yes, I disengaged park break before I tried to drive of course.

I am not sure if the parking break stuck or pad break stuck. That’s I am asking for here if anyone knows? I am thinking normal break (pad to rotor) should not be that hard to break off to stop you move, do you think? I have no idea.

 

[williamlv282]

Brakes are seized. Really common when cars sit for a while, especially outside. The discs may have rusted also.

 

[Dinosaur Overland]

Put car in neutral and see if you can push it

 

[seLect]

Brakes are seized. Really common when cars sit for a while, especially outside. The discs may have rusted also.

When law enforcement seized my '07 and kept it in their lot for 8 months outside, this is what could have had happened but fortunately for me after beating my case and petitioning to get it back, it ended up having a flat tire and battery needing to be replaced completely. I of course had it thoroughly inspected at the dealership and they replaced few other things, luckily brake discs was not one of the parts that was replaced

 

[xyzzy]

I'll chime in to agree that it's most likely caused by having the parking brake applied while it sat and the brakes have seized to the rotors.

Same thing can happen if you use your parking brake in winter - brakes could freeze to rotors.

Might could try putting it in 4-Lo (+diff lock) and try to break those brakes loose, else you're likely to have to pull the wheel off and manually disengage them.

 

[progress4m]

Put car in neutral and see if you can push it

x2 on that and if you cannot push it then your brakes are seized.

 

[Fareastplaza]

It is good suggestion to push in neutral. But my garage is super tight am not sure if I have space to try it. Will put block there to avoid collision to my tool bench 50cm in front of my T4R.

 

[Fareastplaza]

Additonal question, when put in neutral, on a flat surface, am I able to push it by myself if brake is not seized? I mean, if I cannot push it to move, can I confirm it is brake seized or maybe just one person is not strong enough?

 

[GripT4R]

Yes, in neutral you should be able to move it by pushing easily.

Put it in reverse and brake the pads free.

If its a 4x4 put it in 4 lo and break the pads free.


This isn't rocket science.

Next time put it in park and don't apply the parking brake.

 

[llDemonll]

A car in neutral can be pushed if the brakes are not applied. Even a semi truck might be able to be pushed by one person.

You won't be able to push your 4Runner though if reverse or drive can't move the car. Brakes are seized, you'll either need to take the wheels off and use a hammer / force to free them, or put it in gear and use more gas. Don't hit anything when it breaks free.

 

[mcat707]

A car in neutral can be pushed if the brakes are not applied. Even a semi truck might be able to be pushed by one person.

You won't be able to push your 4Runner though if reverse or drive can't move the car. Brakes are seized, you'll either need to take the wheels off and use a hammer / force to free them, or put it in gear and use more gas. Don't hit anything when it breaks free.

Thats what I would do, take the rear wheels off and bang the rear brake rotors with a hammer until the emergency brake shoes inside the center rear rotor/drums shakes loose enough to hand spin the rotors. Most likely rust and crud is built up causing them to seize.

If you can barely spin them, try to line up the adjustment hole so you can adjust the emergency brakes with a tool to loosen up the rotors.

Then have the brakes inspected and maintained properly.

 

[fkheath]

I have no experience to park so long so I didn’t do anything to it during entire 7 months. Now I charged the battery, engine can start no problem. I can shift into all gears as I can feel the “roll” when engaging into “R” or “D”. But car won’t move at all, even take hard on gas. Does anyone have idea what’s going on? I applied hand break all the time during this period. Maybe that’s the bad idea. Or my transmission got issue?

Could be the parking brake cables frozen inside the sleeves, common in winter. Very hard to fix! Solution is to put lubricant (WD40) into top end of cables and let it soak for a few days or even weeks. If that doesn't do the trick, then you will have to have it towed to a repair facility.

 

[pcstockton]

WD40 is NOT a lubricant.

 

[Fareastplaza]

Thank you guys, I got so many useful suggestions. I think I will try to take off wheel and access to rotor to see if I can break it loose. One question, this is full-time 4WD system. Can I actually push or spin the rear wheel in neutral?

 

[Jivewalker]

You may have a tough time pulling the rear rotors if the emergency brake pads are stuck to the rotors. Make sure you try to turn the adjuster with a screwdriver through the hole in the rotor. I believe you will want to spin the adjuster in the downward motion to release tension. Also, use a bolt in the threaded rotor hole to push it off the hub.

 

[badattitude]

I don't see a stuck parking brake causing this. Its just two small drums. I like the try in 4low idea. If its just the stuck parking break drum that should break it free. As Jivewalker said. Getting he rear disk off will be a challenge if it is stuck. turn star adjuster down to loosen, tap with hammer, heat it up with heat gun/hairdryer.

The engine has power right? It revs and the truck tries to move?

My third gen had the rear drum stick due to a leaking rear oil seal. It was worse when cold outside. but still, it would break loose with a little throttle. And that was a 3.4, lol

What a terrible surprise. sorry for your trouble.

 

[MeefZah]

Mine does this every so often, because I also don't drive a lot. Especially bad if it's put away wet. My solution has always been what others have said, put it in 4 Lo and drive until it snaps free. The same should work with the all-wheel-drive system, I would lock the diff and just give her hell.

Opinions vary though.