Note: The procedure in official manual may vary. This is what worked

for

me. Please check the manuals for detailed instructions.

Most of us use the hand brake while our cars are parked. Some of us, up

here in the great white north, use the hand brake to have some fun in the

snow. Lock up the rear wheels in a turn, the back end goes out, and you

are either having a ball driving sideways (looking through you side

window) or praying that you will not hit that curb on the other side. No

matter what you use the hand brake for, the cables will strech over time and

you will notice that pulling the hand brake lever may have no effect

until a certain point. Well, you can restore your hand brake to showroom

condition by simply tightening the hand brake cables. Here is what you

need and how you do it.

Need: A philips screw driver with short and long handle and 2 adjustable

wrenches.

1. Park the car on a flat surface in 1st gear and/or place wheel stoppers

   to prevent the car from rolling (logs, bricks)

2. Take off the plastic hand brake handle by pusing on a little button

   under the handle and pulling off the metal lever.

3. take out the rear ashtray

4. lift up the rear seat dividor (where the first aid kit goes)

5. Undo the 4 screws that hold it in place

6. Undo the screw pointing towards the front of the car in the space where

   the ashtray used to be. Might have to squat your head to find the screw.

7. Undo the screw under the metal hand brake lever (don't drop the screw)

8. Unscrew (with fingers) the 4 plastic caps (2 on each side) at the

   bottom of the middle console (They are located where the plastic console

   meets the carpet by the seats)

9. Lift up and forward the plastic cover over the hand brake lever. You

   should now see 2 cables attached to a plate. The plate is attached to the

   hand brake lever.

10. Lower the hand brake lever all the way and tighten the screws on the

    cables, making sure that the plate is relatively striaght, until the play

    in the lever is gone.

11. Reassamble the platic trim, ashtray, rear seat dividor and handle.