Smog test screwup?

Today I had my 2000 Boxster smogged for the first time. I brought it to a repair shop here in Vallejo that specializes in German cars. The owner/technician drove my car onto the track machine to run the test. I waited in the waiting room while he ran the engine at various speeds with the rear tires spinning on the track.

When he finished the test and drove the car out of the garage he stopped the engine and got out of the car. While getting out of the vehicle the car was rolling very slightly (as his driveway had a slope to it). I thought it a little strange but attributed it toward him probably not setting the parking brake. After paying the bill I noticed the parking brake was pulled up slightly, I started the car and drove off.

Upon getting home I set the parking brake as I always have for the last four years. It started to roll back (the car was not in gear). Pulling on the brake handle a little higher did stop the car.

I counted the "clicks" that the parking brake makes when pulling it from the release position to the full up position. I counted seven clicks. Setting the brake as I always have I figure I have been pulling up four clicks, this has always been enough. I now have to pull six clicks on my inclined driveway to completly set the brake.

I am afraid the technician may have done some (if not all) of the test with the parking brake partially set. If so, what kind of damage may have been done? Is there any cause for my concern? Thanks for your input!

Kerry Lange

Parking brake...

when I bought my '89 911 several years ago, the handbrake didn't work very well. My pre-inspection at Stead didn't pick it up either so I ultimately went to a local mechanic and had an inspection.

Seems the original owner had at some point driven with the handbrake on. The "shoes" were polished, shiny, and looked like glass - but the surprise to me was what the drum portion of the rears looked like. They had hairline cracks on both sides... I suppose our situations could be similar but vary greatly in degree. You should at least inspect the shoes and see if they got so hot it cooked them. It's your call whether to confront the smog shop - but, it would seem hard to prove.

Good luck - I'd like to know what you find out.

kj

smog shop

Well, I called the German auto shop and discussed my concerns with the technician that conducted the test. He assured me that he did not conduct the test with the parking brake set. He said he definitely would have noticed the red parking brake light if it had been illuminated (valid point). He also said the smog test would not have been successful had the brake been set while running the car at various speeds.

He could not explain what would cause the change in the parking brake, but offered to take a look at my car as a courtesy.

Kerry Lange

I would also have thought that you would have been able to smell the burned brakes. I'm pretty sure that an odor like that would stick around for several hours.