2000 XJ E-Brake Issue

[bRIBEGuy]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a bit of advice/help here with an odd (to me) problem that's popped up with my XJ this morning.  I've had the Jeep parked out front for the past 6 days after giving it a good wash.  Went to take it for a spin this morning, and found that the passenger side e-brake is stuck.  The drivers side seems to release without issue.

I tried driving around backwards and hitting the brakes a few times, but it didn't seem to do anything (well, aside from heat up the drum).  I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I'm not about to tear apart a drum brake for the first time in sub zero weather in the street in front of my house.

Does anyone have any suggestions or any idea what is going on here?

Any assistance is appreciated...............

[Immortal]

Sounds like it is frozen up either with the water (from the wash) or from rust/dirt/ect.... Could possibly be seized in the cable, too. Couple of pewpy things to look at.... sorry buddy. Any chance that you can get it into a heated garage to thaw it out/rip it apart?

[TL-Iguana]

Have to agree with Trevor here... Even if you can get it downtown into a heated parkade for a few hours it may just be some water in the cable.

[bRIBEGuy]

Thanks guys, I'll give that a try and cross my fingers.

[heep-a-lop]

what part of the city u in?

[bRIBEGuy]

Okay, well, some good news and some bad news with the e-brake.

The Good:  A few hours within a heated garage and the brake seems to have popped open without issue.   

The Bad:  I feel like an idiot that it was something so simple, and am pretty sure I've now demoted myself to a mechanical uber-noob.   

None the less, thanks to everyone for the help.