E-Brake n Center council help please!!!

my little sisters boyfriend busted her ebrake on her 03 cavalier. He said that he pulled it up as far as it could go then pulled it up again and pushed in the button to release it. once this was done the button made a clicking sound. now the button pokes out but the ebrake wont hold in blace and more. it still brakes and stuff but wont click up almost as if u were holding in the button the whole time. i was going to tear out the center council and see if there was something that i could fix but i cant get the center council bast the ebrake with the boot and shit on there but i might be able to get it past the shifter if i tern it 90 degrees then it might fit through the whole. Does anyone know what might be wrong and/or how to take off the ebrake so i can get inside and take a look at it?