emergency brake

[CaseyVR6]

2000 VW Jetta VR6 5sp

It seems as the miles have gone on my car the emergency brake has gotten more loose each day. For example, if I pull the brake lever up with normal force to a normal angle the car will still roll even on the subtlest of slopes. I have checked the pads in the rear and there is plenty of meat left. Is there any way to tighten the cable, or is the a sign of a larger problem?

Possibly unrelated: The emergency brake light on the dashboard will flash and beep at me once in a while durring travel. The lever is definately all the way down and it only beeps and blinks for a few seconds, and usually about a mile after I have left where I was parked. As a guess, it probably does that 10% of the time.

Thanks for all the help.

[veedubmechanic]

You can adjust your e-brake cables.
Remove the center console and there is the cable from lever then splits into the 2 cables. there is a nut, tighten the nut to remove slack, loosen to give slack. If that doesnt help then you need to replace the cables.
Also check the calpiers where the e-brake cable goes. Pull down the spring and if it stays, replace the calipers.

[CaseyVR6]

Adjusted the e-brake, tightened up fine. Brake caliper behaves like it should. I've still got the light. It's the light that comes on when you pull up on the brake handle, but it blinks and beeps at me every minute or so while I'm driving. The brake lever is down, the cable is now tight, the back brakes are working just fine. What the hell is it? It's SO annoying!! I have only that light and noise, there are no secondary symptoms (headlights....). It's also doing it every time I drive, probably 75% of the time I am driving. 45 minute commute (beep beep beep gets annoying as hell)

[CaseyVR6]

Found it!!

The brake fluid was low, and then the bobber in the cap was stuck so it still thought the fluid was low.

[swjetta1.8t]

I've read the postings on here about tightning the nut under the center armrest for the E-brake. But how in the world do you get the center armrest off to get to that adjustable nut????? Please somebody?????

[CaseyVR6]

Easiest way... pull off the ash tray that's for back seat passangers. Take the ash tray out, pull off the two round plastic covers on either side, then pop off the housing. You'll see the two cables leading to one with a long nut and bolt on it. I just used two open end wrenches and turned it little bits at a time. Took a bit of patience, but it was easier than taking the whole arm rest off.