Scion xA has been sitting for 3 years, and it's stuck and wont move when I try to push it. The automatic transmission is in neutral, so I don't understand why it's not rolling. I jacked up both rear wheels and they spin freely. So it's not the rear brakes or parking brake. Today I jacked up the driver's side front and when I try to turn the wheel it rotates just a teensy bit, like maybe 1/8th of an inch, and stops with a metallic clunk noise. If it was the front brake frozen, I would assume the wheel wouldn't turn at all, but I don't know. Is there any chance this is the parking pawl holding it even though the gear selector is in neutral?

 

I would say it's somewhat likely the parking brake is stuck, but stuff could just be bound up a little in the transmission. Can you start the car in park and run it? Automatic transmissions have a pump that operates when the engine is running, and automatic transmission fluid is a good cleaner, so maybe a few minutes of it idling in park could free it up.

 

I haven't tried to start it. Parking brake only operates the rear brakes, if I'm not mistaken, and the rear wheels spin freely. What you say about the transmission pump that operates when the engine is running is what I suspect is the issue. With the engine off, maybe it cannot release the parking pawl due to lack of hydraulic pressure from the pump not running?

 

Just wondering... if when the car was parked, the driver shut off the ignition with the automatic transmission still in drive, then shifted into park after the engine stopped, could that cause the front wheels to be stuck in position?

 

Turned out it was the front brakes. Some rust had caused them to be stuck. A tow truck attached a cable and within a few seconds of pulling it broke free with a loud clunk. Was very relieved it was nothing major.