Emergency brake on 2003 S10 nor working, when it is pushed down there is no ratching sound & it doesn't hold. the cable is intact under the truck

The locking mechanism sounds faulty. Try spraying the pedal assembly with some penetrating oil to see if the racheting mechanism will start working again.

Your brake handle has two sets of gears that will lock against eachother. The button in the front of your handle acts as a release for the arm sode of those gears. Sounds like the button is jammed. Remove the cover fo rbetter access. Slide the cover off the arm Shoot some WD-40 inside the shaft where the button sits and push it in. If it doesn't push in, then it's probably jammed in. Maybe something is wedged inside. The check engine light is probably because of the gas leak. The computer senses the low pressure and prompts the caution. On a second notion, if you had the brake pads replaced on the rear wheels, it's possible that the cable needs to be re-adjusted for the new pads. The e-brake uses the rear pads for action. Good luck!

Make sure you have lots of "meat" on your brake shoes.
Emergency brakes only apply rear brakes by using shoes against the drum, that are pulled by the cable, that's attached to the emergency brake lever / pedal....and actuated by the driver.

It has to be one of those three components...may have to pull the drum and actuate the pedal / lever to see if the cable spreads the shoes and make adjustments from there.

If your back brakes don't hold...it can also cause the ABS light to illuminate...

Hope this helps...

make sure the emergency brake is completely releasing , is the motor lugging or working really hard to make it move? does it feel like the brake is on, or that the motor just won't get up to speed to make it move smoothly

OK try this, push and hold brake then push on the hazard switch if brake lights come on then replace the turn signal switch.

You could check the brakelight switch located on the brake pedal linkage. Sometimes they move out of adjustment, sometimes they fail. The ones I've seen are usually plastic and the threads strip off so the jamb nut won't hold the switch in place correctly. It should be round (or at least the part with the mounting nut should be round) with a plug with 2 or 3 wires going into the back and located so that the brake pedal lever moves away from the switch when you push on the pedal. If you deem that it needs to be replaced the switch should be available at most auto parts stores.

you may have a vacuum leak or a restriction in the exhaust system check around under the hood to see if you can narrow down the noise. a restriction in the exhaust causes the excess exhaust to push back threw and make a whooshing noise. hope this helps

try putting the car in drive then back in park. should release brake.

there is a cable running from handle to brake assembly it is probably broke there is a release lever under there on brake about a one inch lever hold down on brake and move this and let up on pedal.

there is an adjustment under the van near the frame driver side near the gas filler tube.. use a wrench to tighten the cables...also check and see if your shoes are worn out. the farther they wear, the less your emergency brake will hold. Finally if none of this works, you may have stretched cables and have to replace them....