Just failed inspection for this...it latches up about an inch put with the car in park, parking brake on, brake on, go into drive, it moves forward....the brake is very tight...any ideas on diagnosis? How does one adjust the cable?? or at least check the adjustent if it can be done?

 

If is very tight it would seem that it's adjusted - provided you're not just feeling the end of the handle's travel. Either the cable(s) or shoes are frozen, the linings have fallen off (it happens) or someone is expecting more from them than they can do. The parking brake is very small (5-6.5"?) in comparison to cars and trucks of years ago (9.5-12".) It is a supplemental brake, i.e. it works in conjunction with the parking pawl in the transmission and was never intended to hold the car against a 10% grade in neutral. If it can hold the car at an elevated idle (800-950 rpm), in gear , that's about as good as it gets.