Parking brake failure - common problem?

[bigbob]

EPB, rain and cars that can sit for a few days plus between drives, basically doesn't work. Mind the handbrake on the 3200/4200 was a waste of time and could easily be an MOT failure but at least it was unlikely to be jammed on.

I don't use the EPB when parked at home but when I go out I use it intra day so it does remember how to work but is not left on for long.

 

[StuartW]

Yes. I do it every time. With the car running put it into a gear. 1 or R. Then push the park off button and turn off the ignition.

Hey presto. It stays in gear with epb off.

I would check your battery voltage though. As low power can also cause electronic problems.

Well every day's a school day, thank you for that sir - it will be my new switch off routine once I have folded my mirrors in, cheers

 

[Ebenezer]

Must remember to fold mirrors when I'm out and about.

Talking about folding mirrors - Can't seem to reliably get the passenger mirror to tilt when going into reverse to see the kerb. And annoyed that you can't do the same for driver side at alll as I park up at home with a kerb on the RHS and have scuffed the wheels more than once as a result...
Eb

 

[bigbob]

Open the driver's door when reversing...provided you know where the lamp posts are.

 

[sofasurfer]

Resurrect this thread from the dead....after dropping my daughter off at school my GTS decided to throw a fit and show a parking brake failure with a constant alarm noise. Disconnecting the battery seems to have done the trick but if it happens again it's a trip to Emblem as they only just replaced the shoes.

 

[Contigo]

If it goes again you can disconnect the EPB ecu (near battery) to at least get you off the hook.

 

[CatmanV2]

If it goes again you can disconnect the EPB ecu (near battery) to at least get you off the hook.

Does that release the brake, or do you need to wind it off?

C

 

[sofasurfer]

If it goes again you can disconnect the EPB ecu (near battery) to at least get you off the hook.

Thanks for the tip...at one point I thought I would have to drive down to Poole with the alert going off in the car. May have needed noise cancelling headphones.

 

[Contigo]

Does that release the brake, or do you need to wind it off?

C

Releases it off.

 

[CatmanV2]

Releases it off.

Curious. One wonders why you'd ever use the tool since (apparently) it needs to go back to the dealer to be 'fixed'

Certainly worth knowing

C

 

[voicey]

Pull all the carpets out of the boot and check for water ingress - it rots the handbrake motor/ECU. I once opened the floor of the boot up to find the whole wheel well full to the brim of water!

 

[Contigo]

Curious. One wonders why you'd ever use the tool since (apparently) it needs to go back to the dealer to be 'fixed'

Certainly worth knowing

C

Mine was off for a couple of months until the ECU was replaced.

 

[sofasurfer]

If it goes again you can disconnect the EPB ecu (near battery) to at least get you off the hook.

Right..it's happened again and I had to drive my daughter home with the alarm going off.

Which one do I disconnect?