Passat Electronic Handbrake (doomsday scenario)

[meoman]

I'm here with a Passat Handbrake Problem. I am just out of Roadside Assistance cover but still in Warranty. Car parked on a downward inclined drive with someone elses car in front. JUST GOT a electronic handbrake error and it wont disengage the brakes. Cant call out Breakdown Cover but of course COULD get to garage tomorrow. IS THERE A WAY possible to somehow disengage the handbrake whilst this dashboard error is coming up (flashing light, error message, beep). Its not domsday stuff but here we are all stuck with 2 cars out of driveability and supposedly the Passat handbrake thingy cant be overridden. Thank goodness I am not parked on a railway line!. Any adice greatfully appreciated ;-)

[kenney]

You need diagnostic equipment to release the handbrake.Although it can be done by removing the 2 pin connector on the handbrake motors and applying power. A long shot but check fuses 29 and 30 on the left hand side fuse box and fuses 30 and 31 on the right hand fuse box

[Quatrelle]

Try disconnecting/connecting the battery to see if it resets.

[meoman]

do you think breakdown recovery (aa/rac) will know what to do or will they try get it to a garage?.. sloping drive (car pointing down) doesnt help this issue.

[kenney]

I would imagine they know how.

[Quatrelle]

Keep us posted?

[gamichea]

When this happened to me rapidly jabbing the button (foot on brake pedal) got it to release and thats how it stayed until I got to the dealership the following morning. To dissuade me from pressing the button during that journey I stuck a piece of masking tape over the button.

[ToMBoY_C]

Happened to my brothers passat. AA dude tried allsorts, even playin with the motors in the rear wheels. Turned out he dissconnected the battery and re-connected all was fine!! Dreadin it happenin to me...

[Quatrelle]

Happened to my brothers passat. AA dude tried allsorts, even playin with the motors in the rear wheels. Turned out he dissconnected the battery and re-connected all was fine!! Dreadin it happenin to me...
There you go, another reason to carry a 10mm spanner;)

[johnloaderuk]

When this happened to me rapidly jabbing the button (foot on brake pedal) got it to release and thats how it stayed until I got to the dealership the following morning. To dissuade me from pressing the button during that journey I stuck a piece of masking tape over the button.

When my fuel pump went this is how the breakdown guy released my handbrake as well, obviously with ignition on, seatbelt on, all doors shut, but the engine wasn't running.

[steve_c]

Try disconnecting/connecting the battery to see if it resets.

That definitely works. Local dealer told me if they're towed in with the handbrake switch issue, this is the first thing they do to allow them to move the car.......

10mm spanner is almost a must........

[zollaf]

i had to recover a broken down renault once, and to release the electronic handbrake on those, you lift a flap in the boot and pull a lever. this then has to be replaced by the dealer at great expense. recovery firms will have info on how to recover anything though.

[richard t]

I was told that if the cover is removed at the side (opposite to the fuse box) and pop out the handbrake switch you can then disconnect the switch and this releases the brake... not tried it though

[Hillbeley]

This happened with my 3.2FSI Estate 4Motion, big trouble, as the drive train is locked solid, even 250hp couldn't shift it, as my wife found out at a set of traffic lights. It was intermittent, so turning car on off, lots of belt on/off and stabbing switch cleared it to get to the dealer, who changed the dashboard switch. We also had autohold (auto) which made it worse as it would come on but not go off on it's own!!