Electronic Handbrake

[Sean Galway]

Hi, I own a Passat Tdi with an electronic handbrake. The other morning when going to work the handbrake released but the yellow parking brake light stayed on in the dash and the brake wont engage for me when I press the button. I am still driving the car but I would like to get this sorted out as I have to keep listening to a warning chime as I am driving along. I would appreciate any advice and if somebody could explain to me how this electronic handbrake actually works . Thanks to anyone for their advice

[martin1810]

Each rear caliper has a small motor that engages the pads with the disc. When you press the button you can hear them wind, on or off. This would be a simple system if it worked just from the dash button. But it also works automatically when you lift the clutch pedal. A control module senses the clutch pedal and a couple of other motion sensors for this auto bit. This leaves alot more to go wrong. The most common failure seems to be the dash switch. Rear caliper motors seem to be quite reliable.

[mhurer]

I had exactly the same problem six months ago. Fortunately it was on a Friday and VW could see me the same day, but had to make sure I parked on level service and left car in gear when parked until I got to them in the afternoon.

They replaced the switch and did a software update; problem has not occured again since.

[dunkley201]

......This would be a simple system if it worked just from the dash button. But it also works automatically when you lift the clutch pedal. A control module senses the clutch pedal and a couple of other motion sensors for this auto bit. This leaves alot more to go wrong. The most common failure seems to be the dash switch. Rear caliper motors seem to be quite reliable.

Yet it is the "simple" "old-tech" dash button that goes wrong, not the automatic bells & whistles........if only everything was as reliable as a Volkswagen.....:confused: