Parking Brake Switch / Radio Code

**fat controller** · 07-12-2010,05:58 PM

Over the last couple of weeks I have been getting more and more instances of the parking brake not working (sometimes when putting it on, other times when trying to take it off), and it has gotten to the point now that I am simply not using the parking brake at all.

Now, reading on here, I know that the first thing to try is to change the switch.

I know that it is a general recommendation to disconnect the battery when working on vehicle electrics, although must confess that I have ignored this a number of times over the years and never had a problem - however, I have never had a car with such a complex control system before.

So, do I NEED to disconnect the battery, or is it only a general precaution?

If I do need to disconnect the battery, how easy is it for me to obtain the radio code for the car before going ahead, as I didn't get one with the car?

**ToMBoY_C** · 07-12-2010,06:06 PM

If you're replacing the button? Then you don't need to take the battery out, unless you need to clear the fault, which, if you don't have ignition on, it won't log.

If the handbrake is stuck on/off and you want to reset the computer, try setting the alarm off first, I've heard this also can reset systems?

As for the radio code, I did mine a few times and was never asked for a time, go into settings and turn the code off

Think I'm right, however I'll be told otherwise by other knowlegeable people on here

**patomlin76** · 07-12-2010,07:12 PM

Doesn't matter about disconnecting battery - I just did a quick swap of switches.

As far as the radio code goes, the radio supplied with your vehicle has the code embedded in the VCDS (not accessible though). So you can remove it if you want to add third party stereos, and then put it back in when you sell the car. You will not be asked to input the code again. However if you try to put your own radio in someone elses Passat, or vice-versa, then you will need the code.