Parking brake problem - please help

[spako]

I've completed 2000km trip to Poland yesterday. Everything went fine but this morning (after -9 degree night) the parking brake stopped working. The trouble is that the brakes are locked and I can't move the vehicle. I've tried unplugging the battery for a few minutes but it made no difference. There is a "parking brake fail" error on the dash.

What can I do to rectify the problem?

Is there any DIY solution or contact VW is my only option?

Please help, I'm devastated.

Here's the readout from VCDS:

Tuesday,20,December,2011,19:15:34:10074
VCDS Version: Release 10.6.4 (x64)

                Address 53: Parking Brake       Labels: 3C0-907-801-53.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 3C0 907 801 B    HW: 3C0 907 801 B
  Component and/or Version: EPB  VC8HC001   013 0001
           Software Coding: 0000011
            Work Shop Code: WSC 00028 028 00001
                      VCID: 214DE1B78159
1 Fault Found:

02433 - Supply Voltage for Right Parking Brake Motor (V283) 
            012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit - MIL ON
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 11101100
                    Fault Priority: 1
                    Fault Frequency: 7
                    Reset counter: 82
                    Mileage: 149520 km
                    Time Indication: 0
                    Date: 2000.00.00
                    Time: 09:12:49

             Freeze Frame:
                    Voltage: 12.63 V
                    Count: 87

[martin1810]

Unbolt the stuck motor. Use torx bit to wind back caliper one turn. Refit motor. Repeat for other wheel if necessary. That will free the wheels.

[spako]

Thank's a lot.

I've just digested the EPB section of your web site and I think I'm ready to take the wheel off.

[spako]

And done.

The right wheel is now unblocked, EPB on the left one seems to be working OK but for the time being I think I won't use EPB at all.

Do you think I should unplug the wire from the faulty motor or is it best to leave it connected?

[martin1810]

If you are not going to use it, you can leave it connected. If you want to try using just the other side epb, disconnect it. With luck you will have a one epb car. Trouble is it may constantly beep on the dash because of the error. Your choice.

[spako]

I decided to leave it connected until I find a replacement motor but now I'm having problems with the intermittent beeping sound whilst driving.
Initially I managed to turn it off somehow but few days ago I forgot about the EPB problem and pressed the button by mistake (yes I know it was lame ;-).
Now the beeping sound is on and don't know how to get rid of it.

Is there any way of disabling EPB completely via VAG-COM or at least stopping that annoying beeping sound.

BTW, do you know a good place where I can source a second hand brake motor from?

[monzo24]

If you are not going to use it, you can leave it connected. If you want to try using just the other side epb, disconnect it. With luck you will have a one epb car. Trouble is it may constantly beep on the dash because of the error. Your choice.

Many thanks for your site Martin. I'd love a detailed tutorial on how the Can-bus system works and communicates with the cpu. Specifically on the EPB though, many owners have had epb switches fail, having to be towed away. Can you or somebody experiment and identify how we could get out of trouble in the event of a switch failing leaving us with brakes on. Mine have never failed yet, but nice to be forearmed. It's not always the servo motors that fail. thanks

[stringman]

Unbolt the stuck motor. Use torx bit to wind back caliper one turn. Refit motor. Repeat for other wheel if necessary. That will free the wheels.

sorry to hijack this thread but my epb has just jammed on - it has been left standing for a week.
When you say wind back the caliper one turn do you mean one turn (360 degrees) of the torx driver? will that be enough? or do I keep turning (its clockwise isnt it?) until its released?
also i will need to drive the car so should i refit the wires?

Thanks

[martin1810]

One complete turn 360 degrees clockwise will disengage the pads just as if the motor had done it. If you reconnect wires you may have less warning sounds from the dash afterwards.

[stringman]

Thanks for that martin.
I am hoping that its only one side as it seems to dig in on one side when trying to drive.
possibly a silly question but should i do this procedure with the epb switched off?

just need to find a 45torx now