Intermittant EPB problem

[Ragtag]

Have a 2007 2.0 TDI Passat. 88k miles full history.
Picked it up two weeks ago from dealers and all has been well. Over the last four days on very rare occasions, the EPB will not turn on.
I press the button with clutch and footbrake depressed, and the button light comes on for a split second, then goes out with no brake on. The yellow warning light comes on ( Yellow circle with line through it and a P) on the dash.

If I leave the car turned off for half an hour, it works ok.

99 times out of 100 it works correctly, but sometimes, as above, it doesn't.
At first I thought it was me not doing it right, but now I'm used to the car I know it's the system.

Just been into the sales showroom and the mechanic has tried for ages to make the fault happen.. Unable to find the fault!!

Anyone got any advice as to the problem.

(Shop have been very good, and say if it continues, get it to them for further checks, or go straight in if it happens nearby)

Thanks in advance..
Rags.

[RichardSEL]

It might only be the EPB switch that's gone faulty. There's a "C" version available from dealer.
It's easy to change by removing driver side fuse panel then pushing the switch out from back
when freeing up the plastic locator tabs.

[martin1810]

Have a 2007 2.0 TDI Passat. 88k miles full history.
Picked it up two weeks ago from dealers and all has been well. Over the last four days on very rare occasions, the EPB will not turn on.
I press the button with clutch and footbrake depressed, and the button light comes on for a split second, then goes out with no brake on. The yellow warning light comes on ( Yellow circle with line through it and a P) on the dash.

If I leave the car turned off for half an hour, it works ok.

99 times out of 100 it works correctly, but sometimes, as above, it doesn't.
At first I thought it was me not doing it right, but now I'm used to the car I know it's the system.

Just been into the sales showroom and the mechanic has tried for ages to make the fault happen.. Unable to find the fault!!

Anyone got any advice as to the problem.

(Shop have been very good, and say if it continues, get it to them for further checks, or go straight in if it happens nearby)

Thanks in advance..
Rags.

Don't press clutch down and then engage epb. No wonder it doesn't want to come on.

[Ragtag]

Sorry, missed a bit out. As above, also in neutral with clutch up .
Isn't it supposed to activate with clutch and footbrake pressed? How do you deal with hillstarts Or stopping on a steep hill?

Thanks so far..

[Quatrelle]

The 'handbrake' releases when you depress the clutch, put the car in gear, and add some throttle to pull away, in other words just as you would with a normal handbrake, but there's no lever. It is important to push the clutch pedal right to the floor as if there was a pushbutton under it - just dipping it won't do.

It takes some getting used to, and can be unnerving when trying to reverse uphill from a standstill if you've got an obstacle in front of you - find somewhere quiet to practise.

You can also of course release the brake by depressing the button on the dash. You have to press the brake pedal to release the handbrake if you're not wearing your seatbelt.

[Ragtag]

On it... Going to practice some more. (Now, where is that embarrassed smiley..)
Thanks.

[Ragtag]

Well, things are getting worse.
The car is booked in and being collected by VW Preston in the morning to have the problem with the EPB not setting sorted.
But.......
Over the last few days the problem of the EPB/brakes locking ON has reared its evil head.

Once, unable to move off my drive after being parked up all night, eventually released after a lot of turning on / off and rocking the car on the revs slightly.
Once on a car park after being parked up for ten minutes, released after a bit of rocking the car and re pressing the button a few times.

And the worst one..... On the M61 earlier today. Stopped in very heavy stop start motorway traffic. Applied EPB without thinking, and it wouldn't release after about 20 seconds.. Aaaggh!
I was in lane 2 and people behind were very upset at me causing even more disruption. Took about two minutes of rocking, on and off pressing, and swearing, also banging the brake hubs with a long brush handle. Eventually it worked. I think this could have been very dangerous had it not actually been nose to tail traffic that was all stationary in all three lanes.
I just hope it happens for the rep from the garage who is picking up in the morning!

So it wasn't us being slightly thick after all...

I will report back.

Ragtag.

[Crasher]

If it just comes up with "control head" that just means it needs a new switch which is 3C0 927 225 C REH for £28.08 and these take literally only a few seconds to fit, no tools required.

If they say you need a new caliper, don't let them sell you genuine ones at £412 each, I can do genuine full TRW units (the original manufacturer for VW) for half of that-in stock.



In rare cases it may need a new ECU which is unpleasant.

[Ragtag]

Thank you. Luckily its under the dealers warranty, so I will keep pushing until its sorted.

I will tell them about the parts though, I bet even they will want to keep the costs down.

[Ragtag]

Car is now back on the drive of Ragtag!
New switch fitted, as was suggested. Mechanic states that the EPB in general, and the plastic housings have all been checked and no cracks evident.
All appears well.

They even cleaned the car inside and out

Ragtag.