Parking Brake Fault followed by ESP and Tyre Pressure Faults

[Andy Cook]

This is a 2006 2.0 Diesel 140 Passat Estate with Auto Hold and Tyre Pressure monitor and keyless entry which has done 101k miles and which we've had from new.

Over the past month I've had 3 instances of the Parking Brake fault which have cleared themselves with just a restart of the car. On Friday night however, the Parking Brake fault came up again (couldn't get the brake on), and wouldn't clear itself by any of the normal routes. I drove the car home and left it overnight with the Parking Brake button and the red brake symbols flashing.

On Saturday afternoon, I tried to start the car, but the battery just didn't have enough left in it to turn over enough. I disconnected the battery and left it overnight until our other car was here/

This morning I jump started the car and then left it to charge for 45 minutes or so. The Parking Brake fault still showed at this point I think. I then tried to apply the parking brake and it came on OK (cycled twice I think) and the Parking brake error went, but I'm now left with ESP that is permanantly off, and the Tyre Pressure monitor showing an alarm and not being able to be reset. Auto Hold won't engage either.

The car is going to a good independant garage tomorrow morning (but not a VAG specialist). A point of note which may or may not be relavent was that at the car's last service (main dealer) @ 95k miles, they said that the rear pads were 80% worn. I delined to have them replaced at that time since they were the originals and my basic maths said they should last another 25k miles and I thought I'd get warning if they were failing. I'd also say that, over the past months, the parking brake seemed to be taking a little longer to apply itself than in the past.

Any pointers as to what I should be looking out for / worrying about.

Thank you

[Guest 2]

Try and find someone with vcds (specialist or forum member) to get an accurate electronic diagnosis.

[RichardSEL]

Pads should not last 95k miles plus. The pads' indicator is only on the front nearside so that's the only pad thickness monitored.

Is yours the original battery from factory? Is it a Moll? If so, it should be changed. They last five years and then just gently expire.

For the VCDS Autoscan -- where are you? I'm in SE London, close to the A102 southbound out of the Blackwall Tunnel

[Flash2]

A common fault on early Passats was the park brake switch. There was a bulletin from VW that advised you to check the build date of the switch (it's marked in code on the switch body). If it was made before a certain date the switch was to be replaced. Even if the fault wasn't directly relating to the switch, it was to be replaced anyway. That would probably apply to your 2006MY car.

Second thing that is common on the earlier EPB systems is the motor casings split allowing water ingress into the motor(there's an electric motor attached to each rear caliper). It splits right at the bottom of the motor and is easy to spot...when the cars on a ramp.

If you do find that one or both of your motors is damaged, check the price of a motor and a complete motor/caliper assembly. From memory there wasn't a great difference in price and some customers opted to have the complete caliper replaced.

If the battery had gone flat the steering angle sensor would have lost it's adaption and that would cause the ESP and steering warning lights to stay on but that usually relearns after a short drive. There are sensors inside the EPB ECU that are used by the ESP system too, so if the lights are still staying on it could be due to the EPB fault.

As Richard says, only the N/S/F brake pad has a wear sensor, so you wouldn't get any warning of the rear pads wearing right down. I wouldn't replace your battery though without having it fully charged and checked. If the EPB lights were on overnight then the rest of the CAN bus system was probably active too which would pull the battery down.

I hope that lot is of some help to you.

Regards.

Jim.

[Andy Cook]

Thank you all for your help. The garage diagnosed a 02443 Control Head Implausible Signal error. Parking brake switch replaced - let's hope that cures it.

All the other warning lights disappeared after a very short drive as suggested by Jim.

Andy

[RichardSEL]

Get those pads changed -- all round. Don't expect another 20k on top of your already 91k. Relying on the tyre wear indicator assumes the indicator's working.
My factory-fitted TRWs lasted to 47k and the indicator came on then. Changed for TRWs. There are other longer lasting ceramic pads about now. I'm now up to 71k so expect to change next year. My Rover P5 and P6 pads years ago only lasted 40k-odd but was younger and driving a bit harder then

[vespa]

Get those pads changed -- all round. Don't expect another 20k on top of your already 91k. Relying on the tyre wear indicator assumes the indicator's working.
My factory-fitted TRWs lasted to 47k and the indicator came on then. Changed for TRWs. There are other longer lasting ceramic pads about now. I'm now up to 81k so expect to change next year. My Rover P5 and P6 pads years ago only lasted 40k-odd but was younger and driving a bit harder then

I must agree with you fully. I had to replace my pads at 35k on my 45 V6. Earlier cars had similar mileages for changes.

[Simonwilson007]

Hi can u help, I have recently changed my electronic brake for a new one but it still has the fault on the dash, the codes state an open circuit , is this a software issue ? , the calliper had leaked into the electronic brake and flagged up on the dash. Or do u think maybe a fuse please help I'd really appreasiate it

[Simonwilson007]

Hi can u help, I have recently changed my electronic brake for a new one but it still has the fault on the dash, the codes state an open circuit , is this a software issue ? , the calliper had leaked into the electronic brake and flagged up on the dash. Or do u think maybe a fuse please help I'd really appreasiate it

[itavaltalainen]

So brake fluid leaked into electronics?
And you think the fuse is at fault ?