Electronic Parking Brake light in dash

**RaLuci** · 27-09-2015,01:24 PM

Hello guys,

Yet another problem with this annoying EPB from our friends from VW.
The problem that I have is a bit different from what I read all over the www
This is the error code I've got:

02845 - Function Display in Instrument Cluster (!)
006 - Short to Plus

The bold text in the error is what I couldn't find anything about all over the net.
Brake is working fine, pedal and EPB button etc... just the red light in dash.
Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you.

PS: MOT booked for Wednesday...

**philipharmes** · 28-09-2015,09:56 PM

If you have a look at my thread Parking Brake Failure it is prety much identical, same fault code.

This is caused by a software fault within the J540 Parking Brake Module.

I purchased a secondhand unit off eBay for £45.
It then needs VCDS to adapt it to your car.

Alternatively, if you go to VW they will fit the latest Generation 4 module, but don't expect any change out of £500 for the job, could be even more, as actually getting to the module is about an hours work alone.

PS Cancel your MOT unless you can get it fixed beforehand.
The Parking Brake fault light will be an automatic MOT failure!

**RaLuci** · 28-09-2015,10:14 PM

Thanks for the reply Philip.
I'm no tech genius but software is software. Once written and working how can it get a fault??? It's not like it's evolving or changing its code as you drive... I'm really p off by this software bs from vw.
The codes that we have are different. Main error code is the same but sub-error is totaly different and it might be something entirely different, that's why I was asking if someone else had exactly the same issue.
Sorry for the tone Philip but I'm just ****** off by this car... just a few months back I spent nearly £2k on repairs and now this sh*t happens... should have just scrapped the blody thing...

**niall campbell** · 28-09-2015,10:25 PM

VW PASSAT 2.0 TDI 3C 2009 model help how to code EPB module You could look here ?

**niall campbell** · 28-09-2015,10:30 PM

02845 - Ross-Tech Wiki or indeed here .

**DMitch16** · 28-09-2015,10:53 PM

Originally Posted by RaLuci

I'm no tech genius but software is software. Once written and working how can it get a fault???

Software is only as good as its programming and all software is susceptible to bad coding or bugs. It may be that there is an underlying bug within the module software that is awaiting a particular set of circumstances or voltages before it causes a fault. Under normal conditions there may well be no problem with the module software.

**philipharmes** · 29-09-2015,12:05 AM

Originally Posted by RaLuci

Thanks for the reply Philip.
I'm no tech genius but software is software. Once written and working how can it get a fault??? It's not like it's evolving or changing its code as you drive... I'm really p off by this software bs from vw.
The codes that we have are different. Main error code is the same but sub-error is totaly different and it might be something entirely different, that's why I was asking if someone else had exactly the same issue.
Sorry for the tone Philip but I'm just ****** off by this car... just a few months back I spent nearly £2k on repairs and now this sh*t happens... should have just scrapped the blody thing...

I understand your frustration, I was in the same frame of mind until yesterday when I got mine fixed.
Although I had had 3 previous years of trouble free motoring from it.

Admittedly your fault shows short to plus, mine showed short to ground.

The MFD display still showed " Parking Brake Fault " every time I started the car.

I therefore concluded that if the display WAS actually short to ground, the MFD wouldnt have displayed the Parking Brake Message.
So to my mind the J540 PB Module thinks there is a short to ground ( or plus ) because the faulty software is telling it so.

Does your MFD show the fault message each time you start the car ?

Possibly VW can re-flash the software, you would have to enquire.
But with their high labour rates..........

This guy Please Help Passat park brake ecu change Lateral acceleration fault(G200) basic settings tried the S/W update with VW but had to get a new PB module in the end

I concluded it would be cheaper to get a used module, hope it was ok & swop it.

That's what worked for me.

**RichardSEL** · 29-09-2015,03:48 AM

Seems you may have the 3c0 "J" series of EPB controller. These are not Flash updateable. Only a replacement to the latest equivalent 3AA series will cure the fault you report. There's been many reports of these "J" series modules going faulty. I don't think they are repairable. There are "J" series modules available on eBay, but you take the risk that the one you get is for sale because it's already known as faulty. Some have taken the risk and had success. I wouldn't. Check this info with dealer spares against your VIN. Without a VCDS Autoscan we're giving best guesses. As is the above.

A replacement 3AA series is a 30 byte module, the "J" series is a 23 byte module. The coding on the new module is different from the old. But can be done in VCDS by taking a note of what toggles are switched on in VCDS Long Coding Helper, changing out the module, then switching on the same toggles in Long Coding Helper.

The Flash update talked about is for older 3c0 series (like mine in an '06MY) Mine came from factory as a "B", when I had it flashed two years ago it went to "GX"

**RichardSEL** · 29-09-2015,04:53 AM

Originally Posted by RaLuci

Thanks for the reply Philip.
I'm no tech genius but software is software. Once written and working how can it get a fault??? It's not like it's evolving or changing its code as you drive... I'm really p off by this software bs from vw.

<snip>

Because the software had not been written to cover all possible fault conditions. Often referred to as "buggy". Happens with all software in all applications, I'm afraid. Ends up with the end user being the beta tester.

Ross-Tech regularly issues beta versions of their new VCDS software before having it available for auto-download.

Many years ago went through the DOS to Windows 3.1 to Win95 to 98 to Windows NT, Win 2000, etc. saga. There were numerous updates to each released version. So many that Microsoft started their auto-updates procedure for genuine users from WinXP

**martin1810** · 30-09-2015,04:21 AM

Originally Posted by RaLuci

Hello guys,

Yet another problem with this annoying EPB from our friends from VW.
The problem that I have is a bit different from what I read all over the www
This is the error code I've got:

02845 - Function Display in Instrument Cluster (!)
006 - Short to Plus

The bold text in the error is what I couldn't find anything about all over the net.
Brake is working fine, pedal and EPB button etc... just the red light in dash.
Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you.

PS: MOT booked for Wednesday...

Use VCDS to check parking brake module coding. Wrong coding can cause this fault as the module is testing for a lamp that isn't present so you get open circuit or short to plus. Short to plus is VW speak for open circuit unless the wire is negative. In that case a fuse would normally blow)