Electric Handbrake not engaging and Windows opening by themselves

[hjenkins]

Please help. I have just bought a 56 Plate 1.9 TDI Passat, I have had it less than a week and already the electric handbrake sometimes won't engage and I woke up sunday morning to find all four of the windows wound down fully by themselves overnight!

It has been suggested that a software update to the ECU may resolve any strange electrical problems, is this true? If so is there an easy way to find out what version it is currently running and what the latest is? I'd like to know if I'm well out of date.

Also, could it be a poorly fitted pollen filter than can bring an ingress of water to the CCM?

I am real VW noob and very worried that I have spent a lot of money on a car I can't trust to leave parked.

[Teflon]

I might be able to answer the windows problem. If you hold down the unlock button on the keyfob for several seconds it winds down all 4 windows. I've managed this (with an Audi) while walking away, keys in hand and a big pile of papers in my arms. All I got for my trouble was a saoking wet cabin (2 hours of torrential rain).

If you have the highline display you can turn this feature off yourself. If not, it means a trip to the dealer or find someone with VAGcom who will do it.

Try this to see if you can make it happen. If so, it's a much better explanation than trying to fault-find electrical gremlins.

[Quatrelle]

If it's a 56 plate I would have thought that any software updates would have been done (providing it's been correctly VW serviced).

Faulty handbrake switches are a known issue on Passats.

[hjenkins]

You were right! Thank you, you've put my mind to rest, can't think why that would be a useful feature to anyone.

[dunkley201]

You were right! Thank you, you've put my mind to rest, can't think why that would be a useful feature to anyone.

Would you believe, VW call it a "convenience feature". On my previous B5.5 Est, some ******* thieves jemmied the door lock, powered down all the windows and rifled the boot and glove box! The doors were still locked & no alarm sounded! I got the dealer to "disable" it. I was told "if we disable it sir, it cannot be re-instated". "Great!" I said... At least on the B6, the door lock is not obvious, although I guess the same could happen!

[hjenkins]

If the handbrake issue is a know Passat problem, is there a well documented solution? There were lots of worrying comments on Honest John that the e-brake would automatically disengage when parked! Is this rare? Do I just have to learn to live with the e-brake sometimes needing me to switch the car on and off?

[Quatrelle]

If the handbrake issue is a know Passat problem, is there a well documented solution? There were lots of worrying comments on Honest John that the e-brake would automatically disengage when parked! Is this rare? Do I just have to learn to live with the e-brake sometimes needing me to switch the car on and off?

How rare is rare? I've never had a problem with mine, if I'm on a slope I let it roll slightly as I press the button to feel the brake grip - it's too easy to quickly press the button before hopping out of the car, not realising that the brake hasn't applied because you haven't pressed the button properly (on a gentle slope the car will just sit there till it feels like moving!). I also always leave it in gear. The issue is more with the button being faulty, afaik.

The windows dropping is invariably caused by inadvertent 'key' pressing. I use the facility (usually in the summer, I have to say) and like it, either to close all the windows or open them when the car's been standing in the sun.