'Parking brake failure' - Car (no longer) stranded. **updated**

[E46ACS]

Hi. Looks like my parking brake actuator is fubar'd, but my immediate issue is i can't get the parking brake released.

I parked on a hill last night, and when I returned to the car and un-locked it, I had a real screeching noise come from the rear drivers side.

(just like this thread: http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 296.0.html)

Start the car up and have the parking brake failure warning come up. Car starts fine, goes into gear, tries to move, but parking brake refusing to release. After a bit of googling, i located the manual cable release in the boot. This has no effect.

Looks like the issue is the actuator, but I can survive without a parking brake for a few days, if I could only get the car moving!!!!!!!

How do you release the parking brake if the manual release has no effect?

HELP!!!! 

Thanks

[E46ACS]

Actually, stupid question.......

I located the manual release, which seems to be a cable that you pull. SO.... what is the red T shaped tool needed for?

Am I am being a complete numpty here and not doing it right? (this possibility exists!!!)  :-[

[kjb1]

The actuator has mauled the gearing inside and therefore your emergency release is worthless.  Only way to free is to cut the cables to rear of car to either wheel.  If car in park, it shouldn't  go anywhere, chock for extra safety maybe? I put my car on some fairly steep inclines to test after cables were cut and it never moved!! apart from the initial settling lurch when you knocked engine off.

Red handled tool is used to hook the cable and use as an aid to pulling the cable.  Its all in handbook, but in your case I have a feeling this will be fruitless exercise as it was with mine.


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[E46ACS]

Thanks for the response. I fear you may be right.  >:(

Right, so are the cables obvious? I need to make sure I'm cutting the right ones!

[kjb1]

you will need a large decent bolt cutters, toughest to get at is drivers side if I remember correctly


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[X5Sport]

The cables are heavy gauge black covered 'Bowden' type - hence needing decent bolt cutters.

And get your wallet or warranty ready.  The actuator itself is expensive and not easily repairable if it has chewed the gearing.

Some versions of the car also used the T handle to release 'P' manually in the event of a power failure/gearbox fault.  That function was removed from 2010 onwards and the handle was no longer supplied.

[E46ACS]

****UPDATE****

Thanks for the help guys.

In a fit of anger and frustration, was trying the manual release cable again and gave it a good hard tug......

......and bingo! parking brake released!!! 

So we are on the move. No parking brake now, but thats ok.

Just need to get the cause investigated now, but may not be as bad as first feared.

@kjb1 Thanks for your advice .

[X5Sport]

Huge 'yeah' 

At least the cables are intact too.

[kjb1]

[quote="E46ACS"]
****UPDATE****

Thanks for the help guys.

In a fit of anger and frustration, was trying the manual release cable again and gave it a good hard tug......

......and bingo! parking brake released!!! 

So we are on the move. No parking brake now, but thats ok.

Just need to get the cause investigated now, but may not be as bad as first feared.

@kjb1 Thanks for your advice .
[/quote]

No probs! glad you are on the move again.  I do think it sounds like same symptoms of mine however, that noise......I still remember it now, it sounded expensive [emoji4].

The new actuator comes as a whole unit with cables all sealed within, silly design really but hey ho!! the most annoying part about living with it for a month or two which I did, was the bong alarm warning me it had failed every time you started it haha.




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[E46ACS]

[quote="kjb1"]
No probs! glad you are on the move again.  I do think it sounds like same symptoms of mine however, that noise......I still remember it now, it sounded expensive [emoji4].

The new actuator comes as a whole unit with cables all sealed within, silly design really but hey ho!! the most annoying part about living with it for a month or two which I did, was the bong alarm warning me it had failed every time you started it haha.
[/quote]

I think you are right. When I heard the noise my first thought was "Uh-oh. That's sounds expensive!".

And yes, living without a hand brake, no problem. The bong and the message every time you start, that is starting to annoy already!!!

[Welshie]

Appreciate i am a bit late to the party with this, however, if any one else has this issue in the future and the emergency release cable doesn't work.  Push and hold down the electronic parking switch, not an ideal solutions and short term but it may save you having to get towed!!

I had a similar situation where the brake actuator failed, the emergency release cable wouldn't release the brakes, after abit of trouble shooting i managed to get it moving by holding the switch down whilst driving it to a garage!

Interestingly, i had the part replaced and got hold of the one they took off, the gears hadn't failed so i can only assume it was the circuit board or the motor that failed.

[Lamby]

Welshie, can I ask how much you had to pay to get it sorted?  I'm getting the annoying "bong" but have had no problem with the car being immobile.  Garage said it was sorted and no reports to say otherwise but noise came back after a few days.

[Horizon]

[quote="Welshie"]
Appreciate i am a bit late to the party with this, however, if any one else has this issue in the future and the emergency release cable doesn't work.  Push and hold down the electronic parking switch, not an ideal solutions and short term but it may save you having to get towed!!

I had a similar situation where the brake actuator failed, the emergency release cable wouldn't release the brakes, after abit of trouble shooting i managed to get it moving by holding the switch down whilst driving it to a garage!

Interestingly, i had the part replaced and got hold of the one they took off, the gears hadn't failed so i can only assume it was the circuit board or the motor that failed.
[/quote]
Sounds like it may be an Achilles heel of the E70. I Also know of people who won't touch VW's with the auto handbrake as they can also lock up and are an expensive repair.

[X5Sport]

Unfortunately auto/electric parking brakes seem to be the way of things.  More and more cars are getting them.  Personally I can't see the advantage as the weight of the device has to be higher than a simple lever and cables?

I have one on the Skoda which is on by default and is controlled by the throttle and gear selector.  Being a VW/Audi part I suspect it will be silly money to replace once the warranty runs out.

[jaynana]

There are usability advantages - like auto release on drive off, auto apply on P.. 

Certainly can't do handbrake turns though [emoji13]

Hope I won't have a lock-up situation [emoji33]


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