Parking Brake Malfunction Help

[toast88]

So I parked my car Thursday night in my driveway, Friday morning when I went to go to work, the car would not disengage the parking brake and the warning came up parking brake malfunction. Thought maybe it was the cold weather, but it has warmed up today and it is still stuck. I was wondering if there is some way to manually disengage the parking brake, last thing I want to do is get it towed. I did a bit of searching around online but couldn't really find anything that is like my situation. Any help is appreciated

[richardm0025]

So I parked my car Thursday night in my driveway, Friday morning when I went to go to work, the car would not disengage the parking brake and the warning came up parking brake malfunction. Thought maybe it was the cold weather, but it has warmed up today and it is still stuck. I was wondering if there is some way to manually disengage the parking brake, last thing I want to do is get it towed. I did a bit of searching around online but couldn't really find anything that is like my situation. Any help is appreciated

Your saying your pb will not disengage when you put it in drive? I thought I saw a similar thread where the guy put his seatbelt on and then it disengaged when he pressed the pb button?

[tylern012]

If worst comes to worst you could always start the car, unplug the MAF sensor, and that will throw a CEL with a parking break malfunction. That may or may not release it. I dont know forsure if it would be worth a try if no one else has any good ideas.

[toast88]

No it did not disengage when I put it in drive. Just tried it with the seatbelt buckled and it did not disengage.

[B44]

probably try this. disconnect the battery for 10 minutes meaning the negative terminal only. then connect it back to see if that helps.

[oascom]

You could open it with vagcom easily...

[richardm0025]

You could open it with vagcom easily...

+1, that would do it.

[jfo]

+1, that would do it.

Assuming that the problem isn't a bad control module? Any codes?

[QuatA4]

Happened to me when I was camping and almost shat myself when I thought I was stuck there forever. I had a thread about it here.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...g-or-by-design

I put my seat belt on, started the car, try to disengage the parking break again, if it doesn't work, keep trying different combination of these and it should let go unless the module is completely fried. Mine was intermittent and Audi just reseated the connection and it never came back.

[toast88]

Thanks, I will try the seatbelt thing again. And I don't know any one that has vagcom that would be able to do that for me, besides the mechanic and I don't believe he will make a house call

[Fox Fader]

The 1st time I saw a power parking brake, I thought it was way cool. Since having one, not so. Give me the ole cable anytime.

[oascom]

Thanks, I will try the seatbelt thing again. And I don't know any one that has vagcom that would be able to do that for me, besides the mechanic and I don't believe he will make a house call

Ordering vagcom might be helpful in the long run.

[toast88]

Ordering vagcom might be helpful in the long run.

Maybe, but I can't justify spending hundreds on something I will hardly ever use

[DJ_AudiA4]

I don't know how proficient you are with tools and DIY but you could try to remove the rear caliper and manually push in the brake by applying a clamp to it while tuning it. Now this isn't the recommended way but i know form first hand experience it works. Would take some time and effort. You have to take the calipers and brake pads off, push them in by twisting while having a clamp on it then reinstall the pads. i would just push it in a little fit the caliper back over then try to engage and disengage the brake to see what happens.

[toast88]

Thanks for the help, I normally would possibly try that with the help of my friend who is good with all that kind of stuff, but that seems like alot of work to do in 20 degree weather. It's looking like I am going to somehow have to get it towed, which I have a bad feeling that something will get damaged in the process. I called a local audi dealer and their service department said there wasn't really anything I could do except for get it towed in. I am going to check the fuses for the parking brake don't know if they could be a cause for a problem but it's worth checking

[DJ_AudiA4]

20 degrees!! Maybe they really did just freeze hahah Hopefully they find a problem with the system and the dealer reimburse you for the cost of the tow. Good luck!

[toast88]

Thanks, yea it has been very cold here lately, although It was around 45 degrees on Sunday ( after it snowed all day Saturday) So i figured if it had been frozen it most likely would have thawed out on Sunday. I talked to my buddy who works at car max and he is going to bring over his scanner tomorrow and scan it. Others have mentioned vagcom, would it really be as simple as finding someone local who has vagcom and knows what they are doing to just come by, hook it up and click a few buttons and release the brake?

[oascom]

Yes simply as that. Try regional forum, offer somone a beer or little cash and there sure is somone who will help you. If u were closer I would

[DJ_AudiA4]

If it's a machines issue due to the temperature and it won't open because it is literally frozen then a VagCom won't help.

[oascom]

If it's a machines issue due to the temperature and it won't open because it is literally frozen then a VagCom won't help.

But at least he can be sure it's mechanical problem. Also I don't think it could "freeze".

[toast88]

I got my buddy to scan it with his Autel Scanner and it looks like a bad control module. He tried pressing the open parking brake button, nothing happened.
Code 00473 - Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540)

**Found this on Ross Tech http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00473
Looks like what I suspected, sommunication is not happening could be the wiring or the module itself

[toast88]

Figured I would just update this in case anyone has this problem in the future. It ended up being the Parking brake module that was the problem. I was able to find a "used" one on ebay for $80 compared to $400+ for a new one. I replaced my module with the new one. It was quite simple just slide the old one off and slide the new one on. Then turned the car on and pushed down the parking brake lever and the brake released. Very happy I didn't have to get the car towed, saved me alot of money.

[booost]

Good to know, thanks for the update. I try not to use mine unless parked on a big hill because I'm afraid it won't disengage. I would much prefer a mechanical handbrake...

[Fox Fader]

Good info, bruh. Makes me not want to use the darn thing. lol

[toast88]

Yea, tell me about it. Now I don't want to use the parking brake again in case this would happen again

[AOW162435]

Is this 'module' located at the caliper, or inside the cabin?



Andreas

[geodan]

So I parked my car Thursday night in my driveway, Friday morning when I went to go to work, the car would not disengage the parking brake and the warning came up parking brake malfunction. Thought maybe it was the cold weather, but it has warmed up today and it is still stuck. I was wondering if there is some way to manually disengage the parking brake, last thing I want to do is get it towed. I did a bit of searching around online but couldn't really find anything that is like my situation. Any help is appreciated

I have had this same issue last week, my car was in my garage for about 4 days. When I came to drive it i took off the parking brake and the light disengaged however brakes we're still on i could not move the car.

[toast88]

Is this 'module' located at the caliper, or inside the cabin?



Andreas

It is located in the passenger side compartment in the trunk, there is also a set of fuses back there as well
The part number on mine is 8K0907801E but apparently this does not show up in the audi parts database for some reason. They show 8K0907801H which I assume is a newer version of mine and would work, but I do not know for sure.

[toast88]

I have had this same issue last week, my car was in my garage for about 4 days. When I came to drive it i took off the parking brake and the light disengaged however brakes we're still on i could not move the car.

Not sure if you are in the same situation as me, the light on my lever was always on.