Parking Brake malfunction and supply voltage erros

[Jerritt]

I received two error codes after running Carista on my 2009 a4. One was for supply voltage to my parking brake and the other for parking brake motor malfunction. My parking brake doesnt work now and the light is on constantly. When i flick the switch in either direction the parking brake light blinks in my dashboard but nothing happens. Audi told me I need new motors but my buddy who works there said they may be able to fix for less since its roughly $1400 for motors. They wont tell me how they would fix it or if there is anything that can be done besides the motors to make it work again unless I pay a minimum of $260 for diagnosis.

Has anyone had this issue and/or does anyone know a short cut to fixing the issue. I rarely ever use my parking brakes. only for flats and I believe it may have been tripped when I had the rear brakes done but the shop I went to wont own up to it. He said he had the tools to disengage the parking brake system and does them on audi's all the time.

[S4'ed]

Clear the codes and see what codes come back when you try to activate the parking brake.

When the shop replaced your rear pads they may not have properly done the EPB reset procedure with VAGCOM, where the EPB module relearns the new end-stops of the parking brake motor "positions" which are different when new (thicker) pads are installed. Find someone with VAGCOM and follow the EPB reset ("Basic Setting") procedure listed on the Ross Tech FAQ section. If that doesn't solve your problem, do the following :

1) Check the EPB fuses. There are two fuses, in the fuse panel in the trunk, right side, behind the little cubby. The grey cubby/bin pulls out. The fuse block has 5 vertical rows of fuses. In the 2nd and 3rd vertical row from the left, check the 7th fuse up, each should be a green 30Amp fuse.
2) Pull off the connector on the parking brake motor, and then connect a 12V car battery (with a 20amp fuse in series) to the two terminals of the motor. The motor should run and fully engage the parking brake. If the motor doesn't run immediately remove the 12V, and reverse the wires and try again to reverse the motor direction. Don't keep the 12V connected to the motor if it does not immediately run, or after it stops at the end of its travel. This test will confirm if the motors are OK, which they probably are. I have not heard of these motors failing.
3) If both motors are functional, then it is either the EPB switch on the console, or a wiring/connector, or grounding issue, or the EPB Control Module itself. (located to the left of the trunk fuse panel).

Generally, you should use the parking brake often. Using it keeps the caliper properly adjusted as the pads wear. There is no good reason for not using your parking brake.

[A4 Centaur]

^ Thanks for the post I'm getting ready to install my S4 rear calipers and had half a mind to wing it. Not now.

Op, hope you can get this sorted. The motors look pretty simple after disassembling the calipers. Rock Auto might have them in stock if you go that route.

[Jerritt]

Clear the codes and see what codes come back when you try to activate the parking brake.

When the shop replaced your rear pads they may not have properly done the EPB reset procedure with VAGCOM, where the EPB module relearns the new end-stops of the parking brake motor "positions" which are different when new (thicker) pads are installed. Find someone with VAGCOM and follow the EPB reset ("Basic Setting") procedure listed on the Ross Tech FAQ section. If that doesn't solve your problem, do the following :

1) Check the EPB fuses. There are two fuses, in the fuse panel in the trunk, right side, behind the little cubby. The grey cubby/bin pulls out. The fuse block has 5 vertical rows of fuses. In the 2nd and 3rd vertical row from the left, check the 7th fuse up, each should be a green 30Amp fuse.
2) Pull off the connector on the parking brake motor, and then connect a 12V car battery (with a 20amp fuse in series) to the two terminals of the motor. The motor should run and fully engage the parking brake. If the motor doesn't run immediately remove the 12V, and reverse the wires and try again to reverse the motor direction. Don't keep the 12V connected to the motor if it does not immediately run, or after it stops at the end of its travel. This test will confirm if the motors are OK, which they probably are. I have not heard of these motors failing.
3) If both motors are functional, then it is either the EPB switch on the console, or a wiring/connector, or grounding issue, or the EPB Control Module itself. (located to the left of the trunk fuse panel).

Generally, you should use the parking brake often. Using it keeps the caliper properly adjusted as the pads wear. There is no good reason for not using your parking brake.

My Audi repair shop by my house are a bunch of shady ass people. I took it there when my light first came on and my parking brake was still working. I needed to have it reset after doing the brakes and asked them to do it. They refused and told me its not just the light without even looking at it. They then ran a check when I had my tire replaced and told me I needed both motors installed for $1400 and that my fuses are fine. I checked my fuses before bringing it to them and saw they were all intact. I checked my fuses today after they gave me my car back and noticed they are all missing. They put a 5 amp fuse in one of the 30 amp slots and of course it was blown. I replaced the 2 missing fuses and 2 out of 4 error codes I was getting disappeared. The other two remaining codes are for Right parking brake motor and one for control module for electric park. My brake now engages and seems to lock in on the left side. Im sure there is a loose wire or connection somewhere on the right that I will sort out tomorrow.

[A4 Centaur]

Good to hear. I would run a VAG com scan so you can pull those specific codes and show the SA what they screwed up. Then I would contact AoA.

[Jerritt]

3) If both motors are functional, then it is either the EPB switch on the console, or a wiring/connector, or grounding issue, or the EPB Control Module itself. (located to the left of the trunk fuse panel).
.

Is this located under the parking sensor module? Just to the left of my fuses is the sensor module for the rear bumper and there is what seems to be the parking brake module under that but I wont know unless I remove the parking sensor module first.