Passat B6 handbrake

cozzie55

Hi Folks

Have a problem with with the electronic handbrake on my passat for the last week. From reading up on it, the handbrake is a common issue. Anyway the car couldn't be moved as I couldn't get the handbrake to go off. I tried a few home remedies for it that i found online, i.e. checking fuses and also disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes and reconnecting it, which appartently resets the onboard computer.

Anyway that didn't work so i took it too a local mechanic, taking a quick look at it, he decided the motor to the handbrake was fried, and needed to replace the motor and the calipers on the wheel, it is only the driver side wheel thats affected.

But now we have another issue. Now the mechanic is telling me that the software which deals with the handbrake has been erased from the car and so when you press the handbrake button the car cannot read the signal and tell the motor for the handbrake to release. He said it was more than likely caused when I disconnected the battery or the fuses.

Has anyone ever heard of a similar incident before? It sounds very odd to me

George Dalton

Sounds like the mechanic didn't reset the system properly when he replaced the caliper. Where are you located?

cozzie55

George Dalton wrote: »

Sounds like the mechanic didn't reset the system properly when he replaced the caliper. Where are you located?

Thanks George

Would this have caused the software to be erased though?
The mechanic has the VW digonistic equipment and it is telling him that no software is present.
I'm based in limerick

burke027

Hey I have fixed plenty of these in the past and I think your mechanic is telling you lies about the motor being gone. 99.9% of the time all the handbrake problems are related to the connections on the plug to the calliper are all corroded.

This is you problem you never needed a new calliper I can be almost sure of it.

Find a new mechanic is my advice.

Ps if your anywhere near kildare il gladly help you out.

cozzie55

burke027 wrote: »

Hey I have fixed plenty of these in the past and I think your mechanic is telling you lies about the motor being gone. 99.9% of the time all the handbrake problems are related to the connections on the plug to the calliper are all corroded.

This is you problem you never needed a new calliper I can be almost sure of it.

Find a new mechanic is my advice.

Ps if your anywhere near kildare il gladly help you out.

So are you saying that generally neither has to be replaced?

Well i should give the mechanic the benefit of the doubt there, in that he did say that i didn't need to change both, but that while i am doing it, its a better job long term to replace both as one will end up wearing quicker than the other, otherwise.

Also its a bit late to change mechanic as the work has already been done on the car, its just the software issue that remains.

Irish Lion

Last year my electronic brake packed in and my mechanic told me that he was unable to do anything with and to take it to a main dealer.
I got the car out to the main dealer and the guy behind the counter said it was a very unusual problem, but the lady beside me at the counter had the same problem. I must admit, I found that odd but I was willing to just pass it off as coincidence.
A week later, I got a call and was told my car was ready, less than an hour later, another call telling me there was still a problem.
Another 3 days passed and the call told me to collect my car and when I got there it still wasn't ready.
5 days passed and another call to say it was ready. This time it was actually ready and I went out straight away.
I got out there and I was handed a bill for €1196 and I was not impressed.
A calliper, the switch and the brake control cpu all had to be replaced.

In my opinion, the main dealer had no clue what to do because I can't find another case on the web where all 3 had to be replaced and just did a fault finding job until it worked and charged for the new parts even though the fault was not fixed when the new part was fitted.

I got home and did a web search and found that 2 problems regularly occur with the VW electronic brake, it either locks up totally or releases on it's own.
I think VW won't admit there is a problem as the legal implications would cost them a massive amount as well as the recall

Kenny Logins

Crazy. What was wrong with the old system of a handle and cable...

_Kaiser_

This happened to mine a few months back. Handbrake wouldn't engage/disengage, lots of bing-bing noises and flashing lights on the dash etc. Eventually, after it took me 15 mins of restarting the car and hoping I just stopped using it till it was fixed (even put black masking tape over the switch so I wouldn't accidentially press it out of habit!)

Right rear caliper was the problem. Brought it down to George (post 2 above) and he sorted it out first time and for a lot less than that dealer price. Very nice guy to deal with too

(Thanks again George)

guemac

i have the same problem with my passat and so do 450 people on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/172638656097468/ can anyone tell a price to get a new rear left caliper

George Dalton

New OEM TRW caliper supply and fit would be in the region of €350 in an independent garage. However that wouldn't even cover the cost of the part from a VW dealer.

guemac

just found a site selling calipers for 165 euro if i return my use one

George Dalton

That's very cheap. What site is it?

guemac

its called mister-auto.ie just dont know which one to order the 38 diemeter or 41

OldmanMondeo

It is a common problem on these. Infact the company who make the calipers, TRW, are unable to recondition them to keep with demand. The 2 type are Cast Iron and Aluminium. There is only 1 company who can fully recondition these as well, TRW. The hydraulic can be done ok, but no one else has the equipment to test the motors or can get the motors to replace the faulty ones.

OldmanMondeo

guemac wrote: »

its called mister-auto.ie just dont know which one to order the 38 diemeter or 41

The most poplar one is the 38mm. Check is your is aluminium or cast iron.