Parking brake fault vw passat -orange P light

cottager83

Folks, I have a 06 vw passat, when I sat in this morning an orange P sign with a line through it came up on the dash, the electronic handbrake wouldn't disengage and parking brake fault appeared on the dash. I turned it off and on again and it disappeared. However it happened again this eve. Can anyone tell me what the problem is? Cheers!

ba_barabus

cottager83 wrote: »

Folks, I have a 06 vw passat, when I sat in this morning an orange P sign with a line through it came up on the dash, the electronic handbrake wouldn't disengage and parking brake fault appeared on the dash. I turned it off and on again and it disappeared. However it happened again this eve. Can anyone tell me what the problem is? Cheers!

Yep, you'll have to get at least one new rear calliper. Stop using the electric handbrake as it will stick on

cottager83

Ah balls , I just got anew calliper last year and it cost me 300e for part and labour , is there just one calliper or is there a few of them?

_Kaiser_

Had the same thing happen on my 06 Passat. Same symptoms as well. Turned out it was the rear right calliper. One on each wheel I assume

colm_mcm

cottager83 wrote: »

Ah balls , I just got anew calliper last year and it cost me 300e for part and labour , is there just one calliper or is there a few of them?

There's a caliper for each wheel. The handbrake uses the back 2

OldmanMondeo

Those rear calipers give terrible trouble. Could also be the switch, but 99% of the time the caliper is the fault.

Dr.Rieux

I had the orange p sign but my handbrake wouldn't go on rather than come off. For me it was just the switch.

McP2011

ba_barabus wrote: »

Yep, you'll have to get at least one new rear calliper. Stop using the electric handbrake as it will stick on

Thats bs, could just be the switch thats dodgy.

Moanin

You need to get it scanned to find out what is causing the problem.

ba_barabus

McP2011 wrote: »

Thats bs, could just be the switch thats dodgy.

Which bit is bs?

It could indeed be the switch but having had the exact same symptoms and scenario in my own Passat I had to replace a calliper. The switch was also replaced but it cured nothing. Other people who own them have agreed and said the same above.

And yes, if the OP continues to use it and it sticks on its a pain in the arse to have them released.

ba_barabus

Moanin wrote: »

You need to get it scanned to find out what is causing the problem.

Yep

McP2011

ba_barabus wrote: »

Which bit is bs?

It could indeed be the switch but having had the exact same symptoms and scenario in my own Passat I had to replace a calliper. The switch was also replaced but it cured nothing. Other people who own them have agreed and said the same above.

And yes, if the OP continues to use it and it sticks on its a pain in the arse to have them released.

You said it will need at least one caliper, it may not though, they don't always need calipers when there's a handbrake fault. And with it been 06 it will have the old type switch which is more prone to giving faults. Where as later passats had a revised switch and dont give as much trouble except for calipers like with yours.

ba_barabus

McP2011 wrote: »

You said it will need at least one caliper, it may not though, they don't always need calipers when there's a handbrake fault. And with it been 06 it will have the old type switch which is more prone to giving faults. Where as later passats had a revised switch and dont give as much trouble except for calipers like with yours.

Its quite likely it does need a calliper.

I think you need to tone down the 'bs' comment though as my advice is pretty accurate

McP2011

ba_barabus wrote: »

Its quite likely it does need a calliper.

I think you need to tone down the 'bs' comment though as my advice is pretty accurate

Not entirely accurate, you implied that it will need one without mention of it only been a switch.

Anyway im not gonna sit here and argue about something like this lol.

cottager83

Cheers for replies I will get it scanned during the week, anybody on ere from limerick know where I could get it scanned? Not goin near hogans they charge an arm and a leg!

Xpro

From my experience, switches are the main culprit. I replaced 100's of switches, and maybe one or two callipers.
Callipers generally become faulty from improper servicing and people changing rear pads without the diagnostic tool.

Hopefully its just the switch. Get it plugged in for start.

mickdw

What ever way you cut it, suggesting that a caliper will need to be replaced is a reckless comment. I say reckless as far too often the main dealers are offering this a repair together with the switch when quite frequently, the caliper is not defective at all.
For that reason I think it's important to highlight this to in some way help ensure that the op doesn't needlessly end up paying for a new caliper.