D4 EPB

[discojools]

Got new D4 2.7 litre last week and really pleased with it. Was a little worried when I found that there was no mention of manual release cable for the EPB in the handbook. My dealer tells me that it is still there but where? He also says that the EPB has been much better engineered than my old 05 model.
Has anybody had any issues with their D4 EPB? I used to get red flashing EPB light on my D3 when ever it sniffed a bit of dust and have had one total failure.
I also get the flashing light on my 08 RRS.

[kenl]

No Problems at all 12 months on and 31k on the clock, more beach sand and building sites than classic Aussie dust. But having said that I only ever use the EPB at the boat ramp (sometimes) the rest of the time "Park" works for me.

[meteor]

EPB release is under the trim that holds the cup holders, behind the gearstick. Remove the 2 rubber cup holders, then pop out the trim that holds them. Underneath is a ring pull attached to what looks like piano wire. Use the piece of the jack handle that looks like a long question mark, hook it up and give a sharp pull up. Do NOT hook up any of the other wires, they're kind of important for the computer...
P.S I've never needed to do it, mine's behaved perfectly so far.

[Jesse B]

No problems with mine after 12 months and 33k kms - and I use it almost all the time. A reasonable amount of dusty dirt roads in there, and so far (fingers crossed) no issues.

Meteor - thanks for the reminder of the "fix"!

[Graeme]

I recently removed a rear disc after 35K. There was very little dust even though I drive roads every day that are usually dusty. The vehicle hasn't been in deep mud but has encountered muddy conditions far too often for this time of year that requires regular hosing of the rear wheels to remove the mud build-up. I use the EPB very infrequently.

[Bushwanderer]

:Off topic:
Graeme,
When are you going to update your signature info.? ;)

Best Wishes,
Peter

[ozscott]

I think I can see a bit of a trend in D3/4 for informed owners to not use the 'hand' brake. Is that because repeated use can lead to failure? I know the park brake has been an issue with D3 with dust causing mechanism problems, but I also thought there was a build issue with the park brake also?

Do I take it from the above posts that the park brake is a more traditional rear brake only brake (but electronically applied)? I suppose at the boat ramp park would take the place of a system like D1/D2 where the park brake acts on the drive line (ie effectively acting on front and rear axles) but in a manual rather than leave it in neutral with the engine running it might be better to have it turned off and in say first gear (low) if towing a very heavy load on a steep slippery ramp. Some D3's were sold manual, but if they are now only auto its all irrelevant to new car buyers I suppose.

From memory there is a good thread on the D3/4UK site about the EPB issue.

Cheers

[WhiteD3]

I think I can see a bit of a trend in D3/4 for informed owners to not use the 'hand' brake. Is that because repeated use can lead to failure? I know the park brake has been an issue with D3 with dust causing mechanism problems, but I also thought there was a build issue with the park brake also?

Not me...I use mine all the time, on and off road. After 92,000km its still going well. The only issues I've had was early on where it'd pick up a rock or mud and squeal like a herd of stuck pigs!

[discojools]

WhiteD3,
I think you have been very lucky with your EPB! By the way that is an amazing photo of the storm in Brissie on Dec16th!!!!

[discomaniac]

Just an update on accessing the manual release cable on a MY11 D4. Yes, you still remove the Cup holders from centre console, come out reasonably easily.
There is now a liquid/water guard to stop spilt liquid from the cup holders getting to sensitive electronics. This is held by two philips head screws which need to be removed. Liquid/water guard is then easily removed, then you have access to the manual release cable. Bit more work to get to it now, but still relatively easy as long as you have a philips screw driver, which should be in the took kit with the jack.
Haven't had a problem with the EPB, just had the console apart for other reasons and noticed the location while I had it apart.

discomaniac

[Duck's Guts]

My Feb 2010 build D4 also has the liquid/water guard to stop spilt liquid from the cup holders.