Thread: EPB fault advice

The GAP tool picked up the park brake switch error. Cleared it. But the error message keeps recurring after being cleared. Thinking the EPB switch may be fried from the lemonade. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by BeeGee

The GAP tool picked up the park brake switch error. Cleared it. But the error message keeps recurring after being cleared. Thinking the EPB switch may be fried from the lemonade. Thoughts?

Pull it out, give it a good bath in distilled or de-ionised water (a really, really good and maybe multiple baths), a good shake to disperse the water and into a fan forced oven at 60C for a couple of hours to thoroughly dry it out.

It's likely that being powered on in in the presence of sugary water for a prolonged period has caused some nice electrolysis, but unless you are well versed with electronics further disassembly and "correction" might be out of your league. If not then a thorough disassembly, scrub with a toothbrush using the aforementioned fluids, a good oven dry and re-assembly might be a better bet.

An even better mix might be a 70/30 mix of Isopropyl Alcohol/DI water, but you'd want a good DI water rinse before putting that one in the oven.

Thanks Brad. Will see if I can get the switch out. I've read some have had to remove the console to get access, whilst one thread someone removed the switch by lifting up and sliding forwards (after screw removal). Will see how I go.

cheers

EDIT: Got the switch out. Bathed in distilled water. Removed and vigorous shaking. Wiped off excess distilled water. In oven now on 60deg for 2hrs. Fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by BeeGee

Thanks Brad. Will see if I can get the switch out. I've read some have had to remove the console to get access, whilst one thread someone removed the switch by lifting up and sliding forwards (after screw removal). Will see how I go.

cheers

EDIT: Got the switch out. Bathed in distilled water. Removed and vigorous shaking. Wiped off excess distilled water. In oven now on 60deg for 2hrs. Fingers crossed.

I was doing this on one of the kids toy trains one day while the wife was out. She came home with a pie, didn't even look in the oven or stop to think "Huh, why is the oven on?" and just wound the thermostat up to 180. The train didn't come out well.

Originally Posted by BradC

I was doing this on one of the kids toy trains one day while the wife was out. She came home with a pie, didn't even look in the oven or stop to think "Huh, why is the oven on?" and just wound the thermostat up to 180. The train didn't come out well.

Ha ha, yeah I did think of that. Unfortunately no luck with the above so back to square one. Probably need to buy a new switch.

Is it safe to drive with no EPG and the warning lights on? I assume so. The EPG is just for parking and you can still put it in park yeah?

Trying to pry this switch apart to clean with isopropyl alcohol. Is there a trick to pulling this thing apart? There is a small hole on the base as seen in the photo attached. Is there a screw hidden in there? I can't see a screw with my eyes, or feel a screw but doesn't want to come apart.

switch 1.jpgswitch 2.jpg

The trick to dismantling is to be very careful. There are no screws, just those fiddly little tabs.
I'd already paid over the odds from the local stealer when I bought one and replaced mine myself, so I didn't care about damage and munted it in the process.

Full story here:
EPB Switch failure - U2001-01 (2 Switch general electrical failure

The second trick is to buy a new switch online. Half the price of the dealership parts department.

Also, check PowerfulUK videos on how to get the switch out. D3 is a piece of cake, D4 is easier with the console out.
(See link above for another link to video)

Just replace it,they are not that expensive.

After replacing mine,i pulled the old one apart and it was full of dog hair.

The worse thing is the EPB won’t work once it faults,not much fun with the van on.

Mine played up over a period of 6 months,intermittently.