EPB (electronic parking brake) story

W

wbwanzer

Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
492
Location
York, Pa.
On Tuesday my wife and I went out for breakfast using her '21 Kia Seltos. Went and returned, no problems. Twenty minutes later we need to leave for an appointment at the bank. Problem is I can't get the electronic parking brake to release. Turned the car off and on again, same problem. So we take my car. After the bank we actually stopped by the dealer since they weren't answering the phone and dealer was very close by. So service manager and myself were lamenting all of the manual things that have become electronic and the problems they present. Told me to disconnect the battery for a while to reset things. No help. Called Kia roadside assistance to get the car towed for $150. Figured it would be a day or two before they get around to our car because I don't expect them to drop everything to address our problem. Two hours after the Seltos leaves here we get a call that the car is ready. Turns out it wasn't electrical after all. Tech found a nickel underneath the lever that gets pushed or pulled to operate the parking brake. :oops:

Somehow this nickel got lodged under the lever between the breakfast outing the the bank outing. Don't have a clue how that happened. Anyway we're good to go and it wasn't the new fangled electronics that was the problem.
 
My ES350 Ultra Luxury is Ultra loaded with all kinds of tech that I don't use, and frankly am fearful that some day will send me to the poor house (expensive to fix) or nut house (parts no longer available).

Like all other technology, these things/systems are wonderful, until they don't work, and then they suck.

See my fiasco with my car, which ironically ended up being bad gasoline ...
dnewton3

Thread '2023 ES350 multiple system errors and root cause'

I traveled to KY recently. Arrived at my friend's farm on Thursday evening. Parked my Lexus and didn't start it again until Sunday morning for my return trip home.
When the car started, it immediately displayed 6 (six!) warning lights on the dash. (see attached photos).

The engine ran OK, and the car seemed fine other than the obvious display of malfunctions. No "red lights" were present; they were all just cautionary for system failures. But the brakes worked fine. Steering OK. Engine ran OK. Hmmmmmmm ......

Drove the car home; about 2.5 hours drive. I arranged with my...
  • Wow
  • Like
 
wbwanzer said:
On Tuesday my wife and I went out for breakfast using her '21 Kia Seltos. Went and returned, no problems. Twenty minutes later we need to leave for an appointment at the bank. Problem is I can't get the electronic parking brake to release. Turned the car off and on again, same problem. So we take my car. After the bank we actually stopped by the dealer since they weren't answering the phone and dealer was very close by. ...

Somehow this nickel got lodged under the lever between the breakfast outing the the bank outing. Don't have a clue how that happened. Anyway we're good to go and it wasn't the new fangled electronics that was the problem.
Click to expand...
So they say.

Does not the ECU typically command a release when you apply the service brake, put quadrant in D or R and then feather the gas?

Don't take any wooden nickles!

Glad you were able to get it operational without too much effort!
 
Last edited:
I tried using the service method to unwind the parking brake on my cars, only to have it fight me all the same. Now when I have to touch the breaks, I disconnect it and wind it in/out with a 12V battery.

Not quite the same problem as the OP, but still a nuisance, this new fangled tech.

I will say though, for once, my Toyota parking brake actually works. Prior two vehicles had drum in rotor and those parking brakes were garbage, with zero holding capacity. If I keep these EPB up to snuff, the car doesn't move in park. So I have a like/dislike relationship with them--they seem like a step forward.

But I bet I'll be complaining loudly when one seizes up and I have to do a caliper swap.
 
The trouble with new cars too much technology that doesn't always work. With autonomous I suggest when that happen the auto makers become liable for all accidents and we no longer buy insurance,
 
Good outcome to a seemingly frustrating situation. Glad you didn't take the hammer out to start beating on things to release it. 😁
 
ARCOgraphite said:
So they say.

Does not the ECU typically command a release when you apply the service brake, put quadrant in D or R and then feather the gas?

Don't take any wooden nickles!

Glad you were able to get it operational without too much effort!
Click to expand...
Putting in D or R will release parking brake. Unless there's a nickel underneath the switch.
 
supton said:
I tried using the service method to unwind the parking brake on my cars, only to have it fight me all the same. Now when I have to touch the breaks, I disconnect it and wind it in/out with a 12V battery.

Not quite the same problem as the OP, but still a nuisance, this new fangled tech.

I will say though, for once, my Toyota parking brake actually works. Prior two vehicles had drum in rotor and those parking brakes were garbage, with zero holding capacity. If I keep these EPB up to snuff, the car doesn't move in park. So I have a like/dislike relationship with them--they seem like a step forward.

But I bet I'll be complaining loudly when one seizes up and I have to do a caliper swap.
Click to expand...

My mom's current Escape has an electronic parking brake. There's a procedure in the owners manual to retract it for service.

It does not work. Brake jobs have to be done at the dealer or a shop with an actual scanner.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: D60
wbwanzer said:
On Tuesday my wife and I went out for breakfast using her '21 Kia Seltos. Went and returned, no problems. Twenty minutes later we need to leave for an appointment at the bank. Problem is I can't get the electronic parking brake to release. Turned the car off and on again, same problem. So we take my car. After the bank we actually stopped by the dealer since they weren't answering the phone and dealer was very close by. So service manager and myself were lamenting all of the manual things that have become electronic and the problems they present. Told me to disconnect the battery for a while to reset things. No help. Called Kia roadside assistance to get the car towed for $150. Figured it would be a day or two before they get around to our car because I don't expect them to drop everything to address our problem. Two hours after the Seltos leaves here we get a call that the car is ready. Turns out it wasn't electrical after all. Tech found a nickel underneath the lever that gets pushed or pulled to operate the parking brake. :oops:

Somehow this nickel got lodged under the lever between the breakfast outing the the bank outing. Don't have a clue how that happened. Anyway we're good to go and it wasn't the new fangled electronics that was the problem.
Click to expand...
Did the dealer charge u for the service?
 
wbwanzer said:
Turns out it wasn't electrical after all. Tech found a nickel underneath the lever that gets pushed or pulled to operate the parking brake. :oops:

Somehow this nickel got lodged under the lever between the breakfast outing the the bank outing. Don't have a clue how that happened. Anyway we're good to go and it wasn't the new fangled electronics that was the problem.
Click to expand...
Had a problem with my dad's Toyota for several years, the seat would no longer move back more than an inch or more, only full forward and back to where it normally was, but no futher. No one else could drive the car but him. Figured we would have to replace the seat rack for who knows how much. Once the seat was removed and the rack disassembled, turns out a quarter had lodged itself in the seat track, and then in the effort to move the seat, the quarter got bent and jammed itself, preventing any further rearward movement of the seat.

That repair literally cost $0.25.
 
What a pain for something so simple, but at the end of the day that's a good thing!

I know with my 2021 Equinox and 2021 Traverse, it has a similar little pull up to set and push down to release EPB button/lever and under normal ops, the EPB will release itself as soon as the gas pedal it touched while in R or D. I'd imagine there has to be a way to test that the p-brake is strong enough to hold the vehicle still while in drive/reverse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Should you wait until the bulb check is complete before starting?
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
javacontour
dogememe
Heater temperature?
Replies
8
Views
512
ctechbob
M
The new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is the bomb
3 4 5
Replies
80
Views
25K
Robster
dogememe
2021 Nissan Kicks Rear Brake Noise
Replies
11
Views
740
D60
Capt W
Nitwits and their backup cameras
2 3
Replies
49
Views
1K
earlyre
Back
Top Bottom