Reset parking brake that won't disengage - DIY

grammaticus · Feb 22, 2011

So, I had an interesting experience today--the Tig's parking brake would not disengage when we
were going to leave the parking lot. Just in case anyone else has this issue, here are the gory details:

- yes, we could hear the rrrrrr sound of the brake "disengaging";
- yes, the light on the switch in the center console quit;
- yes, the light on the switch in the center console reappeared, flashing and chiming;
- yes, a "P" with a circle around and line through it illuminated in the tach;
- yes, a warning in the readout offered, "ERROR! Parking Brake! Owner's Manual!" or something like;
- no, the car would not budge.

The solution, offered by the dealership service department, is to:

(a) remove key from ignition;
(b) remove both battery cables from their respective terminals (10mm hex);
(c) touch the ends of the battery cables together for about 30 sec. (I held them there for about 60).
(d) reconnect the battery cables.

This process apparently effects a kind of reset of at least the parking brake system, if not some
others, but it did work. NB - you won't hear anything happening (e.g. servos whirring) while you
have the battery cables disconnected and the system is resetting itself.

:screwy:

shawng · Feb 22, 2011

Here is what also got reset (that I know of):

Power Steering light was on and required you to drive in a straight line to calibrate
Auto down function on all windows will be disabled until you reset by running each window up and down a few times
I think pinch protection is also disabled until you do #2
For auto transmissions, all adaptations for driving habits is now gone. A good 2 weeks to re-learn
Clock

I bet there are others.

Lordboost · Feb 22, 2011

grammaticus said:
(b) remove both battery cables from their respective terminals (10mm hex);

:screwy:

Thanks, good to know. I'll make sure I have a 10mm hex in the car in case it ever happens to me!

Old Dogg · Feb 22, 2011

Who woulda guessed???

OMG, now who would ever had thought of doing this

. Thanks a bunch for posting :wave:.

Dietmar · Feb 23, 2011

cool... thanks for this post... will put in my glovebox to be prepared

mantiguan · Feb 23, 2011

Thanks grammatica!

stevies3 · Feb 25, 2011

You probably need to reset the power seats too.

grammaticus · Feb 27, 2011

RE: shawng's list:

Power Steering light was on and required you to drive in a straight line to calibrate (I don't recall this...)
Auto down function on all windows will be disabled until you reset by running each window up and down a few times (Yes!)
I think pinch protection is also disabled until you do #2 (Not sure, thankfully.)
For auto transmissions, all adaptations for driving habits is now gone. A good 2 weeks to re-learn (Not sure, as I always have the car in... cough cough... "manual" mode.)
Clock (Yes!)

BarryT82 · Feb 27, 2011

The power steering resets after the battery is disconnected. You'll have a code for G85 calibration stored under steering if you check it with VCDS.

Bevmo · Apr 29, 2011

It's good to keep the advice in this thread in your back pocket - it helped me today as I talked my wife through disconnecting the battery to get the stuck ebrake to disengage. (That was all it took in this case, no touching the cables together).

I'm glad she was on the road in a few minutes with little drama, but someone helped her find something to undo the terminal nuts with. Now I have a disposable 10mm wrench taped to the inside of the battery cover ready for next time

Edit - thanks for the safety tip, but the disposable wrench is about 2 inches long, no chance of making a circuit with it.

shawng · Apr 29, 2011

Good to have a wrench with you, but I would not put it in the battery box. If the tape let's go, and it hits both terminals, severe damage could occur. Back in my retail days, we had this guy close his hood on an oversized battery, which he insisted would fit. It shorted, blew a hole in the hood and the battery was not there when he opened the hood.

Old Dogg · Apr 29, 2011

shawng said:
Good to have a wrench with you, but I would not put it in the battery box. If the tape let's go, and it hits both terminals, severe damage could occur. Back in my retail days, we had this guy close his hood on an oversized battery, which he insisted would fit. It shorted, blew a hole in the hood and the battery was not there when he opened the hood.

OMG

. Holy acid Batman.

813Gre · May 7, 2014

I just went thru this like 15 minutes ago the battery trick didn't work. I had to take the fuse out. I'm very disappointed that a car that hasn't been in production that long and that I haven't even had a year is going thru this.

B02S4 · May 10, 2014

The E-brake on my 2010WE wouldn't release a few months ago. Two separate dealership service dept's were of no help at the time. I was ready to call AAA for a tow. After cycling the ignition switch several times (& removing the key) it finally released. Didn't need a battery disconnect. Hasn't happened since.

rehemaali · Nov 29, 2021

813Gre said:
I just went thru this like 15 minutes ago the battery trick didn't work. I had to take the fuse out. I'm very disappointed that a car that hasn't been in production that long and that I haven't even had a year is going thru this.

I also went through this yesterday and the battery trick didn't work for me too. They had to do some diagnostics, it cleared the error. However, it keeps coming back every time I park for long. I have to do some trials and errors,steering manoeuvres until it moves. Am disappointed. I've had it for 2 months only. It's heartbreaking.

Tig 16 · Jan 7, 2023

My 2016 Special Edition wont release E brake . Until I dissasemble switch to clean contacts I have been putting trans in reverse with seatbelt done up /clicked in and brake on /then lightly tap gas pedal and e brake releases . The key is to lightly tap and get back on brake and proceed to put in drive or merely continue to drive in reverse if that is desired . Been doing this for months now until I get around to dyi fix.

Reset parking brake that won't disengage - DIY

grammaticus

shawng

Lordboost

Old Dogg

Dietmar

mantiguan

stevies3

grammaticus

BarryT82

Bevmo

shawng

Old Dogg

813Gre

B02S4

rehemaali

Tig 16

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