Audi A6 (54)
Couldn't get home today because the electric handbrake wouldn't disengage.
Tried 10 times, cycled power, pushed pedal etc etc.
AA came and he did the same and it released (I was a bit embarrassed, but happy to go home).
I've never liked the damn electric nonsense. What is wrong with a cable and a lever!!!!
Anyway, anyone got any tips on fixing it. Presently I am living with a "flashing exclamation mark" and leaving it in gear, which isn't
ideal.
Matt
Sorry... no tips, but I would love an electric handbrake mechanism for my trike project. Can't find room for fitting a handbrake anywhere!
one of the guys at work has the same issue with a 57 plate passat - its the stepper motor in the caliper thats dead on his
last I heard he was loooking for a source of the motors without getting a whole caliper (I'll ask him again when I get a chance)
^ didn't think you needed one for MSVA or trikes?
i want one for the truck, little room from a lever, and the cables are looking complicated and expensive anyway
I called the AA last week as Patty wouldn't start. They turned up, let the handbrake off and the car roll back a foot and started it.
Ah well. Money well spent! 
If I could retrofit a handbrake then I would happily sell you the parts.
FWIW 54-present A6, and Passats of a similar era all have electric handbrake. They are crap.
I heard from the AA man that Range Rover also have them and they are crap on those too.
Surely you have a little space for one of these little beauties? http://www.triggerhandbrakes.com/
Damn, I have just changed the topic on my own thread!
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
^ didn't think you needed one for MSVA or trikes?
i want one for the truck, little room from a lever, and the cables are looking complicated and expensive anyway
That is the downside to them, but I absolutely loved it on my recently departed Passat. So much tidier than a lever taking up space on the centre console and once you get used to it going back to a lever seems archaic.
Hmmm... t'was just a passing comment, but looking at eBay, it seems that some of the electric-parking-brakes are simple 'cable-pulling' motors. I wonder if it's do-able!?
I thought one of the reasons they put them on some cars was they don't trust you to pull the lever hard enough yourself anymore
more of an issue with rear discs - theyloosen off a bit as they cool and the disc contracts (drums actually get tighter and the leading edge of the
shoe diggs in aswell)
do you remember the recals on some cars a few years back ? folk were parking on a hill then ~15min later the car starts rolling down the hill all by
itself, if I remember right one of the recal mods just ground the first few teeth of the levers ratchet so you'd have to pull it harder 
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Hmmm... t'was just a passing comment, but looking at eBay, it seems that some of the electric-parking-brakes are simple 'cable-pulling' motors. I wonder if it's do-able!?
I know its progress but why do car makers have to continually re-invent the wheel all the time. With all the modern technology
it just means more to go wrong and a lot more expense. Even basic cars have electric power steering and traction control and abs. Great when it works
but a liability most of the time. Or is is just me getting old?
I don't really understand the customer benefit of the electric handbrake.
I can use it, and understand how it works, but it doesn't have any advantage that I can find. It is heavier, more complex, has less feel, and
now fails. I suspect it is implemented for safety and for the US market as it probably interfaces nicely with an automatic (but Audi don't sell
well in the US).
I've had this car for 2 years and really it is the only thing about it that is wrong.
I guess I am going to do an extensive reverse engineering course on this in the next few days, oh joy.
^^ it means they don't need to run a cable from the back of the car to the front on the production line - saving them a couple of mins work
building each car 
I looked into this when I was building my car. A simple linear actuator has enough oomph to pull a cable and the main advantage is you don't have a lever to worry about - just a button. Scott, I think the C-Max has an electric handbrake - might be a source of suitable parts.
They are rubbish! They're fitted as its a cheaper system to fit/make than having a cable operated system.
I have one on my A4 and after a bit of getting used to, now think it is great. Ofcourse if it fails, then that opinion will soon change. I also have
the Hillhold option, which I thought was a bit gimmicky, but again in use on a hill in slow traffic is pretty excellent.
Here's hoping mine stays fault free
I hate gadgets in cars, as usually they are a gimmick that may go wrong eventually... I was determined to get a good basic car last time, but ended up
with a Ford Focus Ghia that has all the bells and whistles! It was very low mileage so couldn't be ignored...
Many years ago I had a Mercedes 230TE estate car on hire - basic, taxi driver spec, nothing electric. It was a superb car to drive and everything
just worked. You could open the windows with 1.5 turns, the sunroof opened with a couple of winds of the handle, and the auto gearbox was superb.
And it gave me over 40mpg on a long trip from Chelmsford to Manchester and back in one day. I'd buy another tomorrow if I could find an
immaculate one...
Fault code 00473
00473 - Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540)
00473 - Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540): No Signal/Communication
Possible Causes
Wiring/Connector(s) from/to Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540) faulty
Fault(s) stored in Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540)
Possible Solutions
Check Wiring/Connector(s) from/to Control Module for Elect. Park/Hand Brake (J540)
Check Measuring Value Blocks (MVB)
Usually Measuring Value Blocks (MVB) 125+ show the current Communication Status
Oh the joy of fault codes.