V70: Wheels/Brakes Electronic parking brake would not release

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by capt jack

Well the car was fine all day - although I didn't use the handbrake at all. But when I got home this evening I put the parking brake on and now it's well and truly jammed. I'm pretty certain that it's the nearside that's stuck.

I took the wheel off and had a look, and tried to dismantle things, but it's just beyond my limited skills and tools. One of the two screws holding the motor came out, but the other is well and truly seized. Beyond this, I can see that the motor housing is cracked, so I wonder if moisture has entered and caused the motor to seize up?

Anyway, I can't move it, and so it's the AA who'll be here in the morning, and unless the AA can fix it, a recovery to Dyrdals in York. They are open tomorrow, although I doubt that they'll be able to fix it on the day.

Heigh-ho!

Jack

Sounds like that was your problem all along… cracked housing could have let moisture in, causing it to seize. I’m sure Drydals will fix it… Another one of those things I guess!

As Graham mentioned above, EPB issues were very common when this model came out. I prefer a standard handbrake too, but nearly all modern cars are electronic.

I understand what you mean about going back to something older, but as you say, those cars will likely have problems too. They aren’t getting any younger. That in itself can be a worry.

[capt jack]

Thanks Kev

The AA arrived this morning, the patrol man has dismantled the nearside rear brake, diagnosed a seized caliper - plus the EPB motor casing is cracked.

He's gone through to York to get a replacement which he's going to fit later this morning.

So I'm going to be £300 poorer, but the car will be fixed today, on the drive, without me having to get it to a garage, I won't need to puzzle out how to get to work on Monday, and I don't need to get my hands dirty.

A new calliper and motor from PartsforVolvo online would be over £200, and I'd have to order it, wait for it, and fit it myself one evening in the week. Plus the hassle of bleeding the brakes. So fingers crossed all will be well.

Thanks to all for the interest and input.

Cheers

Jack

[capt jack]

All sorted.

The AA tech was absolutely excellent, and everything is fine. On closer inspection the verdict is that the calliper was seized, or possibly only just moving, to the point where the action of the motor wasn't moving the pads properly and the torque in effect cracked the plastic casing, which then caused the brake to jam on.

On close inspection the rubber dust seal around the piston was torn, and so we guessed that moisture had got in and had started to cause the piston to seize.

Anyway, a new calliper and motor has sorted it, and top marks to the AA man who was happy to fetch the part (a 50-mile round trip) and fit it on the driveway.

He said that it made a nice change actually to find a mechanical problem and fix it, rather than read a computer fault code and end up towing the affected car to a dealer! In all he spent around 4 hours diagnosing, fetching parts and fitting. He was able to interface with the car and read and clear fault codes.

Funny but I almost cancelled the AA membership at last renewal, and boy am I glad that I decided to keep it!

Jack

[100K+]

Originally Posted by capt jack

Thanks Kev

The AA arrived this morning, the patrol man has dismantled the nearside rear brake, diagnosed a seized caliper - plus the EPB motor casing is cracked.

He's gone through to York to get a replacement which he's going to fit later this morning.

So I'm going to be £300 poorer, but the car will be fixed today, on the drive, without me having to get it to a garage, I won't need to puzzle out how to get to work on Monday, and I don't need to get my hands dirty.

A new calliper and motor from PartsforVolvo online would be over £200, and I'd have to order it, wait for it, and fit it myself one evening in the week. Plus the hassle of bleeding the brakes. So fingers crossed all will be well.

Thanks to all for the interest and input.

Cheers

Jack

That is unbelievable service...Makes me consider adding the "at home" section to my cover when it comes renewal time..

Cheers
Bob

[capt jack]

Originally Posted by 100K+

That is unbelievable service.

I completely agree Bob, absolutely brilliant service. I costed it all up, and for me to buy the parts from PartsforVolvo online would have been over £220.

From the local Eurocarparts the calliper assembly complete is £140. But the only ECP with stock was a 50-mile round trip away. So on that basis, 4 hours of a tech's time cost me around £160 - or £40 an hour. And all I had to do was make him a cup of coffee! And did I mention that the AA arrived at half eight on a Saturday morning, after my call to them at 9pm on Friday evening.

Previously we were with GEM recovery, but all they'll do is send a man with a flat bed truck and recover the car for you. We pay the AA £27 per month for complete cover for four cars and four drivers, and based on this experience, that seems like good value.

Yep, right now the AA are my new heroes!

Jack

[Kev0607]

Nice to hear the problem was sorted successfully.

Sounds like the AA man was a gent and your subscription to them was worth its weight in gold.

[apersson850]

I remove the parking brake motor for inspection and to be able to move the piston at each wheel replacement. Which in this country is twice a year, summer/winter and winter/summer.
This means that the screws holding the motor are still the original ones, after 13 years and 410000 km. They can be removed without any problem.
A small amount of grease on the seal makes it even tighter. The interior of my motor/gear/jack for the parking brake is still clean as new.

Preventive manintenance has its value.