The parking brake is a very important emergency system that your car has. In normal or older cars, the parking brake has a mechanical lever that you are pulling once you park in a place, and this lever or parking brake makes your car stay in a stable and safe position. But in some modern cars, there are electric parking brake systems. The difference between the electric parking brake system and normal mechanical systems is that there is a switch button that you are pushing instead of a lever. So, there can be some kinds of problems with this system that you need to solve. Here, we will talk about the electric parking brake problem and different problems, causes, and solutions.
What are the common electric parking brake problems?
Before taking a look at the general problems of the system, it is important to understand the general working principle of that system.
The working principle is the same as the conventional parking brake systems of cars. There is a mechanical system that activates the brake pads to come in contact with the brake rotors. But in the electric system, this activation takes place with the electric system that you activate with a button or switch.
An electrical servo motor actuates when you push the switch on your dashboard or your steering wheel. The servo motor activates the mechanism that activates the parking brake system. So, once you push the switch or button on your car, there will be a signal that is sent from the computer system of your car to the servo motor, which activates the parking brake.
As soon as you understand that there are electrical connections and computational connections between the different electrical systems, there can be problems with these systems that you need to diagnose.
Problems with a filthy switch
This is the most basic problem that you can face, and you can solve it by yourself. There can be filth inside the switch system that prevents the working of the switch properly. So, because of this problem, the switch cannot activate the electrical system and prevents the signal from being sent to the servo motor.
Can there be small objects that get lodged in the gaps between the push button and the dashboard? You can use small toothpicks to remove these unwanted objects that prevent the push button from functioning properly. So, you can use non-chemical solutions to remove the debris from that area.
By employing these methods, you can easily solve problems with the electric parking brake of your car.
The problem of electrical connections
Inside the electric brake system of your car, there are various types of electrical connections. There are cables between the servo motor, battery, push button that you activate, and the ECU system of your car. If there are issues with these cables and they are not functioning correctly, it means the electrical system will not work.
Diagnosing which cable is problematic is not an easy task for a non-experienced person. You need to know how to use a multimeter to diagnose the different cables and identify which cables belong to the electric parking brake system. In this case, it is advisable to bring your car to a mechanic or service center.
Blown fuse
There is a fuse box in your car that is responsible for preventing any overcurrents from reaching the electrical system. If there is a high electrical current that can damage the electrical system, such as the electric parking brake servo motor, the fuse inside the fuse box will blow and interrupt the electrical connections between the battery and the electrical system. In this case, you need to replace the blown fuse with a new one.
To replace the fuse, you need to locate your fuse box, which is usually located below the steering wheel or sometimes in the trunk. In some cars, it can be found under the hood. Refer to the user manual of your car to find which fuse belongs to the electric brake system. Once you have identified the fuse, it is easy to replace it. Simply remove it from its place and replace it with a new one. You can easily find suitable fuses at electrical shops or auto shops in your neighborhood. Make sure to ask the person at the auto shop to ensure compatibility with your car.
Problematic servo motor
The servo motor is a crucial part of the electric brake system. If there is a problem with the servo motor, you need to replace it with a new one because it is a complex electro-mechanical system that is challenging to repair.
Replacing the electric brake system servo motor is not a simple task. You need to bring your car to a service center where they will address the problem easily. They will remove the faulty servo motor and install a new one, along with any necessary adjustments. This process is not recommended for DIY enthusiasts.
Problem with the brake system
Additionally, you may encounter a problem with your brake system, which can affect the proper functioning of your electric brake system. To test it, you can deactivate the electric brake system and press the brake pedal to see if the car decelerates. If you notice that the regular brakes are not working as they should, it indicates a problem with the normal brake system rather than the electric parking brake system. Both brake systems utilize the same brake system but have different control mechanisms.
In this case, once again, it is advisable to bring your car to a service center to address the issue.
Conclusion on all electric parking brake problems
As you can see, there can be various problems that you may need to address. Understanding the fundamental aspects of the problem and the working principle of the electric parking brake will make it easier to diagnose and discuss the issue with the repair personnel at the service center.
If you have any additional comments or questions regarding electric parking brake problems, please feel free to leave them below.
You may also consider checking related articles and topics about brake systems in cars for further information.
