ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE SWITCH

Electric Park Brake (EPB) Switch

The information and pictures for this page was kindly provided by Leigh Bateman.

As many readers will know, this is a fairly common failing on the Passat B6.

Unfortunately there is not a fault code for EPB switch faults. You will only get a generic epb fault code. As the EPB switch is much cheaper than the other EPB parts, it makes sense to examine this first.

VW addressed this switch failure by changing the switch. I have not opened a new switch to compare it with the original one shown here.

This is the EPB switch viewed from the back and slightly pulled apart. You can see TWO small contact switches inside on the green circuit board.

This is the switch rear view with the circuit board removed to show the mechanical parts.

The two plastic pads that push the two micro switches are circled in red. If you look above them you can see two more pads, presumably for two more micro switches that are not present. (see later)

This is the contact switch circuit board viewed from the inside. You can see the two contact switches at the top and 8 solder pads at the bottom. These solder pads are presumably for two more contact switches that VW didn’t bother to fit.

So what goes wrong with the EPB switch?

The plastic push pads could wear but the ‘nylon type’ plastic looks tough enough to last so I suspect the fault is all due to the contact switches failing. Contact switches like this are very cheap to buy from electronics stores or on-line. Postage will probably cost more than the switches. Both switches can be quickly swapped if you are handy with a soldering iron.

perhaps 4 switches could be used to end up with the number that the switch designer intended. I have not tried this.

So EPB switch failure can be fixed with a couple of micro-contact switches or you can buy a new EPB switch. The choice is yours.

Perhaps the new VW EPB switch has all 4 contact switches present. If you know….let me know.