VW/Audi How to Release Electric Parking Brake Stuck-Car Won't Move-Passat Electronic handbrake Fault

After parking my car one evening I found that the electric handbrake had seized on and wouldn't release. The motor had stopped working so the calliper was locked stopping the rear wheel from moving.
The motor can be removed from the calliper and the calliper turned manually with a M8 spline tool to allow the brakes to be released and the car to be driven. I replaced the motor for £10 rather than spending £220 on a new calliper. After 3 months it's still working ok!

[@kitler01]

Best way to release if it won’t unwind is to unplug the connector. Then attach 2 wires to a car battery you put the wires to the terminals on the motor to unwind. You can hear what way the motor is spinning if it’s tightening swap the wires around unfortunately I’ve had to do it a few times on my b7.

[@edys129]

Thanks for this. Nice simple removal. 2 x T30 bolts holding the unit on. Just had to do mine

[@ajvw]

Glad it worked for you!

[@codprawn]

Thanks for a nice simple video. Got the same job to do on an A5 that has been standing for quite some time.

[@Mrak47777]

Hi any update?

[@ilikefishing7858]

same problem! a5 3.0 tdi quattro cabriolet and locked 🤬

[@codprawn]

@@Mrak47777 Yes sorry. Turned out to be quite easy to do. I thought I needed a new calliper but it has been fine ever since!

[@codprawn]

@@ilikefishing7858 Turned out to be quite easy to do. I thought I needed a new calliper but it has been fine ever since!

[@petio123]

Hi, once you've released the caliper manually with a spline, do you need to wind it back the way it was before reinstalling the new motor?

[@willthornton4391]

So the caliper calibrated it self after you've unwound it ? Good to know. So do you have to unwise the brake piston while it's all in situ, I guess you can't see what your doing? Do you just guess ?

[@benthurber5363]

Sky Warden wants a piece of it.

[@MikaelLevoniemi]

The one thing I'm trying to find out how to do is how to remove the motor which in this video is covered with half a sentence. Wtf if it's stuck on the rotor.

[@ajvw]

There are 2 bolts that hold the motor to the caliper, once those are removed you should be able to separate them but they can be a bit stuck so might need to pry apart

[@Jamco555]

Do you have the part number for the motor?

[@ajvw]

It depends on the car. There are different ones even for the same model