C5 (X7) Electronic Parking Brake - unresponsive at times

[marsalek]

Dear colleagues,
on my C5 X7 (HDi240) the electronic parking brake sometimes does not respond to the rocker switch. I need sometimes to pull (or push) the switch again and with a higher force. It looks like the electronic switch is broken. The brake itself then works normally, no fault in Diagbox, no blinking lights ...

Is the problem with the switch a common issue?
How to get to the PCB? I could replace any tactile switch by myself. (I work on satellites, so a rocket science is not a problem for me )

Any other hints?

Thanks a lot in advance!
Karel

PS: you guys on frenchcarforum show much more experience in terms of C5 compared to the two German forums. The guys in Germany repaired Xantias, but they go to a Citroen dealer when it comes to C5

[xf1ref]

Hi,
I don't think is a common issue. At my car I saw that usually when I pull the switch fast, like a click at computer mouse, the command is not taken. So I keep the switch a second and the brake is activated.
To remove the switch is easy, you have to remove the trim around gear stick.

[marsalek]

Ok, thanks for the hint! I will give it a longer button-press...

[GiveMeABreak]

Be aware that a very long pull on the switch activates 'Maximum' braking application - usually reserved for towing or when parking on a very steep slope! It is not really intended to be used for normal parking operations.

I would suggest you look at the switch itself as you have suggested or leave it in automatic mode.

[marsalek]

Hi Marc, thanks for the reply!
I know the "maximum braking operation" when pulled for a muuuuch longer time.

What is the "automatic mode"? Is it the mode, when you do not disengage the handbrake and just press the gas pedal. This creates such a jerk. Is it healthy?

Regards
Karel

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes Karel, it releases when you put the gas on - the ESP system controls the EPB and looks for wheel rotation, engine torque / acceleration, gradient, etc', so there is a gap between correctly sensing wheel movement and acceleration -> releasing the EPB - which is why you get the slight jerk when moving off. It is designed to work this way though.

[Paul-R]

It's not just holding the car on an incline. It's also the application of the parking brake when you switch the ignition off and releasing it when you drive off later on. I'm not sure whether the incline hold is part and parcel of automatic parking or whether they can be separated but I have it permanently engaged. What I DO do is to manually disengage the parking brake so as to avoid the starting off jerk.

[GiveMeABreak]

No, the Hill Start Assist is part of normal operation, regardless of what mode the handbrake is set in. But, I should say that if you have had your BSI software updated (I forget the exact version of the top of my head, but it is in one of my previous posts about this), the function has since been removed from the car's options screen.

[Paul-R]

Mmm, must go and check that when I get back in the car. I'm pretty sure I turned something off once!