C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
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C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
On my Citroen grand Picasso 2014 edition my electronic hand brake is not releasing. I have not been able to find any manual release anywhere.
Got a diagbox and after clearing the errors the following errors are not clearing, anyone know what these refer to and what I need to look at next?
- U1213 - Fault in communication between in electric power steering (DAE) ECU and the ABS/ ESP ECU (Permanent Fault)
- C1560 1E - Electric parking brake (FSE) - right hand actuator (Permanent - Resistance out of range)
- C1561 1E - Electric parking brake (FSE) - left hand actuator (Permanent - Resistance out of range)
Got a diagbox and after clearing the errors the following errors are not clearing, anyone know what these refer to and what I need to look at next?
- U1213 - Fault in communication between in electric power steering (DAE) ECU and the ABS/ ESP ECU (Permanent Fault)
- C1560 1E - Electric parking brake (FSE) - right hand actuator (Permanent - Resistance out of range)
- C1561 1E - Electric parking brake (FSE) - left hand actuator (Permanent - Resistance out of range)
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- (Donor 2016)
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Hi and welcome.
Pop your VIN up for me so I can see which system you have.
Pop your VIN up for me so I can see which system you have.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help
Marc
Marc
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
ThanksGiveMeABreak wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 18:16 Hi and welcome.
Pop your VIN up for me so I can see which system you have.

My vin is: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
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- (Donor 2016)
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Ok, so there is a known issue when you have C1560 and C1561 together with any parking brake fault message.
Basically you need to get it to the dealer as it requires a dynamic stability control ECU software update.
Ring the dealer up and tell them you have those fault codes and advise them of Technical Service Bulletin number: B3FW011JQ0 along with your VIN.
There may or may not be a charge as it's about 0.50 of an hour to do. I'd leave the U1213 code out - as that is a communications fault - just focus on the 2 C codes.
Basically you need to get it to the dealer as it requires a dynamic stability control ECU software update.
Ring the dealer up and tell them you have those fault codes and advise them of Technical Service Bulletin number: B3FW011JQ0 along with your VIN.
There may or may not be a charge as it's about 0.50 of an hour to do. I'd leave the U1213 code out - as that is a communications fault - just focus on the 2 C codes.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help
Marc
Marc
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Thanks Marc, will give them a call in the morning.
Just thinking how I will get my car to the dealer as the back wheels are not releasing.
Just thinking how I will get my car to the dealer as the back wheels are not releasing.
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Hi,
I have a related issue I was about to post about.
My 2016 C4 Picasso has a parking brake that won’t engage. Works as an emergency brake and on hill assist, just not as a parking brake.
I have the following codes:
C156C
C1561
C156D
Is this likely to be due to the same issue?
Thanks,
Andy
I have a related issue I was about to post about.
My 2016 C4 Picasso has a parking brake that won’t engage. Works as an emergency brake and on hill assist, just not as a parking brake.
I have the following codes:
C156C
C1561
C156D
Is this likely to be due to the same issue?
Thanks,
Andy
WAINY
2016 C4 Picasso Exclusive (Black)
1983 GSA X1 (Black - being restored)
2016 C4 Picasso Exclusive (Black)
1983 GSA X1 (Black - being restored)
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- Donor 2024
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Hi All,
I looked at buying a C4 and ran away screamingly ...
I often manoeuvre boat trailers on steep ramps in tight places and trying to do that without a proper handbrake seemed, to me, downright dangerous. I also got in difficulties on ice on a hillside road once and managed to let the car turn to face downhill by careful use of a real handbrake ...
So that's why I wouldn't touch a car with an only-automatic handbrake. Do think that's fair?
Captain K
PS: My son called it a 'mobile sitting room, not a real car'!
I looked at buying a C4 and ran away screamingly ...
I often manoeuvre boat trailers on steep ramps in tight places and trying to do that without a proper handbrake seemed, to me, downright dangerous. I also got in difficulties on ice on a hillside road once and managed to let the car turn to face downhill by careful use of a real handbrake ...
So that's why I wouldn't touch a car with an only-automatic handbrake. Do think that's fair?
Captain K
PS: My son called it a 'mobile sitting room, not a real car'!
The secret of happiness is freedom - and the secret of freedom is courage ...
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
To be honest, it’s the one thing I’d change about the car. Never liked it even before this fault...
Will avoid auto handbrakes in the future.
Will avoid auto handbrakes in the future.
WAINY
2016 C4 Picasso Exclusive (Black)
1983 GSA X1 (Black - being restored)
2016 C4 Picasso Exclusive (Black)
1983 GSA X1 (Black - being restored)
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- (Donor 2016)
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Well this is not good news with this system. The only way recorded is:findmak wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 21:24 Thanks Marc, will give them a call in the morning.
Just thinking how I will get my car to the dealer as the back wheels are not releasing.
Disconnect the battery (follow BSI Reset / Battery Disconnect / Reconnect Procedure).
Raise and support the vehicle
On each side:
- Disconnect the connector (at "a").
- Close rear motorised brake caliper actuator connector using cleanliness plugs.
- The bolts (2)
- The rear motorised brake caliper actuator (1)
Refitting the Actuators
CAUTION: Always replace the seal (at "c").
Refit:
- The rear motorised brake caliper actuator (1)
- The bolts (2) (New)
Connect the connector (at "a").
Return the vehicle to its wheels.
Reconnect the Battery following the relevant part of (BSI Reset / Battery Disconnect / Reconnect Procedure)
So if this is not feasible, and you cannot release the handbrake by keeping your foot on the footbrake and pushing the electric parking brake lever, you may have to follow this procedure or get it lifted onto a flat bed truck and have it towed there.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help
Marc
Marc
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Thanks Marc, once I restart the car will the electric brakes lock again?
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- (Donor 2016)
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Obviously, you'll have to refit the actuators with a new seal, torque the bolts and connect them up and reconnect the battery last. See if Citroen will do this for you though seeing as you had to go through all this malarky because of a flipping software update. But if it is a software update I suspect they will need to connect them back up anyway to test them after the update as it needs a drive for a few metres, then allow the networks to sleep before the codes can be cleared.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help
Marc
Marc
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Just leave the actuators unplugged to get it to the garage, Just make sure you advise the garage you have done this incase the diagnose it as disconnected actuatorsfindmak wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 23:33 Thanks Marc, once I restart the car will the electric brakes lock again?

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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Just rang up a dealer, they refused to tell me a price to get the fix you mentioned. He said until they do their own diagnostics and then they will tell me what they think the issue is. They don't care about technical bulletin's.
What a nightmare!
What a nightmare!
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Rang another dealer, so once they do the diagnostics, there maybe lot's of ECU updates required so could take from an hour to a whole day of labour.
I take it replacing the rear calipers and the motors with 2 off ebay will not fix the issue?
I take it replacing the rear calipers and the motors with 2 off ebay will not fix the issue?
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- (Donor 2016)
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Re: C4 Picasso MK2 - Electronic Brake Not Releasing - Error codes Codes -
Some dealers can be a bit bolshy when a customer comes in and tells them about known technical issues! They don't like the fact that you know what you are on about.
No that won't help regarding replacing the calipers, as the tech bulletin I referred to for these 2 specific codes appearing together specifically relates to having the software updated in the dynamic stability control ECU. This is basically the ESP ECU that handles the ABS and ESP system on the car which also controls the electronic parking brake system too.
To be fair though, they would have to run the diagnostic to confirm this as they have to complete a quality report where this issue is found - which may at some point end up as an after sales campaign if enough customers report in with the same fault. They obviously are aware of it - to of issued a technical bulletin already.
But it may be worth ringing up Citroen HQ and advise them that you have had these fault codes returned (don't mention you have a clone of Diagbox and did it yourself) and that you have been made aware of the technical services bulletin number about this. I would ask them for some assurance that if this is a known issue, can they advise if this software update is needed, will the pre-diagnosis and update be free of charge?
No that won't help regarding replacing the calipers, as the tech bulletin I referred to for these 2 specific codes appearing together specifically relates to having the software updated in the dynamic stability control ECU. This is basically the ESP ECU that handles the ABS and ESP system on the car which also controls the electronic parking brake system too.
To be fair though, they would have to run the diagnostic to confirm this as they have to complete a quality report where this issue is found - which may at some point end up as an after sales campaign if enough customers report in with the same fault. They obviously are aware of it - to of issued a technical bulletin already.
But it may be worth ringing up Citroen HQ and advise them that you have had these fault codes returned (don't mention you have a clone of Diagbox and did it yourself) and that you have been made aware of the technical services bulletin number about this. I would ask them for some assurance that if this is a known issue, can they advise if this software update is needed, will the pre-diagnosis and update be free of charge?
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help
Marc
Marc