Citroen C5 2.0i 16v auto al4 handbrake problem

[thundermaster]

No, the new unit had no emergency brake cable.

[thundermaster]

I don't understand why after switching off the engine, the handbrake works again after three seconds

[AinurC5X7]

Hi,

New to the forum. I have a C5 X7 year 2012, also having the exact problem: leaving the car parked for 15 minutes, and no errors, however, once car is stopped, keys removed, and the warning 'park brake fault' and anti roll back error flashes.

I've noticed that if you engage the park brake whilst the warning is still flashing, the EPB may not deploy. So I engage the parkbrake before turning off the ignition.

I also notice that even when the parkbrake has been engaged, turning of the key and removing it would trigger automatic engagement for a few seconds of the parkbrake followed by the error messages.

FYI, I too had a replacement parkbrake installed. It works in manual and auto mode, at least until the error message appears after removing the keys, but disappears totally after 20 minutes of rest

I've changed the battery, changed the parkbrake fuse, tried the removal and refitting of the parkbrake fuse, BSI reset, EPB calibration with diagbox (it calibrates successfully), tried to delete fault codes, yet problem persists.

In diagbox there is a code which says that the parkbrake ECU is not recognized. Mine new parkbrake does not come with the manual release plastic thingy.

Hope to find a solution to this as its irritating especially when you do short stops eg fuel stops and stopping the car triggers the fault. And once the fault triggers, I think the suspension stiffens a bit

[GiveMeABreak]

The common factor in all these cases is the replacement of the unit using a Chinese copy and not an original (don't be fooled by labels - they're also fake).

[AinurC5X7]

These are my fault codes. Managed to delete most except these. They are probably permanent codes. There can't be cleared with a drive cycle as fault trigger after removal of car keys or turning the ignition off.

Wonder is it the permanent codes that triggers the error? Will a simple remap to delete the permanent codes solve it?

[AinurC5X7]

The common factor in all these cases is the replacement of the unit using a Chinese copy and not an original (don't be fooled by labels - they're also fake).

You're probably right, but the symptoms appear the exactly the same even from the original poster of the thread which I assume is an original second hand part. I may be wrong.

[GiveMeABreak]

No, that's a fake copy too - from Amazon. Originals are not sold on places like this - they're Chinese copies seen on Aliexpress.

[AinurC5X7]

Got it! Maybe try to swap with a secondhand unit and see whether it works. Pity, other than the irritating parkbrake fault, it works as it should.

Before doing the swap, I may try to send the ECU data to a tuner to delete the permanent codes, and reflash the ECU.

I'm hoping it's the permanent codes that's triggering the fault.

Gonna use the Kess V2 to extract the ECU files and send it to the tuners. Fingers crossed.

[GiveMeABreak]

Not sure that is going to work as this is the ESP ECU triggering the fault codes. I wouldn't want anyone messing with the ESP ECU as it is responsible for so many other systems....

[thundermaster]

Some observations:
1) The scammer here is not the Chinese, but Citroen which is mocking us by asking us 1700 euros because our handbrake broke. (1700 only for the part)
2) In such a vital spare part, you are not a serious company when you ask 1700 euros for its replacement.
3) With the knowledge of industrial production due to my work, I inform you that the part in question that I got from Amazon, is produced in the same factory as the """genuine"""". For sure. Maybe not on the same production line, but certainly in the same factory. Here there is definitely a fraud with the manufacture of the specific spare part. The "replica" plastics bear the same stamps and exactly the same insignia as the "genuine". Anyone who gets their hands on it will understand. Even the friends at the authorized dealership told me: This is genuine.
4) If Citroen has just tweaked a stupid detail on an electronic board that makes the EPB "recognizable" by BSI, that in no way justifies selling it at this unheard of price when it wants to its customers to drive "safe cars".
5) However, even when the lights come on, I have a parking brake.
6) AinurC5X7, if you find a way to keep the dashboard lights from coming on, please let me know.

[AinurC5X7]

Some observations:
1) The scammer here is not the Chinese, but Citroen which is mocking us by asking us 1700 euros because our handbrake broke. (1700 only for the part)
2) In such a vital spare part, you are not a serious company when you ask 1700 euros for its replacement.
3) With the knowledge of industrial production due to my work, I inform you that the part in question that I got from Amazon, is produced in the same factory as the """genuine"""". For sure. Maybe not on the same production line, but certainly in the same factory. Here there is definitely a fraud with the manufacture of the specific spare part. The "replica" plastics bear the same stamps and exactly the same insignia as the "genuine". Anyone who gets their hands on it will understand. Even the friends at the authorized dealership told me: This is genuine.
4) If Citroen has just tweaked a stupid detail on an electronic board that makes the EPB "recognizable" by BSI, that in no way justifies selling it at this unheard of price when it wants to its customers to drive "safe cars".
5) However, even when the lights come on, I have a parking brake.
6) AinurC5X7, if you find a way to keep the dashboard lights from coming on, please let me know.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Indeed, spending 1700 euros on an essential part is exorbitantly expensive, me especially if I factor in shipping and taxes.

My next plan is trying to send to my regular online tuner to delete the dtc (permanent codes). I have had experience before in my other car, a Jaguar XJ X350 tdvi which had restricted performance coming on and going into limp mode. Car was at the garage for 3 years until I decided to reflash it to get rid of the permanent DTC. Cured it, and no restricted performance ever to date.

I hope it may work for the current problem. Im hoping it's not due to a need to code the new EPB.

I have tried all kinds of workaround to prevent triggering of the parkbrake fault, but the common denominator is the act of turning off the ignition. Even after the parkbrake engages automatically, I can see on the parkbrake button then the light goes off for a second before turning red again to engage again the parkbrake, then the fault comes on.

It's as if it's trying to automatically engage the parkbrake a second time but fault triggered as the brake is already activated.

Will try the reflash (to delete the DTCs) and see how...

[thundermaster]

Exactly the same....

If you have any news, please let me know!

Thanks!

[GiveMeABreak]

Don't shoot the messenger guys, I don't work for Citroen, but I'm just telling you that in all cases of this issue I know of, the replacement parts have not been bought from official sources where this problem is happening. As you can see the EPB ECU shown at 'a' which is a slave to the ESP ECU elsewhere in the vehicle, is integrated into the electric parking brake assembly; these components cannot be separated.

They are made by Continental Teves

So it may well be that these are clones and may not 100% compatible if they don't have the correct programming / circuitry. Take the Chinese Lexia Clones that most of use have to use - better than nothing, but they are not originals despite all the fake labels. .... and I doubt any Citroen technician would really be able to tell you if it was a fake or an original to be honest they are not trained investigators - only to fit the parts and probably just rely on the label

[AinurC5X7]

Love the diagram and explanation! Don't dare to shoot the messenger! I looked up the ECU details of the parkbrake on diagbox, and interestingly, its identified as from Teves.

I think I'm going to go ahead with the reflash (as soon as I can find my Kess V2!)

So these Chinese copies are pretty good these days (in copying!).

[xantia_v6]

Can the ECU from the original brake assembly be moved to the replacement?