XC70: Wheels/Brakes Handbrake warning message

[Double_Trouble]

Hi All,

EPB dashboard "service/error" message - what does it mean - how do I fix?

First post in a long time and I'm new to the P3 platform - please go easy on me (I HAVE tried search but, not had success).

It's been a long time but, I am once again a Volvo owner - YAY! I picked up a SPANISH 2008 XC70 D5 Manual (LHD) with 270K KM's about 6 months ago. It's been well cared for and I really like it - but, I have a few issues to sort and would welcome some advice from the community please. Nearest dealer (or specialist) is about a day's journey away (via ferry) but, I am an experienced DIY mechanic.....

Part of the problem may be that I can't seem to get my muscle memory around the EPB button... after years of PULLING a lever to apply the handbrake I (unconsciously) want to pull the flappy button thing to apply the brake and push it down to release (is it just me?). I must have got it wrong a couple of dozen times - but, when I get it wrong the car seems to release the epb automatically as I release the clutch...

So - the other day, I parked on a really steep hill and fumbled the button (again!) when I did the hill start to join the traffic (maybe I pulled it on instead of off?). The car drove away as normal (epb released) but, an error messaged popped up. I was in busy traffic so could not read it... Since then occasionally the message pops up (always when driving) and now a yellow warning triangle.

It says (in Spanish) "handbrake requires service" (or 'needs attention' the Spanish message could mean either) and sometimes when I release the epb it it says "handbrake not fully retracted".

BUT - The handbrake holds well and does not drag at all. I can hear (at least one) epb motor working and (if I push the footbrake) I can feel the pedal coming up as the epb goes on. The car had new disks and pads about 1000KM ago. The disks stay cool when driving and there's no excessive brake pad dust on the wheels. (it also passed the ITV (MOT equivalent) brake test easily about a month ago)

I am thinking of getting a code reader to try reading the error and/or resetting the epb.

Anyone got any advice?

Thanks in Advance
Mark

XC70 D5 (LHD)
C70 2.0D (RHD)

[GrahamBrown1]

I’d do a check of the caliper motor housings themselves. Make sure there not damaged, cracked ect. I’d be tempted to pull the plugs off and make sure there’s no corrosion in there also. The wiring for the calipers runs along the trailing arms. Check it’s all still secure and good.

A diagnostic plug in would help with the actual fault if this is available to you.

I would also be tempted to repeatedly set and release the handbrake a few times to ensure all is working correctly.

Early P3 cars suffered handbrake module failures also but I’d be surprised if this one is still the original as it was a very common failure when they came out.

[capt jack]

My V70 did exactly this, just before one of the EPB motors packed in altogether - leaving me stuck with one very jammed and immoveable V70!

Have a really good look at the motor housing. The N/S one on my car was cracked, which prevented the motor from releasing the brake. In the end I needed a complete new calliper assembly.

I think the motors are quite cheap, and the reason for that is that they're not particularly well made!

Immediate advice would be to take the wheels off, have a really good look at both motors, check for any damage to the motor housings, make sure that the electrical connections are all in good order, that the pads are properly fitted and suitably greased, also the slider pins.

But get it sorted, because if the brakes fail and jam on the car is totally immoveable, and you get zero warning.

To be honest, having had the experience, it would be enough to put me off buying another car with an EPB.

Jack

[Double_Trouble]

Thanks - more good advice!

(I'll try and reciprocate when I can - I really like this forum - it's great).

As an added challenge I am currently over a thousand miles from the car (back in UK for a while - thanks to brexit and Shengan area rules) so, I can't inspect or do any work on the car for a month or two....

I might well buy some actuators and other parts to take over with me when I go back - I don't wan't to get stuck and have to wait weeks for parts when I'm back there...

(and - yeah - if it's not clear from my original post I'm no fan of EPB either - the thing is that seem to be the norm nowadays :-(

I'd even be happy to replace it with a manual handbrake - (probably using parts form another model) even if that were quite a bit of work.... I tried to google it to see if anyone had done this before but, could not find anything. I do not know if thats because it's too hard or if Google can't find/make any money out of returning me actually useful results... Cynical - moi? claro, que si!).