Parking Brake Woes - A3 8V

A3 8V 2014 S line 1.8TFSI Electronic Parking Brake Fault

Help please, all suggestions welcome.

Some 2 years ago it started, just an occasional yellow parking brake symbol. The car would drive normally.

Reading that a failing battery can be the cause, I had a new genuine Audi one fitted. Re-occurred. Local garage said right rear caliper error reported.

New, pattern-part caliper fitted. Week or so later re-occurred.

Taken to main-dealer, 4 times, for investigation. Suspected, but not proved, ABS ECU suggested.

Had local garage send the ECU for testing for suspected intermittent fault. No fault found, so refitted. OK for a couple of weeks then re-occurred.

Took care to different dealer, changed the wiring-loom to right rear caliper as suggested by ECU tester. No change, garage suggested pattern-part caliper the cause so genuine Audi one fitted.

OK for 6 weeks then re-occurred.

Had parking brake switch changed, no change.

The fault never goes away by itself, when it is there, yellow flashing brake symbol and brake switch light flashing. Operating the switch most times does nothing and no noise from the brake motors. If start and drive, loud audible intermittent alarm, alternating yellow brake icon with red triangle icon and message "Parking brake is applied" and parking brake switch light flashing.

Just occasionally operating the switch clears the fault and the motors can be heard working.

I now am in the habit of never applying the brake (automatic so car won't move). But most times now, despite leaving the car without the brake applied, next time I use the car the yellow symbol, flashing brake switch light come before even starting the engine.

Thankfully only twice have I found the brake actually applied and won't release. Some time later have been able to release it.

I have tried a reset found on the web of applying the switch down for 7 seconds then up for 7 etc. Also tried battery disconnect.

I have attached a full VCDS scan.

After a battery, 2 caliper-assemblies and wiring-loom and over £3k, no further forward. An ECU would be over £2k.

Help please, the alarm blaring away in the car is driving me mad.

Love the car but.....

Audi-A3-8V-Jul2026.txt