2012 toyota avensis parking brake actuator

[J.R1973]

I've been told by my main Toyota dealer that i need to replace the Parking Brake Actuator on my Avensis.

This is going to cost 1500 Euros , but it is working properly only that the warning "check parking brake system" keeps coming on.

I insisted that they do a wiring and brake check and they told me that nothing seemed wrong but I have to get it replaced . 

Any help much appreciated ...

[Konrad C]

A few questions. 
Have you had the brake pads changed recently? If the pistons are not rewound with the cut outs horizontal to the calipers, the pins protruding from the rear of the brake pads may cause the piston to be angled in the bore. This may cause the caliper to be seized. Or the  brake pad could be could be jammed in the caliper.
The brakes need to be thoroughly inspected with a strip down. This includes the cables. Then reassembled and greased where needed.
Using diagnostic system like Techstream should clear the 'check parking brake' warning.

Another cause of the 'check parking brake system' message, could be the EGR on diesels. This usually is accompanied with VSC message. 
I accidently cause the check parking brake with warning and cautions, whilst using the wrong diagnostic device, after replacing my rear pads. I eventually cleared all the errors using Techstream.

If it comes back after all the above, then you have a fault with the EPB unit!

[J.R1973]

Hi Konrad ,

No i haven't touched the brake pads .Got the main dealer to check them along with calipers and wiring . Nothing came up.

There is only the " check parking brake system " warning coming up and " release parking brake " comes up from time to time even though i can hear the parking brake releasing and the car can roll away with nothing pulling or catching.

Any more suggestions greatly appreciated.

 I have e-mailed Toyota Customer Services about same but am still awaiting a reply..!!

[Devon Aygo]

Where there any fault codes stored ? 

[J.R1973]

I don't know is the answer. The main dealer didn't say..They just said that the actuator had to be replaced..

[NickMarkov]

Hi,we have the same issue.= after changing the rear breck pads and callipers. An error come up :

Code C1346 - Zero point Calibration of Clutch stroke sensor undone

code C1336 -Zero point calibration of G sensor undone

After that the main dealer in Toyota said parking brake actuator needs replacement.

[Konrad C]

1 hour ago, NickMarkov said:

Hi,we have the same issue.= after changing the rear breck pads and callipers. An error come up :

Code C1346 - Zero point Calibration of Clutch stroke sensor undone

code C1336 -Zero point calibration of G sensor undone

After that the main dealer in Toyota said parking brake actuator needs replacement.

I had the same issue 5 years ago and using Techstream (and Delphi software) successfully cleared the codes. Some dealers are not good and you need to find someone who knows how to deal with it. Also when you replaced the rear pads, when winding back the pistons, did you make sure the cut outs/slots in the pistons are horizontal, so the nipple on the back of the brake pad sit within the slot? Also, as mentioned in the following links, you don't need to use any diagnostics to calibrate the brakes after any brake pad/disc replacement. The wrong diagnostic equipment reset function will cause the C1336 and C1346 codes!

Read the following -

 

[avetoy]

On 1/30/2019 at 10:21 PM, J.R1973 said:

I've been told by my main Toyota dealer that i need to replace the Parking Brake Actuator

 

14 hours ago, NickMarkov said:

After that the main dealer in Toyota said parking brake actuator needs replacement

Pretty strange behavior from companies. Unfortunately, that seems to be the practice these days. They don't bother to find out the real fault, they just want to sell an expensive part (and work).

[Jim-p]

On 7/3/2024 at 7:34 AM, avetoy said:

 

Pretty strange behavior from companies. Unfortunately, that seems to be the practice these days. They don't bother to find out the real fault, they just want to sell an expensive part (and work).

Although not overly applicable in the OP's case. I think Toyota are also concerned about liability, especially around any safety components in the car, e.g., I had the airbag light coming on because my wife and I share the same car which meant moving the seat alot and caused the connection under the seat to loosen to the point that the airbag light kept coming on. Toyota said it would require a new wiring harness or seat to fix it. I asked, can't you just replace the connector or bypass it and the parts guy said as a main dealer they couldn't apply such a fix and stand over it, therefore would over ever fit oem replacement parts.

Took it to an auto electrician and they fixed it for 60 quid.

[WiltsGuy1970]

Hi All,

There are a few related threads on this issue and it seems it's not always easy to figure out the true root cause, as the error message relating to the parking brake / sensor / VSC system can also be triggered by other faults (including a faulty sensor of course!).  The previous owner of my 2009 Aventis tourer had the parking brake actuator replaced but the error message still occasionally came up.  It's much less frequent nowadays since my Battery connections are better (which suggests that the error could be triggered by a slight voltage drop, although via what pathway I wouldn't know!) but it does very occasionally appear.  I live with it nowadays (although the slight power drop is annoying when it happens - 'safe mode' kicking in, I guess...).

Another member based in Carlow seems to have solved his issue by filling up with what looks like 'biodiesel' which he says seems to clear his injectors (apparently this can also trigger the same error message) but you will need to check this is compatible with your particular model / engine, obviously!!

[Cessna]

As others have said above, the check parking brake error comes on for all kinds of issues, mostly unrelated to the braking system. Seeing as you have got nowhere with the dealer, either check the error codes in the system yourself to see what is wrong, or get a good auto electrician to do it for you.