No brakes following EPB warning

[NotMechanic]

Yellow warning light re 'Release handbrake (EPB) appeared, few hours later and now brake pedal has reduced resistance and almost no braking ability. Can hear what sounds like air hissing as put pressure on braking pedal.

Is there a fix I can do at home to get brake pedal okay to get car to garage and fixed properly? We live at top of a hill, beside a canal 🙈🙄, so don't want to risk travel to garage as it is. 

A Toyota Avensis estate 2011.

Thanks!

[Konrad C]

A few things I suggest. Get the car towed. Check with your insurance paperwork or company, to see if you are covered by breakdown assistance for recovery. Failing that, see if you can get it towed at a reasonable cost. Another option is to find a mechanic to come to you. 
As to the brakes themselves, I have a few ideas that may be the cause - seized rear caliper piston or failed seal letting the brake fluid leak. Another probable cause is failed servo. Was the rear brakes serviced a couple of years ago? I ask this because if the pistons are not wound back properly, there will be problems down the line. Read my answer to another post -  

 

[NotMechanic]

Thanks for replying with a few suggestions. Towing not an option as I may run into back of towing van going down hill.

Got someone to look at it next Tuesday. Rear brakes were serviced about 18months ago. Interesting. Thanks. Will see what they say. 👍

[Konrad C]

23 hours ago, NotMechanic said:

Thanks for replying with a few suggestions. Towing not an option as I may run into back of towing van going down hill.

Got someone to look at it next Tuesday. Rear brakes were serviced about 18months ago. Interesting. Thanks. Will see what they say. 👍

When I mean towed, there are many ways to move a car with failed brakes, and the driver not in the car - on the back of a flatbed truck or trailered with front or rear wheels on the back of a tow truck. 

Yes very interesting that the rear brakes were serviced a year and a half previously. Fits the pattern of what I have experienced and mentioned. One thing I can mention - the EPB unit is mainly robust, but a lot of issues and faults relating to the parking brake are caused by other components, like the caliper sliders, seized pistons or wedged pistons. It is far cheaper to replace other brake parts, than replacing the EPB unit itself.

Goodluck with getting the car fixed. 👍
 

[NotMechanic]

Ok...having to replace brake actuator 🙉. Handbrake cable snapped off apparently. Estimated £1300 including labour. 🙈 Car isn't worth that much, but worth £0 without it. 

Thanks for the info.