To make a long story short. Had the park brake fault, took it to dealer, says it needs the park brake motor. No deal. Motor has been unplugged, calipers removed, cables tied up. Decision made.
Now, any techs out there know how to fool the computer (whichever one that might be) into thinking the EPB is OK and killing the fault indicator in the dash? I installed the coil over suspension and added a resistor in the harness behind the rear seat to fool the suspension computer so I'm fairly certain the same type mod would work on the park brake. I'm sure someone knows how and where. Can you help me? Thanks in advance.

 

I like your thinking but would it be a problem when you have to have a

roadworthy test?

 

Depends on what is wrong with the actuator.....if it is the hall effect sensor, you could leave everything in place and it should still engage and disengage manually....but if you disconnect the motor and have full inspections where you are, you wont pass, they usually require that the parking brake hold the vehicle while in gear at idle

 

Here in the UK, if you did this you would fail the government roadworthiness test as your handbrake would be inoperable. This is there to provide a braking capability if the main brakes fail.

So why no deal with the dealer, too expensive ? You could try the internet for the part.

 

Hadn't thought of that, but here we do not have inspections. As HhisIII mentioned, it did engage manually I believe, but then one morning it locked up and wouldn't release. I smoked the pads for 10 miles to get home. Cost is not so much the issue as access. I can barely see it, much less see how to get it out. Just not motivated to try to R&R it. I've just replaced the entire suspension, switched to coilovers, front wheel bearings and I'm just not interested in doing this job and certainly not paying the dealer to do it. Thanks for everyone's thoughts, though.

 

Just a thought- does the EPB play a part in adjusting the caliper piston to accommodate for pad wear?

 

Yeah, the part is not horribly expensive, but you have to lower the rear subframe and gas tank to get to it

 

Frankly I think the OP is very unwise to disable this braking system, but if the US state he lives in has no roadworthiness test, then so be it. I'd just say that in the UK the insurers would refuse to pay out on a claim if the car had been modified in any way without any notice to them.