What’s Stopping Your Land Rover Parking Brake from Releasing?

Okay, so you own a Land Rover, and its parking brake is refusing to release. Quite annoying, isn’t it? Well, it can be more inconvenient specifically, when you are in a rush, but due to a stubborn parking brake, you have to be stuck in one place. Stay calm! You are not alone. These are common troubles frequently experienced by Land Rover riders, which can be easily sorted out once you know the potential cause behind this nuisance. Thus, stick to the end of this comprehensive guide to learn detailed information about the effective reasons that prevent your Land Rover parking brake from working.

1. Faulty electronic parking brake (EPB)

• Mostly in modern Land Rover models, an electronic parking brake has been implemented rather than the manual handbrake, which is more useful but, when it fails, can give you a headache.
• The EPB relies on a motor to control the brake by activating and deactivating it. When that motor malfunctions or the entire system starts developing bugs in its software, the parking brake ultimately stops from releasing.
• If this happens, you might notice an alert message like "Parking Brake Fault" appearing on your Land Rover dashboard.

2. Broken or jammed cables

• If you have an older Land Rover model with a mechanical parking brake, the culprit might be the damaged or rusted brake cable.
• When the brake cable comes across dust, debris, or moisture, it may prevent the cable from moving, ultimately locking the brake.

3. Insufficient battery voltage

• Usually, your car’s parking brake system relies on electrical power to function. Thus, with a weak or dead vehicle battery, the parking brake might not move.
• This happens more in winter or if you keep your vehicle idle for a long period.

4. Worn parking brake switch

• Sometimes, the button or lever that you use to set the parking brake may malfunction, and as a result, the parking brake doesn’t release as the switch is not transmitting the correct signal.

5. Frozen brake pads or calipers

• The brake pads or calipers can also get stuck over time due to wear or lack of proper lubrication, causing the parking brake to stay locked.

6. System calibration problems

• If you have met with an accident recently, the parking brake system might not have been properly adjusted after the repair. Thus, the parking brake may face difficulty in releasing it.

How to identify the issue?

• One of the most obvious signs is observing "Parking Brake Fault" or other

parking brake-related alert messages or lights flashing on the dashboard display.

• Hearing loud and strange grinding, clicking, or whining noises while releasing the parking brake can be a clear indication of mechanical or motor issues.
• When there is physical or electrical trouble, you might feel the brake lever to be rigid or unresponsive. Moreover, you may observe no reactions while pulling or pushing the switch.
• With a jammed parking brake, you may find it quite difficult to move your car, or it may not move at all.

Quick DIY tricks to resolve the issue

• Sometimes, electronic systems require a quick restart to clear up the system faults. Thus, switch off your car and wait for a while before turning it on again. Next, check whether the brake is released.
• Test the battery voltage using a multimeter. If the battery is weak, try jump-starting your car or charging the battery. You may also replace the battery with a new one in case of an older or dead one.
• Check the manufacturer’s manual to know if your Land Rover has the feature of manual brake release. If yes, try to use that option to release the parking brake.
• To deal with the seized brake pads or calipers, try rocking the vehicle back and forth to loosen them.
• If the parking brake is completely jammed, you need to replace the brake with a new one. For that,

visit the nearest Land Rover service center and seek professional assistance to remove the stuck brake and install a new, high-quality piece suitable for your Land Rover model.

Wrapping up

If your Land Rover’s parking brake is stuck, it can be a hassle. However, with the right method, you can get back to driving without much trouble. Whether you handle it on your own or reach out to a trusted mechanic, dealing with the issue at an early stage can save you from heavy expenditures down the line.

European Service Center is the leading and finest auto repair center in the whole Dallas serving with over 30 years of excellence in the industry.