Ford F150 Parking Brake Malfunction Service (Meaning & Fix)

Last updated on July 13th, 2023 at 05:09 pm

In the automobile industry, electronic parking brakes have begun to take the place of hydraulic brakes. It’s only recently that the technology has made its way into light vehicles. Today, I will be highlighting the meaning of parking brake malfunctions and the most effective solutions and also park brake malfunction service now.

The electronic park brake, or EPB, will be available on the 2018 Ford F-150 truck range, thanks to supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG. The brake will be a standard feature on all vehicle models.

Since the 2015 models, Ford has used the brake of its F-150s, depending on the engine option. According to ZF, the technology saves around 20 pounds compared to the standard hand brake, allowing for better fuel economy and lower emissions.

What does park brake malfunction mean?

This signifies that the brake does not activate when it is supposed to. This implies that your car’s wheels may start to roll if you park on a hill. The rear wheels will not move if the EPB is correctly operating.

You could also observe when the EPB does not disengage appropriately. If the mechanism becomes stuck, the automobile will either remain still or move while the brake is still applied, putting the vehicle in potentially dangerous situations.

When you activate the EPB while driving, your brakes may overheat, causing more significant damage to your Ford than if the EPB is stuck. Driving is tough, and acceleration is challenging.

Your vehicle’s brake light sensor has been activated. This might be a sign of various problems, but an electronic parking brake malfunction should never be ruled out.

What does it mean when it says service electronic parking brake?

Several modern automobiles feature at least one dashboard light that indicates the braking system. Most feature two or even three lights that illuminate when the ABS is activated.

Another light illuminates when the parking brake is engaged; it flashes when anything is wrong with the overall braking system.

A variety of dashboard warning lights might illuminate at any time. Although everyone understands what the oil and battery lights mean, many necessitate consulting the owner’s handbook. In the following months, we’ll look at different lights and what they mean to help clarify things.

Keynote on parking brake malfunction

This lamp illuminates the parking brake warning light. Depending on the vehicle’s type and model, it may be red or orange. It flashes to indicate that the parking brake or emergency brake is applied and must be disengaged before moving.

It implies you need to replenish brake fluid if it stays light after you release the parking brake or if it turns on and off sporadically while you’re driving. The braking system will be examined if the indicator does not turn off after checking the fluid and adding as needed.

How electronic parking brake works In Ford Vehicle

A parking brake, an emergency brake, or an e-brake is a backup braking mechanism activated by a mechanical hand lever or foot pedal. It can be found between the two seats or to the left of the gas and brake pedals.

The parking brake is separate from your car’s conventional hydraulic brakes that regulate the back brakes. This is in charge of stopping a parked automobile from rolling down a hill or moving.

The “emergency brake” moniker refers to the brake’s capacity to stop an automobile if the standard hydraulic brakes fail. Parking brakes are completely mechanical, requiring only cables and levers to work. Whenever you pull the parking brake lever, these wires deliver the force needed to keep your car in place or stop it.

How to service electronic parking brake ford

The electronic parking brake is activated by rear calipers with electric motors on 2013 and newer Ford Fusion cars (EPB). The system is put into service or maintenance mode to retract the pistons by following a sequence of procedures while seated in the driver’s seat.

Step by step guide on How to service electronic parking brake ford:

Turn the key to the ON position.
Place the EPB switch in the RELEASE (downward) position while pressing and holding the accelerator pedal. Maintain a firm grip on the accelerator pedal and the EPB.
Set the ignition to OFF for 5 seconds before turning it back on. Hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch in place.
The EPB system will be disabled, limiting the use of the parking brake until the service is completed and the maintenance mode is turned off.

The yellow electronic parking brake indication will light up, and the message center will indicate maintenance mode.

How do you reset the parking brake on a Ford F-150?

The first thing you should do if your Ford F-150’s ABS brake warning light comes on is to examine the braking system. The light may turn on if there are fluid leaks or worn pads. If everything appears to be in order, you may proceed to turn off the warning light.

It’s not difficult to reset the system. You must first turn on the car with the engine turned off. After that, you must unplug the negative connection from the battery for 10 minutes.

Step by step guide;

Step one: If you haven’t lowered the parking brake handle properly, the parking brake light may remain illuminated. The lever must be lowered to fully release the brake. As a result, inspecting the handle before considering repair expenses may be wise.
Step two: Make sure that the brake fluid in the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir is above the minimum line. Sensors are typically incorporated into the body or cap of brake master cylinders. If the fluid level dips below a specific group, the sensor should recognize it and display it.
Step three: The use of braking fluid in the engine is another source of brake leakage. Because brake fluid can stop a vehicle, your car will almost certainly lose this ability if any of it leaks due to a failure. As a result, examine the brake fluid reservoir if you find any fluid under your automobile or truck. A brake leak might be the cause if it isn’t empty.
Step four: Depending on the brake pedal or lever you have, there is probably a switch that interacts with the pedal or lever to convey a signal when the brake is engaged. The light may still be on if the contacts or connections on these switches are no longer correctly aligned, have cracked, or are obstructed. You may need to remove the footrest or center console to locate the button and ensure it is in excellent working order.
Step five: The brake sensor is in charge of telling you about the brake system’s state. You’ll notice that the brake fluid in the reservoir is depleting and that the parking brake is being utilized while driving. The car sensor may be imprecise at times, resulting in an erroneous signal. As a result, even if your complete braking system is in proper working order, the parking brake signal may continue to illuminate.
Step six: A defective anti-lock braking mechanism may be another potential reason for parking brake light malfunction after all of the other alternatives have been exhausted (ABS). This is a difficult problem, and you’ll almost probably require professional assistance to search for problems in the vehicle’s computer code.

automobile industry, electronic parking brakes have begun to take the place of hydraulic brakes. It's only recently that the technology has made its way into light vehicles. Today, I will be highlighting the meaning of parking brake malfunctions and the most effective solutions and also park brake malfunction service now.

What is the nessecery electronic parking brake service tool?

You may need to tune the pistons for the parking brake to work correctly. It is done with the parking brake tool or your diagnostic instrument.

Most automobile models require this to determine how much they should engage and release. When you’ve done so, you’ll hear the pistons travel back and forth many times until the calibration is complete.

How to repair F 150 park brake malfunction easy Fix

To begin, turn the car on with the engine turned off. Afterward, detach the negative cable from the battery and leave it unconnected for at least 10 minutes. It will allow the system to lose all power and reset it the next time you start the automobile.

Follow these steps for an easy fix

Set the EPB switch to RELEASE while pressing and holding the accelerator pedal. Hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB at the same time.
Turn the ignition off for 5 seconds before turning it back on. Hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch in your hands.
The EPB system will be turned off, preventing the application of the parking brake until the service is done and the maintenance mode is turned off.
The message center will show maintenance mode, and the yellow electronic parking brake indication will activate.
Release the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch after turning the ignition off.

What is Ford F-150 Electric Parking Brake Release Procedure?

The EPB may be activated by pressing and holding the parking brake switch with the AUTO switch turned off.

This works whether the ignition is turned on or off and whether the car is moving or stopped. Pull and hold the manual switch while simultaneously squeezing the brake pedal to release the brake.

The EPB will apply if the driver’s door is open, the driver’s seatbelt is unbuckled, or the hood or trunk lid is available if the BRAKE HOLD switch is ON (a distinct function not included in EPB) and the car is stopped for more than three minutes.

A manual release tool is included with the spare tire equipment if the system fails. Install the long brake release tool after removing the screwdriver blade from the handle.

How do I get my f150 out of park brake maintenance mode?

To getyour verichle out of service mode, follow the instructions below;

Turn the key to the “ON” position.
Position the EPB switch in the APPLY (upward) position and press and hold the accelerator pedal. Hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch in your hands.
Turn the ignition off for 5 seconds before turning it back on. Hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch in your hands.
Turn off the EPB switch and the accelerator pedal.

To provide sufficient air space between the rear brake pads and the brake disc, the EPB system will thoroughly apply and release the parking brake.

Park brake malfunction service now

It is not possible to turn off an electric parking brake without turning on the ignition. Many challenges are associated with electric parking brakes, including diagnosing and servicing the system. This also means that parking brakes might not work if there is an electrical failure.

How can you manually release the parking brake?

Here is how to release the parking brake manually. This requires reaching the back of your wheel to access the caliper. Follow these steps.

Support your back with jack stands.
Locate the rear brake caliper by sliding under the vehicle.
Take a look at the way that the EPB motor mounts. Some motors are serviceable; others are not. They will have bolts that hold them to the caliper housing if they can be serviced. You cannot perform the procedure if they aren’t serviceable.
Locate the EPB motor bolts and take them out. However, don’t disconnect the electric brake motor. The system will lose its base settings. In most cases, it will be required for you to replace the brake pedal and electric parking brake motor.
Remove the bolts and carefully take the EPB motor off the ground.
To release the caliper cylinder, use the correct socket to fit into the back of your caliper piston.
This will allow you to remove the EPB motor from the suspension system and lower the vehicle.
Once you are on the ground, your goal is to resolve the customer’s problem.
You will need to reverse the procedure for the electromechanical parking brake after you have resolved the customer’s problem.

Watch this video on how to manually release an electric parking brake service now on your ford or other vehicles.

Jeffery Ekweghi

Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.