Brake Service Mode- Final Update

[BillPitman]

Has anyone used the written instructions for the brake service mode?
I got the mode to activate, but now can’t get it to deactivate!
I’m sure there must be a mistake in one of the steps?!

From workshop CD-



“Deactivation

NOTICE: The brake system performance will be significantly reduced when the brake system is put in service mode.

NOTE: Carry out the following service mode deactivation procedure to activate the brake system.


Set the ignition to ON.

Press and hold the accelerator pedal, firmly press and hold the brake pedal, and place the EPB switch in the APPLY (upward) position. Continue to hold the accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and the EPB switch..

Set the ignition to OFF then set the ignition to ON within 5 seconds .

Release the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.


(NOTE: Once the Ignition is set to ON, the EPB system will fully apply and release the brake to guarantee sufficient air gap between the brake pads and brake disc. “)

Bill Pitman

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[azerik]

Did you do this because of actually working on the brakes or for testing? (I'm really really close to just replacing the front rotors myself because 3 + weeks for the dealer appt isn't making me smile) I was going to see if I could do this but as I'm leaving for my cabin tomorrow with the MME I don't want to bork it for the weekend.

Very interesting note about the air gap of the pads. That might well be why my rotors are warped (or brake material stuck to them again)

 

[BillPitman]

Did you do this because of actually working on the brakes or for testing? (I'm really really close to just replacing the front rotors myself because 3 + weeks for the dealer appt isn't making me smile) I was going to see if I could do this but as I'm leaving for my cabin tomorrow with the MME I don't want to bork it for the weekend.

Very interesting note about the air gap of the pads. That might well be why my rotors are warped (or brake material stuck to them again)

I did/ am doing as a test. Regretting it a little bit now…..
About warped rotors….., I have 16,400 miles on car, I get a shimmy in my steering wheel when first applying the brakes, pushing harder & shimmy goes away!( I put car in neutral every so often, & apply fairly hard braking)
I use 1-pedal exclusively.
I’m no expert but, there’s no way my rotors are warped, period!
I feel the problem is shitty pads, and if not that, I plan on doing runout tests of rotors & hubs.
Another thing I noticed, w/ brake service mode activated, brakes are released but you can’t rotate wheel. With car in park, the parking pawl is engaged, not allowing wheel to rotate.
Brake service mode instructions say nothing about using neutral……..

Meanwhile I’m stuck w/ the service mode on…….
Ya know, this car has been great……, software & instructions not so much.
I am just a little aggravated right now…… Bill P

 

[azerik]

I have 32k on mine. My rotors have been turned and turned. They're on the last thou sadly. There is a recall on the pads (which causes the dealer to turn the rotors to get the pad material off). If I could get my hands on some decent ceramic pads these'd be gone tomorrow. They know pads weld to the rotors.
BTW no amount of re-bedding did me any good. They lasted about 3k before starting to shimmy again. And it doesn't rain here and I wash the car by hand witha waterless setup just to avoid this rotor issue.

From my manual, slightly different wording:

Deactivation
NOTICE: The brake system performance will be significantly reduced when the brake system is put in service mode.
NOTE: Carry out the following Brake Maintenance Mode deactivation procedure to activate the EBB and EPB systems. These systems can also be activated using the diagnostic scan tool and following the on-screen instructions.
1. Set the ignition to ON.
2. Press and hold the accelerator pedal.
3. Place the EPB switch in the APPLY (upward) position. Continue to hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
4. Firmly press the brake pedal for at least 1 second. Release the brake pedal while continuing to hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
5. Set the ignition to OFF then set the ignition to ON within 5 seconds, then release the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
● NOTE: Once the ignition is set to ON, the EPB system will immediately apply and release the parking brake to guarantee sufficient air gap between the rear brake pads and brake disc. If the EPB switch is not released prior to completion of this sequence, it will apply the EPB. The EPB will have to released prior to moving the vehicle.
● NOTE: When Brake Maintenance Mode is deactivated, the Yellow Parking Brake and Red Brake Warning Indicators turn off and "Brake Maintenance Mode" no longer displays in the message center.

 

[BillPitman]

I have 32k on mine. My rotors have been turned and turned. They're on the last thou sadly. There is a recall on the pads (which causes the dealer to turn the rotors to get the pad material off). If I could get my hands on some decent ceramic pads these'd be gone tomorrow. They know pads weld to the rotors.
BTW no amount of re-bedding did me any good. They lasted about 3k before starting to shimmy again. And it doesn't rain here and I wash the car by hand witha waterless setup just to avoid this rotor issue.

From my manual, slightly different wording:

Deactivation
NOTICE: The brake system performance will be significantly reduced when the brake system is put in service mode.
NOTE: Carry out the following Brake Maintenance Mode deactivation procedure to activate the EBB and EPB systems. These systems can also be activated using the diagnostic scan tool and following the on-screen instructions.
1. Set the ignition to ON.
2. Press and hold the accelerator pedal.
3. Place the EPB switch in the APPLY (upward) position. Continue to hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
4. Firmly press the brake pedal for at least 1 second. Release the brake pedal while continuing to hold the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
5. Set the ignition to OFF then set the ignition to ON within 5 seconds, then release the accelerator pedal and the EPB switch.
● NOTE: Once the ignition is set to ON, the EPB system will immediately apply and release the parking brake to guarantee sufficient air gap between the rear brake pads and brake disc. If the EPB switch is not released prior to completion of this sequence, it will apply the EPB. The EPB will have to released prior to moving the vehicle.
● NOTE: When Brake Maintenance Mode is deactivated, the Yellow Parking Brake and Red Brake Warning Indicators turn off and "Brake Maintenance Mode" no longer displays in the message center.

Eric, are you talking about your rear solid rotors only? Bill

 

[azerik]

Eric, are you talking about your rear solid rotors only? Bill

Nope, all 4. The replacement pads don't have a line in them, so it's a solid pad. That was supposedly supposed to stop them from sticking to the rotors but I have had pad material on all 4. They were turned twice before the pads were replaced. New pads installed in Feb '23 and the rotors turned again. I have a slight vibration (it seems more from the rear, but I feel it in the steering wheel) again which means they need to be cleaned again or replaced. The vibration turns into a hum the longer I drive at a freeway speeds. I used to think it was this wheel or tire but 2 new tires and a new wheel later the vibration is still there. First thing in the morning at 65'ish it's bad for about 30 seconds, then gets lighter the longer the drive. If I pop it in N and use the brakes to slow I get the steering wheel wobble again. No where near as bad as before the pads were replaced, it'd shake the wheel out of my hand previously. I think so far every time I tried to clean them or re-bed them it ended up just glazing over the stuck on pad material. I also havn't used the parking brake since they were replaced. The rotors/pads have only been wet twice since Feb.

 

[noway]

There are multiple versions of this procedure available as it was changed some time ago after switching to electric brake booster, so on the internet a lot of times the step with pressing and releasing the brake pedal is not mentioned.

Also it will not work if there are error codes present on in the ABS module, it will apply but it is impossible in any way to deactivate unless error codes are fixed and cleared.

 

[BillPitman]

Nope, all 4. The replacement pads don't have a line in them, so it's a solid pad. That was supposedly supposed to stop them from sticking to the rotors but I have had pad material on all 4. They were turned twice before the pads were replaced. New pads installed in Feb '23 and the rotors turned again. I have a slight vibration (it seems more from the rear, but I feel it in the steering wheel) again which means they need to be cleaned again or replaced. The vibration turns into a hum the longer I drive at a freeway speeds. I used to think it was this wheel or tire but 2 new tires and a new wheel later the vibration is still there. First thing in the morning at 65'ish it's bad for about 30 seconds, then gets lighter the longer the drive. If I pop it in N and use the brakes to slow I get the steering wheel wobble again. No where near as bad as before the pads were replaced, it'd shake the wheel out of my hand previously. I think so far every time I tried to clean them or re-bed them it ended up just glazing over the stuck on pad material. I also havn't used the parking brake since they were replaced. The rotors/pads have only been wet twice since Feb.

Unbelievable! Also, parking brake now comes on whenever the car is shifted into Park, no?! That was in a recent update……
It’s now 5:50 pm eastern, still can’t get the mode to deactivate!
Have you ever put your car in Brake Service Mode?
I have some questions about “Set the ignition to on” language…….. Bill

 

[Mach-Lee]

Unbelievable! Also, parking brake now comes on whenever the car is shifted into Park, no?! That was in a recent update……
It’s now 5:50 pm eastern, still can’t get the mode to deactivate!
Have you ever put your car in Brake Service Mode?
I have some questions about “Set the ignition to on” language…….. Bill

Pump the brakes to seat the pads and then try again. Otherwise can you just drive the car and hope it automatically shuts itself off?

 

[BMT1071]

Unbelievable! Also, parking brake now comes on whenever the car is shifted into Park, no?! That was in a recent update……
It’s now 5:50 pm eastern, still can’t get the mode to deactivate!
Have you ever put your car in Brake Service Mode?
I have some questions about “Set the ignition to on” language…….. Bill

The equivalent of KOEO in an ICE vehicle. Everything powered up but no Ready light. Press the Start button without applying the brake pedal. You may need to press it twice, I don't recall off the top of my head. Way too many cars... ?

 

[generaltso]

Unbelievable! Also, parking brake now comes on whenever the car is shifted into Park, no?! That was in a recent update……

Not necessarily. Mine doesn’t.

 

[azerik]

Do you have Forscan and an ODBII? Might be possible to set the ABS functions. This is a pic of the default(Not as built)

 

[BillPitman]

Pump the brakes to seat the pads and then try again. Otherwise can you just drive the car and hope it automatically shuts itself off?

Lee, will try that…..
The instructions I have say-
Set the ignition to ON- this means step on brake, push start/stop button, RIGHT?

Do you have Forscan and an ODBII? Might be possible to set the ABS functions. This is a pic of the default(Not as built)

I have been researching FORScan…….
I just ordered an Ancel ford diagnostic scan tool.
It says it can manage the EPB service mode.
$20 off on Amazon, coming Sunday….…, if works good, if not, dealer on Tuesday.
I was also wondering if because of the update, that turns parking brake on when in park, could that be part of my problem?!
Would really like to know WHO on here, has actually used the written instruction method to turn on ,then off the “ brake service mode”……. Bill P

 

[azerik]

I think you're the first.

 

[BMT1071]

Lee, will try that…..
The instructions I have say-
Set the ignition to ON- this means step on brake, push start/stop button, RIGHT?

No. That is not what it means. See my earlier post.

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