Guys & gals, I own a beautiful 2008 XJ8 (VDP edition) Suddenly I can't get my EPB to release the rear wheels. I then notice the dash says "Parking Brake Fault." I have checked all fuses, no issues there, I went thru the handbook reset process, no good. Eventhe dah does not says brake in the normal red letters. (A nonfault light) Can someone help me get them to release? Signed, Desperate--

 

I have not had issues with mine, but here is what one member had said on this.

What you will need to do is to reset the Electronic Park Brake (EPB), which is easy:
1. Apply foot brake
2. Activate the EPB in both directions, On-Off-On
3. Done!

Automatic Park Brake System:
Last year, I had a Parkbrake fault. Not the usual with not being able to take out of Park, just not able to release the Parkbrake. Jag Assist came out and reset it all with laptop.

However, it happened again yesterday morning, but no Jag Assist this year.
Strangely enough, it's a very similar situation. Car left standing for a couple of days in the freezing weather with the car ever so slightly pointing downhill (and I mean ever so slightly). Start car up, but into reverse - "Parkbrake fault".
No other faults, just unable to take the brake off. I think it may have something to do with the frost getting up underneath the cars bum which is slightly elevated and causing issues with an acuator.

Anyway, I was expecting the AA to have to recover it to the dealer, however, he spoke to one of the Jag Assist guys (as they have AA mechanics on the Jag Assist team).
He left the engine running and then disconnected the Parkbrake ECU, left it disconnected for 5 minutes, connected it back up and viola, the car goes through the Parkbrake syncronisation - "Press footbrake and apply parkbrake". The Parkbrake ECU is behind the right had trim (as you look at it) in the boot and is bolted to the body with some 10mm bolts, just leave the engine running and pull out the harness, leave it for 5 mins with the engine running and then plug it back in and you should get the synronisation message on the dash. Now it's all fixed!

 

Worked for me a few times when I had that issue for a short period of time.

Mine happened mostly when it was wet / raining or thew car had been power washed.

Turned out it was the wiring for the system near the rear diff, there was chafing and it was shorting out when wet.

 

You could try resetting the car by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes (usually about 10). Make sure you have the radio code handy as this will, of course, be lost.
The EPB can refuse to work if the battery has got too low, even if it has subsequently been recharged.

Just a thought