Rear Brake Maintenance Mode for 2016+ Ebrake

62380 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Archerfish, Nov 5, 2020

toy4x

Discussion Starter · Sep 5, 2018 (Edited by Moderator)

Special Thanks are given to Mazdas247.com. This was written by tomcat1446 helping to interpret a difficult service manual. I did this today using his write-up perfectly. Link: https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123861563-Maintenance-Mode-for-2016-2017-CX-5-electronic-brakes

2 Excellent write up's on the rear brake change, but removing the rear ebrake from the caliper:
1) DIY Rear Brakes by @Lanson - https://forum.mazda6club.com/engine-suspension-drivetrain/417761-diy-2016-rear-brakes.html
2) DIY Rear Brakes by @flyandi - https://forum.mazda6club.com/mazda6-atenza/406018-need-help-rear-brakes-2016-madzda-6-a.html

HOW TO GET INTO MAINTENANCE MODE WRITTEN BY tomcat1446(Mazdas247):

The purpose of the maintenance mode is to back off the EPB motor so you can compress the pistons easily (DO NOT TURN THE PISTON) and NOT have to remove the e-brake from the caliper.

I can see how it is tempting for someone who doesn't know about these EPB to use the Lisle 28600 tool to try and turn them back in BUT IT WILL NOT WORK, the motor will not allow it, forcing it with a C-clamp will break the EPB motor. The motor must be backed off first with the procedure below.

I believe the dealer can use a scan tool computer to have the car enter EPB maintenance mode, but at least Mazda gave us an option for those who don't like going to the dealership with this procedure below. Without this procedure, we would be at the mercy of the dealer to get the EPB motor to retract if we wanted to replace rear brake pads.

there are little nuances some people might miss so I add my notes in red............

Switching On Maintenance Mode

1. Switch the ignition ON (engine off). (you have to press the start button TWICE) pressing once only gives you ACC power, (do not press on the brake otherwise engine will start, the engine must be off)

2. Release the electric parking brake. (to release the parking brake, you have to have your foot on the brake pedal, then press down on EPB switch to release it, you will hear the motor releasing and the light on the EPB switch light goes off)

• (I'll simplify the remaining steps here: after step 2, release the foot from the brake pedal, move over and press the accelerator pedal down fully and press down on the EPB switch at the same time and hold, then press the start button 3 times quickly, you will hear the motor moving and the yellow parking brake with exclamation point light up) you are now in maintenance mode.

Now go do whatever you need to do on the brakes, for the rear brake pistons DO NOT TURN THE PISTONS, compress them straight back like you would do the fronts. After they are compressed back make sure the grooves are lined up in perfect North-South orientation per Mazda instructions use Lisle #28600 for minor adjustments only.

Even if you don't plan to do your own brakes, it would be a good idea to let your mechanic know about the maintenance mode. They might not be aware and turn the piston which may damage the EPB motor.

Ending Maintenance Mode

Switch the ignition ON (engine off). (you have to press the start button TWICE (do not press on the brake otherwise the engine will start, and the engine must be off) pressing once only gives you ACC power

(I'll simplify the remaining steps here: press the accelerator pedal down fully and pull up on the EPB switch at the same time and hold, then press the start button 3 times quickly, you will hear the motor moving back and the yellow parking brake with an exclamation point goes out)

You can then move your foot and press on the brake pedal and pull up the EPB, you will see the normal red brake lights light up and you're done.

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theoreticaljerk

· #2 · Dec 3, 2018 (Edited)

Ok, I'm confused on one particular step.

While I understand that this procedure eliminates the need to remove the electronic brake from the main caliper...what about the part where you use a T40 to reset part of the brakes?

"Use a T40 Torx and slowly put in the molding and then turn clock-wise until it's all the way down. Don't use force - once it's stopped that's it."

"Now this part is very important! Take a T40 Torx and insert it in the back end of the brake caliper actuator. Turn it clockwise until it stops, which for me only took a few turns."

Those are taken from the linked DIY's on rear brakes.

I THINK this is also eliminated by this procedure but want to be sure.

EDIT: These steps avoid all of the above. Once this procedure is done, it's just like a normal brake job.

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Archerfish

· #3 · Nov 5, 2020

Just posting the results of the procedure I followed. Yes, this is similar to what is posted above. I just wanted to put pictures, with the way I exactly did it.

When replacing the brake pads, you need to disengage the electronic parking brake (EPB). You should not turn or force the pistons of the rear brakes or you risk destroying it. Well, I didn't destroy it the first time I did it but why take the risk?
😀

Again, the procedure below is the way I did it.

You press the start button twice, without depressing the brakes. This will not start the engine but the ignition switch is ON.

This is what it looks like with the EPB engaged, engine OFF. The parking icon is just above the battery indicator.

Then you depress the brake pedal and release the parking brakes (" handbrake"). The parking icon should disappear.

You now enter maintenance mode by doing the following:

1. Fully depress and hold the accelerator.

2. Push and hold the parking brake.

3. Push the start button thrice.

You should hear a long whirring sound from the parking motor, longer than usual when you are engaging the parking brakes.

You are now in maintenance mode, and you should see the parking icon lit up (with exclamation point) besides the check engine light.

You can now turn off the car and do whatever you need to do for the rear brakes. The rear brakes is now like the front brakes, you can just push the pistons easily and there's no need to turn it.

Once you are done, press the start button twice without depressing the brake pedal.

You can now exit the maintenance mode by doing the following:

1. Fully depress and hold the accelerator.

2. Pull and hold the parking brake.

3. Push the start button thrice.

Again, you should hear a long whirring sound and the parking icon, with exclamation mark, should disappear besides the check engine light.

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Trollz3457

· #4 · Nov 5, 2020

Archerfish said:
Just posting the results of the procedure I followed. Yes, this is similar to what is posted above. I just wanted to put pictures, with the way I exactly did it.

When replacing the brake pads, you need to disengage the electronic parking brake (EPB). You should not turn or force the pistons of the rear brakes or you risk destroying it. Well, I didn't destroy it the first time I did it but why take the risk?
😀

Again, the procedure below is the way I did it.

You press the start button twice, without depressing the brakes. This will not start the engine but the ignition switch is ON.

This is what it looks like with the EPB engaged, engine OFF. The parking icon is just above the battery indicator.

Then you depress the brake pedal and release the parking brakes (" handbrake"). The parking icon should disappear.

You now enter maintenance mode by doing the following:

1. Fully depress and hold the accelerator.

2. Push and hold the parking brake.

3. Push the start button thrice.

You should hear a long whirring sound from the parking motor, longer than usual when you are engaging the parking brakes.

You are now in maintenance mode, and you should see the parking icon lit up (with exclamation point) besides the check engine light.

You can now turn off the car and do whatever you need to do for the rear brakes. The rear brakes is now like the front brakes, you can just push the pistons easily and there's no need to turn it.

Once you are done, press the start button twice without depressing the brake pedal.

You can now exit the maintenance mode by doing the following:

1. Fully depress and hold the accelerator.

2. Pull and hold the parking brake.

3. Push the start button thrice.

Again, you should hear a long whirring sound and the parking icon, with exclamation mark, should disappear besides the check engine light.

You actually have to just cycle the ignition twice instead of pressing it “thrice”. So you’re really pressing button 6 times

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Archerfish

· #5 · Nov 5, 2020

Trollz3457 said:
You actually have to just cycle the ignition twice instead of pressing it “thrice”. So you’re really pressing button 6 times

I'll try it next time, I'll do it twice instead of thrice.

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