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Scott Gardner Job title Porsche master technician Time at Porsche 15 years

The parking brake on my 991.1 Carrera S is intermittent at best. Its performance seems fine, but often when I start the car I get a parking brake failure message keep popping up. When I then shut down the car and restart it, the message will often disappear, though not always. How concerned should I be? I’m reluctant to take it to an OPC just yet as the car isn’t covered by a Porsche Warranty, and the brake itself hasn’t failed – so far! Steve Clarke Hard brake warnings are usually one of two things on the 991.1 generation of the 911 – it was the first 911 to adopt the electronic handbrake system and as such there are tolerances that the motors need to see in order for the system to operate within its parameters. The most common cause is the air gaps being out of specification, which in basic terms is the mechanical adjustment of the handbrake shoes. If your fault is intermittent, it’s likely that yours may be on the limit and thus sometimes fall within specs and sometimes out. The second issue could be the handbrake actuator itself – it’s not uncommon for these to fail, causing a warning light. I would advise a visit to a dealer or specialist to have the handbrake adjusted to specifications and calibrated using the correct diagnostic equipment.