Toyota Lexus - 3 Ways to "Service" Mode for Rear Brakes with EPB

# Toyota Lexus Rear Brakes with EPB: 3 Methods to Enter the Service Mode

Rear brake service on a 2017 Lexus RX350 AWD Base model

## Tools

These are options:

1. Bidirectional scan tool, OR
2. If you have a recent Toyota/Lexus models that supports a simple procedure, OR
3. 12 V DC battery

## Safety and Preparation

Follow all safety precautions to any job on a vehicle.

## Method 1: Use a Bidirectional Scan Tool

On a XTool, for example:
1. Connect the OBD scan tool.
2. Start the car.
3. On XTool, select Special function / EPB / ASIA / Lexus / Automatic selection.
4. Select Enter Maintenance Mode, and confirm.
5. You should hear a whining sound to disengage the parking brake.
6. Parking light will be flashing slowly.
7. Now the vehicle is in the service mode.

To exit service mode after service is done:
1. Select Exit Maintenance Mode, and confirm.
2. You should hear a whining sound to reengage the parking brake.
3. Parking light will turn solid.
4. Now the vehicle is back to normal operations.

## Method 2: The Toyota / Lexus Procedures

This may or may not work on your vehicle so research your year/model to find out.
It doesn't work on my 2017 Lexus RX350, but on later models after 2019.

Disengage Electric Parking Brake (in Service Mode):
1. Without pressing the brake pedal, start the car once.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, within 8 seconds:
1. Pull (up) the (P) lever 3 times;
2. Push (down) the (P) lever 3 times;
3. While foot OFF brake, push and hold (P) unless the (P) indicator on dash is flashing SLOWLY.
* You may be able to hear the rear brake's electric rotor is running to retract the piston.
4. Release the (P) lever, and it is now in the Service mode.
5. Press Start/Stop to turn off ignition.

Re-Engage Electric Parking Brake (cancel Service Mode):
1. Without pressing the brake pedal, start the car once.
2. While foot off brake, pull and hold (P) lever until the (P) light is out.
* You may be able to hear the rear brake's eletric rotor sound again.
3. Release the (P) lever, and it is now back to normal (with eletric parking brake)
4. Press Start/Stop to turn off ignition.

## Method 3: Use a 12V DC Power

After the removal of the connector to the brake piston motor on the caliper:
1. Put a brake pressing tool on the brake piston, loosely engaged.
2. Connect one wire (e.g. black/negative) of the 12V DC to one pin on the motor.
3. Contact the other wire (e.g. red/positive) of the 12VDC with the other pin on the motor.
4. The motor will run and whine when the power is provided.
5. Make sure the motor is retracting the piston:
1. If it runs and compresses the pressing tool (making it tighter), reverse the two wire/connectors.
2. Only run the motor very briefly, and try to compress the piston with the pressing tool.
3. You can easily press piston with the tool if the motor is retracting in the right direction.
4. Do not force.
6. Once it is full retracted, you compress the piston to flush.

## Brake Job Afterwards

If one of the methods works, you can then proceed with the rear brake job.

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Be safe, stay dirty. Enjoy the work!

God bless!