How to Replace a Rear EPB Motor on a Range Rover L405 and L494
If your Range Rover won’t move on a cold, icy morning, and the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree telling you about a brake fault, there’s a good chance the electronic parking brake (EBP) motor has failed. It’s one of the most common faults on the L405 and L494, and it always seems to happen at the worst possible time.
This guide explains why these motors fail, how to identify which one you need, where to buy one, and how to fit it properly.
LR036573 vs LR102237: Which EPB Motor Part Number Do You Need?
They are not handed, so there is no left or right – both sides use the same one. There are, however, variants.
Land Rover used two different EPB motors on these vehicles. They look identical once fitted, but the connectors are different.
Earlier cars use a three-pin motor (LR036573). Later cars use a two-pin motor (LR102237). The changeover happened around 2016, but there are overlap vehicles either side of that date.
Before you order, check which plug your car has. You can reach it from behind the rear wheel without taking the wheel off. It’s fiddly, but it takes two minutes and it’ll save you a return.
Buy LR102237 2-Pin EPB Motor →
Buy LR036573 3-Pin EPB Motor →
Why Range Rover L405 and L494 EPB Motors Fail
Water gets in. The seal isn’t perfect, and over time moisture finds its way into the motor housing. In cold weather it freezes and the motor seizes. In warmer weather it just corrodes the internals.
Common EPB motor failure symptoms:
- Electric handbrake won’t release
- Parking brake fault on the dash
- Motor making noise or completely seized
- One rear wheel locked on
Once water’s in, replacement is the only proper fix.
Diagnostic Tools Required for Range Rover EPB Motor Replacement
You must have a diagnostic tool that can release and apply the electronic parking brake. This isn’t optional. You cannot do it by hand, and you shouldn’t try.
We use the Autophix 7310 and 9310 for all Land Rover and Range Rover EPB work. Both work properly and support EPB service mode on L405 and L494 models.
Buy Autophix Diagnostic Tool →
Step-by-Step: How to Replace a Range Rover Rear EPB Motor
Use your diagnostic tool to release the EPB. Once it’s released, the physical work is straightforward.
The motor bolts to the rear caliper with two T30 Torx bolts. Unplug it, remove the bolts, and lift it off.
You’ll probably find water, muck, and rust inside the old motor. That’s what killed it.
Clean the mating surface on the caliper thoroughly. Make sure it’s dry. If there’s moisture sitting in the recess, use a hair dryer to shift it.
Fit the new seal that comes with the motor, bolt it on, plug it in, and refit the wheel.
Use the diagnostic tool to apply the EPB again. Test it a few times with your foot on the brake, then check it works properly in park and reverse.
Range Rover L405 L494 EPB Motor Replacement Video Guide
The full process from start to finish, including how to identify the correct motor and how to release the EPB and fit the new motor:
Avoid Cheap Range Rover EPB Motors
You’ll see very cheap EPB motors online on places such as eBay, usually from fly-by-night Chinese sellers pretending to be UK sellers. They’re false economy. If something’s already in the UK at a silly low price, corners have been cut somewhere, and you’ll be doing the job again in a few weeks. eBay takes circa 20%, and it costs about four quid to post it. How much is left for the motor and the costs of bringing it from China? Those cheap motors cost $2 in China. And they’re two dollars worth.
We source direct from factories we know. We don’t sell anything we wouldn’t fit to our own vehicles. In fact, in the video above, that is one of our own cars being fitted with one of our motors.
Range Rover EPB Motor Replacement Summary
Replacing an EPB motor on an L405 or L494 is straightforward if you’ve got the right part and the right diagnostic tool.
Check your connector type before you order, use a proper tool to release the EPB, and make sure the mounting area is clean and dry before you fit the new motor. Get those three things right, and it’s a permanent fix.