Parking Brake Warning Light
Why is Parking Brake Warning Light On: Parking brake light is a visual indicator to warn driver when parking brake system in engaged. Parking brake will illuminate when parking brake is engaged and turf off when parking brake is released. Brake parking light symbol is a circle with letter P in the center.
How Parking Brake Works
Parking brake (or Hand Brake) is a secondary safety system engaged when vehicle is parked, most people don’t bother to use it, but anyways. Parking brake is most useful for vehicles with manual transmission. On automatic transmissions, when you turn off your car and put gear on park position, transmission is engaged to keep your car from rolling. However, use of parking brake on automatic transmissions is beneficiary too, as it removes vehicle load from transmission while parked.
Manual transmission don’t have that luxury, you need to engage gears manually after car is parked. Your car will roll if you forget to engage manual transmission, hence parking brake use is necessary on manual transmissions.
Parking brake is a different system from main brakes. However, parking brake still utilizes main brake system brake pads to operate, not always but often. There are also parking brake systems with their own dedicated brake pads, having no connection with main brake system. In this case, parking brakes will utilize brake shoes and inner part of disc rotor will be used as drum brake.
Why Brake Warning Light is On?
Brake warning light is an indication your parking brake is engaged or is not fully released. Check brake release lever is in off position or if you have electrical parking brake then toggle parking brake switch on/off couple of times.
Brake Lever not fully released: make sure parking brake lever is fully released, engage and disengage several times, to double check.
Brake fluid Low. Low fluid lever will trigger several braking warning lights, including parking brakes warning light. Check brake fluid reservoir, usually located under hood close to driver side windshield base.
Brake Fluid Level Sensor Malfunction. Brake fluid level is monitored by a sensor mounted on brake fluid reservoir. A bad sensor can trigger brake parking light and main brake warning light.
Brake Lever Switch: Parking brake handle or lever has a sensor to monitor position (engaged/disengaged). If sensor fails brake light will stay on, or will not illuminate when parking brake is engaged.
What to Do if Parking Brakes Light Stays on
Driving with parking brake engaged is not advisable. Depending on vehicle speed brakes will overheat if vehicle is driven with parking brake engaged. Make sure parking brake release lever is fully lowered if you have a hand operated one. Fully raised if you have a foot operated parking brake.
Cycle parking brake on/off few times and see if that fixes parking brake warning light. If you have an electrical parking brake, toggle parking brake switch on/off. Also, might as well consult owner’s manual if there any other specifics for your vehicle parking brake system. Otherwise, professional diagnostics and repair will be needed.
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