How long does the parking brake warning light last?
Your vehicle is equipped with a parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from rolling when parking on a slope. This is a separate system from your main brakes and you must manually turn it on and off each time. Because you…
Your vehicle is equipped with a parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from rolling when parking on a slope. This is a separate system from your main brakes and you must manually turn it on and off each time. Because you can seriously damage the system if you try to drive with the parking brake applied, your vehicle is also equipped with a parking brake warning switch and warning light.
When you apply the parking brake, you should see the parking brake indicator on the dash come on. This is your warning that the brake is on and must be manually released before you can move. In some vehicles, the light will come on, but the buzzer will also sound if you put the vehicle in gear with the parking brake applied. The parking brake indicator is responsible for turning on the light and sound signal.
The parking brake warning light is only used when the parking brake is applied. It is not used when you press the brake pedal or during normal stopping conditions. Theoretically, it should last the lifetime of the vehicle, but these switches can and do fail prematurely. If this happens, you may not see a warning indicator on the instrument panel indicating that the parking brake is applied, and you may not hear the warning buzzer when you shift into gear.
The parking brake warning switch is electronic and, like all switches, is subject to normal wear and tear. There is also the possibility of wiring damage or even problems caused by moisture in the system that affect the warning light on the dashboard.
Obviously, driving with the parking brake on is dangerous - it will cause significant wear on the parking brake system or even damage to the shoes and drum. This means it's important to be aware of a few signs that indicate that the parking brake warning switch is starting to fail. This includes:
The parking brake warning light does not come on when the brake is applied
The parking brake warning light does not turn off when you turn off the system
Parking brake warning light flashes or turns on and off (indicates a short circuit somewhere in the wiring)
Have a professional mechanic inspect and replace the parking brake warning light to avoid future problems.
