Is it normal for the parking radar light to stay on in the car?
2 Answers
It is normal for the parking radar light to stay on in the car. The 'P△' symbol represents the parking radar system, and when illuminated, it indicates that the parking radar is activated. The technical name for parking radar is reverse collision avoidance radar, which works by emitting ultrasonic waves from radar probes to calculate the distance to obstacles. Based on the distance, it alerts the driver with different frequency alarms to help better control parking orientation. Function of parking radar: Parking radar is a safety assistance device for parking or reversing. It informs the driver about surrounding obstacles through sound or more intuitive displays, eliminating the hassle of checking front, back, left, and right when parking, reversing, or starting the vehicle. It also helps drivers overcome blind spots and unclear vision. Parking radar mainly consists of ultrasonic sensors, a controller, and a display or buzzer. Ultrasonic sensors: Their main function is to emit and receive ultrasonic signals, then input these signals into the main unit for display on the device. Controller: Processes the signals to calculate the distance and direction between the vehicle body and obstacles. Display or buzzer: When the sensors detect that the vehicle is at a dangerous distance from an obstacle, the system alerts the driver through the display and buzzer.
Just helped a neighbor check a similar issue. The constant illumination of the P light inside the car is definitely abnormal—it's called the parking brake indicator. Normally, it should turn off when you release the handbrake. If it stays on, the handbrake might not be fully released, or the switch could be stuck. Last time I encountered a case where a guy had a receipt the size of a coin stuck in the button. If it's an electronic parking brake, it gets more complicated—you'd have to check if the brake pad thickness sensor is giving false readings. But the most critical issue is that low brake fluid can also trigger the warning, which directly relates to driving safety. It's best to stop and check the fluid level—the small orange reservoir is on the left side under the hood.
