What Causes the Parking Brake Warning Light to Illuminate?

[OElizabeth]

The parking brake warning light may illuminate due to low brake fluid level or worn brake pads. Below is a fault analysis of the parking brake warning light: Low brake fluid level: Most vehicles are equipped with a brake fluid level warning system, where the brake fluid warning light typically shares the same indicator as the parking brake. Therefore, if the red parking brake light remains illuminated after releasing the handbrake, it is necessary to check whether the brake fluid level is low. Some vehicle models also input the brake fluid replacement mileage into the onboard computer. After driving a certain distance, the vehicle computer will display a prompt on the dashboard or multimedia screen indicating the need to replace the brake fluid. Worn brake pads: As brake pads gradually wear down during driving, the pistons inside the brake calipers will adjust to compensate for the gap caused by pad wear. These pistons are pushed by the pressure generated by the brake fluid. The adjusted gap increases the internal space of the brake caliper, which then requires additional brake fluid to fill. This ultimately leads to a drop in the fluid level inside the brake fluid reservoir. For such issues, it is advisable to either top up the brake fluid appropriately or directly replace the brake pads.