What does it mean when the electronic parking brake yellow light is on?

[LorenzoAnn]

When the electronic parking brake yellow light is on, it usually indicates an issue with the brake pads or signal light. Here are the reasons why the brake pedal might be hard to press: 1. Vacuum booster pump problem: This situation definitely points to an issue with the vacuum booster pump. Whether at low speed or not, under normal driving conditions, the negative pressure in the intake pipe should draw air into the vacuum booster pump. 2. Vacuum booster pump leak: The vacuum booster pump should always be in a state of energy storage. If the pedal becomes hard only after the first press, it might be due to too low speed and too high gear, resulting in insufficient intake negative pressure to draw air. However, if the pedal is hard on the first press, it indicates a definite leak in the vacuum booster pump. 3. Hydraulic brake system: Because it uses a hydraulic brake system. When the engine is off, the hydraulic pump driving the brakes isn't working, causing a sharp increase in brake resistance, which makes the pedal feel very heavy and hard.

[StDante]

A few days ago, the electronic parking brake warning light in my car turned yellow, which really worried me. I specifically asked a mechanic at the repair shop, and he said the most common cause is excessive wear on the brake pads—the electronic system detects insufficient braking force and triggers the warning. Another possibility is a sensor issue, such as poor contact at the touchpoints under the parking brake button. There could also be a minor software bug in the system that requires reinitialization. The most troublesome scenario is a fault in the control module itself, which needs to be diagnosed with professional equipment. The mechanic advised me to first check the thickness of the brake pads and replace them immediately if they’re worn down to less than 3 mm. He also warned against using a high-pressure water jet directly on the wheel hubs during car washes, as it can cause water ingress and short-circuit the sensors. If the yellow light keeps flashing, it’s absolutely critical to stop and inspect the car immediately—never force it to keep driving, as this is a major safety concern.

[LeAlex]

I've found that the electronic parking brake yellow warning light usually stems from three common causes: either an issue with the braking system, such as low brake fluid level; or damaged sensor wiring from rodent chewing or oxidized connectors; and sometimes it's just a system false alarm, especially after heavy rainfall. Last month, my car's warning light came on, and it turned out to be a loose wiring harness near the spare tire in the trunk. My advice is not to panic when you see the warning - first find a safe place to pull over, then repeatedly press and release the parking brake button to see if it resets. Also note that new cars might occasionally give false alarms right after maintenance, and the warning might disappear after driving a few kilometers. If that doesn't work, connecting an OBD scanner to check the fault codes is the most accurate approach. Of course, with older vehicles, special attention should be paid to wiring aging issues - I've seen cases where the entire electronic parking brake module rusted through.

[OEmilio]

I've also encountered the situation where the electronic parking brake's yellow warning light comes on. In most cases, it's a brake pad wear reminder. Modern vehicles are equipped with brake pad thickness sensors that trigger an alert when wear reaches the warning line. Additionally, the light may illuminate due to sticking in the electronic parking brake actuator, especially during cold winter temperatures when the parking motor can't rotate properly and throws an error. Once, I engaged the parking brake immediately after washing my car without letting it dry, resulting in the yellow light coming on the next day due to moisture causing a short circuit. The solution is relatively simple: try restarting the vehicle, or disconnect the battery's negative terminal for five minutes before reconnecting. Remember to regularly check for abnormal wear on the brake discs, as this can affect the calibration of the electronic parking brake.