What does the yellow 'P' with a horizontal line indicate as a warning light?
2 Answers
The yellow 'P' with a horizontal line indicates the electronic parking brake. Electronic Parking Brake: If the 'P' warning light with a slash appears, it means there is a malfunction in the electronic parking brake, and it needs to be reset. To reset, turn on the car key, press the foot brake, then hold the electronic parking brake button down for 5 seconds, followed by pulling it up for another 5 seconds. This will initialize and reset the electronic parking brake. Parking Brake: Generally refers to the manual brake installed in motor vehicles, commonly known as the handbrake. The handbrake is usually located within easy reach of the driver's right hand for convenience. The function of the parking brake is to stabilize the vehicle after it has come to a stop, preventing accidents caused by the vehicle rolling on inclined surfaces.
In our veteran driver circles, the yellow light with a 'P' and a horizontal line is often referred to as the electronic parking brake malfunction indicator. With over 20 years of driving experience, I'm quite familiar with this light—it always gives me a bit of a scare when it comes on. Essentially, it means there's an issue with your electronic parking brake system, possibly due to a faulty sensor, aging wiring, or a computer control error, causing the parking brake to malfunction. Once, while driving on the highway, I encountered this issue and initially ignored it. Later, my car almost rolled downhill when parked on the roadside—luckily, I managed to pull up the parking brake in time to stop it. Safety is crucial here. When this light appears, it's best to find a safe spot to park first and check if the parking brake is fully released. If the light remains, try restarting the vehicle. Most of the time, you'll need to visit a repair shop to scan for trouble codes. Minor issues can be fixed easily and affordably. During routine maintenance, ask your technician to check the parking brake system as a precaution—it can prevent embarrassing breakdowns on the road.
