Why is the parking brake warning light on?

[StConnor]

The parking brake warning light may illuminate due to the following reasons: the handbrake is not fully released or the brake fluid level is insufficient. Below is a fault analysis for the parking brake light illumination: 1. Handbrake light stays on: Most vehicles have a brake fluid level warning system, and the brake fluid warning light typically shares the same indicator with the handbrake. Therefore, if the red handbrake light remains on after releasing the handbrake, you should 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 computer will display a prompt on the dashboard or multimedia screen indicating the need to replace the brake fluid. 2. Worn brake pads can trigger the warning light: As brake pads gradually wear down during driving, the piston inside the brake caliper will adjust to compensate for the gap caused by the wear. Since the piston is pushed by the pressure generated by the brake fluid, the adjusted gap increases the internal space of the brake caliper, requiring more brake fluid to fill the extra space. This ultimately lowers the brake fluid level in the reservoir. For this issue, you can either top up the brake fluid appropriately or replace the brake pads directly. 3. Leakage in the system: If there are leaks in the brake caliper or brake lines, it can also cause the brake fluid level in the reservoir to drop, triggering the warning light. In such cases, immediately inspect and repair or replace the leaking components. If the brake pads are contaminated with oil, they must be cleaned thoroughly or replaced directly.