While your primary braking system is used to slow and stop the vehicle during driving, the hand brake (sometimes called a parking or emergency brake) is designed to be used, well, when you park. By engaging the hand brake, you are able to take the load off your transmission, avoiding damage and also ensuring that your vehicle is securely parked when on an incline. The Hand Brake light should turn on when you engage the brake, and turn off when the brake is disengaged. However, if the Hand Brake light stays on, there may be one of several problems with the system.
Your hand brake system is a supplemental safety system designed to help secure your car when parking on an incline and prevent unnecessary loading of the transmission. However, the Hand Brake light is actually a multifunctional indicator. When you pull the hand brake handle, it turns on to warn you that the brake is engaged when starting the car. When you pull the handle, a cable engages the brake, which is located in the rear of the vehicle. There is also a switch that is responsible for sensing the brake being engaged, and then turning on the light in your dash. However, it is also designed to illuminate in several other situations, several of which have little to no connection with the parking brake itself.
A professional mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to investigate the problem. The mechanic will check the hand brake handle, switch, fluid reservoir and other components, and then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.
The mechanic will perform a full inspection on your hand brake system, including the handle, switch and the hand brake shoes. The mechanic will also inspect other brake system components, including the reservoir, cap, fluid level sensor and more. It may be necessary to pull brake system codes from the car’s computer as well.
While your hand brake is not integral to safe driving, it’s an important component on your car. Moreover, a Hand Brake light that will not go out can indicate many different things, including the parking brake not disengaging, a failed parking brake switch, or even low fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. One of our professional mechanics can inspect the system and determine the underlying cause, ensuring that your car is working properly.