Pontiac Optima Parking Brake Warning Switch Replacement at your home or office.

What is the Parking Brake Warning Switch all about?

Your vehicle has two braking systems onboard – the primary braking system is responsible for slowing down the car when you press the brake pedal, and the secondary braking system is designed to activate when you engage the emergency brake. Depending on the make and model you drive, your emergency brake might be activated via a handle between the two front seats, or it could be activated with a pedal under the dash (to the left of the brake pedal).

In both instances, activating the pedal or handle engages the emergency brake. This prevents your car from rolling if you park on a hill, and it takes the load off your transmission at the same time. When you engage the emergency brake, it activates a switch, which turns on a light in the dash warning you that the e-brake is on.

Over time (though rare), either the parking brake warning light switch or the bulb in the dash can fail. While your emergency brake will still work, it’s tough to tell when it’s engaged or not, particularly if you have the pedal-activated system.