Pontiac Repair: 2006 Pontiac Torrent, brake warning light, newer cars

Question
QUESTION: Hello: I have a 1996 Pontiac Torrent. I took it to the dealer because while driving the brake warning light (red) comes on and off at the same time the warning chime comes on and off. Also the trunk lid lock sometime open with the electrical remote and sometime not.

I am getting the following error codes:

1. B0005 -park switch circuit malfunction
2. B1327 - Device power circuit low

What could be wrong with it. How do I fix it.

ANSWER: Hi there:

Neither of these will cause the red warning light to come on. the light is one for either low brake fluid/the praking break switch is on or the ABS system can turn the red lamp on as well. if there are no ABS codes then the red lamp is on for one of the other reasons. as for the B codes I wouldn't worry too much about them neither of them is going to cause a keyless entry issue per say. but if the battery is getting weak a lot of strange things can happen in this SUV. The battery in the car that is. The battery in the remote could be low and causing issues as well they usually last 3-4 years depending on how often you use it. It could be the remote they are made cheaply and wear out. We have a tester for the remotes at the dealer and it will let us know if it's a remot issue or not.... hope that helps..


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Todd: I replaced the battery last Monday. What is the meaning of the codes the reader identified?  how do i replace the parking brake switch?

Answer
the park brake switch is on the parking brake assembly if the lamp is on unplug the switch and see if the light goes out. if so that's the problem. If not try unplugging the switch on the master cylinder if the fluid is full it should turn the lamp on if the lamp goes out and the cylinder is full that switch is bad.
the device low code may have been set by a bad battery. the modules in the newer cars will not always clear the codes by disconneting the battery so that may have been prior to the battery replacement.