P05E5: Park Brake Sensor/Switch Circuit High

The engine module reads the park brake status, directly or via another module, because strategies depend on it: a parked diesel filter regeneration only runs with the park brake applied (Navistar), idle shutdown and PTO logic use it, and Ford delays an automatic restart while the electric park brake moves. CARB requires such inputs to be monitored. The only documented user of this code family is Volvo Trucks: since OBD 2021 a second park brake sensor (about 0.5 V applied, 3.5 V released) must agree with the old switch; the engine module reports the fault. No passenger car maker uses it verifiably. P05E5 means the signal is above the upper limit: open signal wire (pulled up), open sensor ground or a short to voltage; on a simple switch it resembles a released brake.

Low severity. Can I keep driving?You can keep driving, but check that the brake lights work: that part is a safety issue.

Symptoms

Check engine light or OBD warning (heavy-duty)
Park brake warning in the cluster
Parked regeneration cannot be started
Stop-start or idle shutdown not working

Most likely causes

Open signal or ground wire
Connector at the switch or sensor loose or corroded
Sensor faulty
Signal wire shorted to voltage

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Check that the brake lights work
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
Read the pedal status in live data
Check the switch and its adjustment
Check the steering wheel controls

Good to know

Repair difficulty: medium
It affects emissions.

What each character of P05E5 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
5: Speed and idle
E5: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P05E5?

You can keep driving, but check that the brake lights work: that part is a safety issue.

What causes code P05E5?

The most common causes are: open signal or ground wire; connector at the switch or sensor loose or corroded; sensor faulty.

Related codes

Sources

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.