I just came home from work and it is -22 celsius outside. there is a warning light on as of today it is red with an exclamation point in brackets similar to this (!). I looked in my owners manual but it does not say what it is....any ideas thanks in advance.....maybe it means "too friggin cold!" I am still trying to warm up myself!!!

Brake system failure. The ( ) is supposed to represent brake shoes. (drum brakes, even though pads are shaped differently they still use the same symbol)

 

Check the brake fluid. I think the light in only turned on in Subarus by a low fluid level. If it's low, you may have a leak.

the brake fluid is not low and now that it is in the garage the light did not come on when i started it. the brakes were also working fine when the light was on earlier today.

sounds like the low pressure warning light for your tires. might check the pressure on the spare too. mine has a sensor in all five wheels.

 

i could be wrong, but i have a similar icon that has been lighting for me on these cold days. it is -18°F here right now! but even at 5°F it trips the sensor even though all pressures are adequate.

 

good luck!

there is a brake related valve or something that freezes in cold weather, i consider that cold.

 

not sure on specifics, but i know the information about that scenario is already on here. a search will bring it up.

I did have a low tire that I filled but it is a 1995 so I doubt it has low pressure sensors....aren't those only for run-flats? I imagine it is something freezing up and will see what it does today after work and check other posts as per suggestion. Thanks for the responses.

in my '96 outback, the brake light would come one when it dropped below around 15 degrees F so maybe -10 or so C. As with you, my brake system was functioning fine. If I pulled the brake reservoir off and wiggled the sensor in there the light would go out and stay out.

 

Will-

it turned out that the diaphragm under the reservoir cap was extended so I topped up the fluid and recompressed the rubber. Thanks all