Hand Brake Not Engaging & Brake Pad Warning Light
 

My brake pad warning light has been on for a few weeks. I peeked at the outer pads on each wheel, and all have plenty of life left, as they should, since none are much older than a year. I haven't crawled under to check the inside pads yet. I suppose it's possible that a sticking caliper could be causing uneven wear on the inside, triggering the warning light....though that's just one possibility that I haven't even bothered to confirm yet.

However, about a week ago, I started noticing slack in the hand brake. When I engage it, there's an inch or two where I feel no resistance before it catches. And even when it's fully engaged, it won't hold the car in place on a moderate incline.

So my question is, are these problems likely related, or merely a coincidence? Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

And my follow-up questions: if my brake pads are NOT significantly worn, what would be triggering the warning light? And, is the hand brake easily adjusted from the console?

Thanks in advance,
Peter