So, I was asked to about a car that the driver thought was showing him a triangle with an exclamation point inside in yellow. I noted that his display should be showing a text message to indicate the problem, as the triangle with an exclamation point is an attention symbol (right) ninety nine times out of a hundred (there are a very few exceptions).
He said his car was too old to have a message shown on the display (which I believe is inaccurate) I thought I’d better have a look.
It was the common tire light, not so much a triangle (right).
This suggested that an overview of the use of exclamation points in warning lights was warranted.
They’re everywhere.
And nearly always point to an actual system fault. The tire light is a notable exception, as while a tire may be flat, which is a real problem, generally the tire light is simply telling a driver to put air in the tires.
Some notable symbols include the oil sensor indicator (far right), steering fault (next one in), and the brake trouble indicator (nearest). These are in red and really and truly require immediate attention.
Warning lights in yellow/amber/orange (usually subject to color interpretation) may also feature an exclamation point. And note immediately that it speaks to a system fault.
From right to left is an electronically controlled brake fault indicator, a stability control fault indicator (always a scary one with the skid marks!), and a blind spot monitor fault indicator. Note in these cases that all of these are electronic systems and a simple restart may resolve the issue!
The overall point is twofold: that any warning light or indicator that features an exclamation point is truly demanding attention and should never be ignored; and that the warning light must be properly identified! Even the tire light, which may only require an air pump, should never be ignored, but any other warning could lead to real problems.
Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.
At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble — a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.
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The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 30+ years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s, ME: MS, RPI, NY
Some thoughts on auto warning lights with an exclamation point inside
Exclamation point
He said his car was too old to have a message shown on the display (which I believe is inaccurate) I thought I’d better have a look.
This suggested that an overview of the use of exclamation points in warning lights was warranted.
They’re everywhere.
And nearly always point to an actual system fault. The tire light is a notable exception, as while a tire may be flat, which is a real problem, generally the tire light is simply telling a driver to put air in the tires.
Warning lights in yellow/amber/orange (usually subject to color interpretation) may also feature an exclamation point. And note immediately that it speaks to a system fault.
The overall point is twofold: that any warning light or indicator that features an exclamation point is truly demanding attention and should never be ignored; and that the warning light must be properly identified! Even the tire light, which may only require an air pump, should never be ignored, but any other warning could lead to real problems.
Find your the warning lights for your make and model here.
Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.
At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble — a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.
——————————————————————-
The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
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The author has 30+ years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s, ME: MS, RPI, NY