The author has 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
These are Low Coolant Warning lights. With or without the arrow or “chimney”, their meaning is somewhat straightforward, in that the engine’s cooling system is low on fluid. Topping off the cooling system with the proper fluid may resolve the issue. Please do this only when the engine is cool! Repeat, may resolve the issue.
However, most cooling systems are sealed and a leak or other issue may be indicated. It would be best to have the system serviced as soon as possible.
** Note that as of 2024, the first image can be found in Kia hybrid vehicles and involves its electrical inverter. Click this link for more.
The shape of the symbols is meant to resemble a radiator and the wavy lines at the bottom indicates fluid level. The waves have also been described as mountains! They are used in a number of symbols and when seen usually means the coolant level is low.
The symbol on the left looks more like the Greek Parthenon than a radiator, but there you are. The center image includes a fan, which Certainly fits with a cooling problem.
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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.
These posts are 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.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/low-coolant-warning-symbols/
One of the first idiot lights, the warning light to the far left, featuring an old-school oil can or what could be even Aladdin’s lamp, is the Oil Warning Light, either level or pressure symbol. A wavy line below the oil can is more specific and indicates the oil level is low, as seen in the second symbol. Without the wavy line, your engine is telling you that the oil pressure is low.
So, what do you do next?
In either case, the oil level must be checked. The text symbols Oil Level or Low Oil Pressure are used by some manufacturers and is also an admonition to check the oil. In either case, if the oil level is good, the engine needs servicing as soon as possible as an oil pump failure is likely and will lead to serious engine damage.
This is also a Low Oil Pressure Warning Indicator. The exclamation point in the warning indicator, accompanied by a dial and a pointer, indicates that the engine’s RPM has been reduced. The dial and pointer are intended to be a gauge, however, there are no markings to indicate actual oil pressure. As with the text messages above, low oil pressure can result in serious engine damage, even at reduced RPMs, so have the engine serviced as soon as possible.
This one is an Oil Temperature Indicator symbol. It adds a thermometer above the image of the oil can. It is found in vehicles with high-performance engines that may be run very hard. If it is seen on the instrument panel, pull over and shut down the engine as soon as possible to allow it to cool down.
Are you seeing one of these to the right?? Follow this link.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/oil-warning-dashboard-lights/
One of the original idiot lights, at least in red, this is the Temperature Warning lights or symbols. The text symbol Hot Coolant Temp (temperature) spells it out plainly. In red, it indicates quite simply that the engine temperature is too high. If you see this light, your vehicle should be stopped and the engine turned off as quickly as possible. Turning on the heater to the highest setting will remove some of the heat as well.
Contact your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible. But, what’s the deal with the second one below? Blue?
In blue, the symbol, which resembles a thermometer placed in water, indicates that the coolant temperature is below what is needed for optimum performance. If the light blinks red then blue, an electrical malfunction in the cooling system is indicated.
Again, contact your dealer or authorized repair center soon.
Finally, shown in yellow/amber, the symbol of the thermometer alone speaks to fuel having entered the engine oil. Run the engine until warm to allow the fuel to evaporate. Also, avoid running at a high rpm as well.
Note that this unlit symbol may appear inside the temperature gauge and have no function other than to describe the gauge it is sitting in.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/temperature-warning-dashboard-indicators/
These are both Master Dashboard Warning Light and Attention symbols, in red. If this light is on, there will likely be text displayed as well on the instrument panel, or another warning light. Look for text in particular. It could very well point out something as serious as low oil pressure. However, despite the serious look to the symbol, it is generally associated with simple reminders such as a door ajar or that it is time to change the oil.
So, what’s up with the next one??
This same symbol, an exclamation point in a triangle, in yellow/amber has been used by European and Asian vehicle manufacturers in two ways. First, it indicates a fault in the vehicle’s Stability Control System, as well as a slip indicator. Click here for more. The vehicle can be driven with caution, but without the benefit of the advanced electronic control system.
Second, it is used in many cases to indicate that a text warning is available in the vehicle’s Information Display. It may involve a malfunction in any system. A Check Control message will likely require changing screens to discover the root problem.
And then there are these, which feature a lower case letter “i” in a square. It too is meant to alert the driver to look for a message in the information center, but the message will not involve a serious drivability issue. The manufacturer uses the red triangles for this. It may be seen in yellow/amber or black and white.
If you’re seeing red, see your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/master-dashboard-warning-light-and-attention-indicators/
This a Low Brake Pad warning light. Some vehicle manufacturers include this symbol, which is intended to notify you that your vehicle’s brake pads are worn, or low, and need servicing. The dashed lines are meant to represent the pads themselves, with the circle representing the brake disk. Your brakes may also pulse or squeak as a warning when the brake pads are low.
This version uses a simple and very easy to understand text symbol, BRAKE WEAR, in red. As with other warnings, there may also be an audible squeak or a physical pulse when applying the brakes. Do not ignore any of these warnings. Have your brakes checked and relined as soon as possible.
This one includes the acronym CCB inside the traditional brake components symbol (see the note below). CCB stands for Carbon Ceramic Brake, a material not typically used in brake pads. The lines around the circle are not broken, but the light still indicates that the pads are worn and need to be replaced.
Please be aware that if the brake pads are allowed to wear too much, damage will be done to the brake rotors, which are the metal component of the brake system that the pads contact when pressing the brake pedal. The light will not give you an indication as to how long you can drive before this occurs, so contact an authorized service center or your dealer as soon as possible. Damage aside, good brakes are essential to your safety!
Note that the symbol of a circle with “brackets” on either side, broken or otherwise, represents brake components. What is shown inside and the details of the “brackets” and/or color specify the nature of the problem.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/low-brake-pad-warning-lights/
This is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) or Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) warning light symbol. It is also used as Flat Tire Monitor (FTM), which seems redundant. The tell-tale comes on when the inflation on at least one of the tires is reduced about 25% or more. In most cases, that will be about eight pounds. This is easily the most misunderstood symbol you will ever see on your instrument panel.
This is a common light in the fall and winter when outdoor temperatures drop, which has the effect reducing the pressure in your tires—including the spare. This is a bit oversimplified, but cold air takes up less space than warm or hot air. In addition, a single leaking tire will also trigger the light, regardless of season.
If you typically park in a warm garage, the light may show up sporadically after the vehicle has been parked outside for a time, and then returned to a garage. This is a normal response to temperature change, but it would be best to ensure that the tires are properly inflated.
Remember that your spare tire may be part of the system and its pressure should also be checked.
This text version simply says Flat Tire. While this may seem like it would be obvious to a driver, in truth the pressure in a tire can be very, very low and not result in a large change in the handling of some vehicles.
Many manufacturers now add a symbol or information display image that will highlight the tire or tires that are low on air, like the image to the left. Regardless of the symbol seen, the upshot is this: If your are at high speed, reduce your speed. If the tires do not seem to be visually low, it is likely safe to proceed to the nearest service station. The TPMS system will tell you when a tire is low, yes, but one of them leaking quickly, i.e. a single highlighted tire, is a greater danger.
This version features two arrows pointing at a ball in the center. It is most commonly found on a reset button on the dash, if one exists. It can, however, show up on the instrument panel of older vehicles and likely means that the system needs to be reset or could mean that a tire is low as well. Regardless, the tire pressures must be checked for the sake of safety.
This light holds the system’s primary acronym, TPMS. It is a Malfunction Indicator only. If your vehicle is equipped with this additional tell tale and it remains lit, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is not operating and needs to be checked by a qualified repair facility.
If your vehicle has only the picture symbols, they will flash to indicate an actual malfunction.
Finally, it is important to note that the light could be activated by other factors. These include radio interference interrupting the system. This will clear when the signal is left behind. Or a wheel, such as the spare, may have been mounted on the vehicle that is not equipped with the TPMS sender.
To be safe, please check your tires…
Last but not least, this bit of silliness offers a different twist. It is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System Light Load indicator. It illuminates to confirm that the load setting is selected. It appears in black and white as the same slice of a tire, but with a feather inside. The setting essentially tells the TPMS system to expect lower tire pressures, as there is little loading inside the vehicle.
Check out the videos below.
And one checking and filling the tires.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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.
https://dashboardsymbols.com///2013/08/be-ready-for-your-cars-seasonal-tire-pressure-check/
The author has 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/tire-pressure-monitoring-system-dashboard-indicators/
This text symbol, ABS, stands for Antilock Braking System. The second symbol is the Canadian version, and those that follow below are older versions. The ABS system helps to keep the car from skidding out of control during braking in slippery or extreme braking conditions by limiting your wheels from locking up.
If any of these lights come on during normal driving, the system is likely malfunctioning and the vehicle should be brought to your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible. Some manufacturers combine the TEXT BRAKE indicator when a problem arises.
The vehicle can be driven, but at your own risk. The brakes will function as normal, without the benefit of the anti-lock system. This means that in slippery conditions, the driver must control any tendency for the wheels to lock during braking.
The symbol to the left is a European version of the ABS warning indicator. A skidding vehicle is shown inside the circle and brackets traditionally used to denote ‘brake components’, also seen in the symbol above with the ABS acronym inside.
Note that in some vehicles you can turn off the ABS (or the traction control system), in which case the light will remain on.
This version includes the 4×4 designation beneath the more routing ABS indicator in the circle and brackets. This may indicate a problem with the 4- or All-wheel Drive system as well as the ABS System. If this is the case, one or more additional indicators will be present. Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible by a competent shop.
Finally, one manufacturer has opted to have this warning light, ABS ACTIVE, come on when the ABS system is simply doing its job . It does not indicate a fault.
This use of a warning light has only otherwise ever been seen with Stability Control systems, and serves only to distract a driver when, in fact, full attention should be on the road. This is always true, but since the ABS activates in slippery conditions, it is all the more true.
Note that if any of the ABS warning lights are seen with either of these warning lights (right), they indicate a problem with the Brake Force Distribution System. Click here for more.
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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.
These posts are 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.
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 25 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 College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/antilock-braking-system-dashboard-trouble-lights/