Marc Favreau

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

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An update of our Lincoln dashboard symbols page adds 27 new indicators

Lincoln LogoLincoln dashboard symbols

The Lincoln dashboard symbols page update is now complete, with 27 symbols added. A full 18 of them are brand new entries to the entire universe of symbols.

This from a company that only makes four models!

Among the new entries are three BlueCruise symbols, an auto high beam indicator that manages only to move the letter A to a new position, and two new pre-collision indicators.

BlueCruise is Lincoln‘s, or more to the point Ford Motor Co.’s version of a self driving system for highways. The subscription service uses cameras to monitor the vehicle’s position within a lane and applies steering support to keep the vehicle centered in the lane. The colors indicate the system status.

Bluecruise available indicatorBlue cruise active indicatorBlue cruise hands-free indicatorGray-scale indicates BlueCruise is on but inactive. Green says the system is active and applying continuous steering support. Blue indicates that the system is active and hands-free driving mode is available.

Auto high beamHigh beam assistantHigh-beam Assistant IndicatorThe latest automatic high beam indicator is at the far right, where the letter A for automatic is shifted outside the of the flattened oval meant to represent a headlight. Lincoln models now use all three of the symbols shown! The new one is just completely useless.

Reverse brake assist indicatorPre-collision assist malfunctionForward collision warningThe pre-collision indicators add a star behind the car which is meant to indicate a crash. The new ones are to the far right and in front of it is a pre-existing one that could easily have been used rather than make new ones.

We’ll keep saying it: the more symbols that are created the more useless the entire indicator light system becomes.

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.

You can see the Lincoln symbols page here.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/an-update-of-our-lincoln-dashboard-symbols-page-adds-27-new-indicators/

Surprise? FHWA finds roundabouts greatly reduce accidents

Federal Highway AdminRoundabouts

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has released a study that finds that roundabouts, or traffic circles, can reduce fatal and serious injury crashes. By a lot.

Specifically, converting a traditional signalized intersection to a roundabout, the reduction can be as high as 78% and converting a two-way stop-controlled intersection can reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 82%. Run a light or a stop sign anyone?

Roundabout in TexasThe image is an aerial view of a teardrop roundabout, in of Allen, TX, which extends over another highway.

I run through at least one traffic circle nearly every day, and I have to say that reading the report was a ‘duh’ moment. Of course they do! Its nearly impossible to approach a circle at the same rate of speed as happens with other intersection types.

And the Allen, TX intersection combines highway access with a cross road and looks like a stroke of genius. The FHWA says the roundabout is considered an operational and aesthetic success, having received the American Public Works Association Texas Chapter Project of the Year in 2023 as well as a Top 10 Road Award from Roads & Bridges Magazine. The interchange is the largest and most recent example, but five other roundabouts have been installed in the City since the year 2003 and they are considered a viable solution in the right context.

Visitors to the east coast of the U.S. who have never experienced a traffic circle are often frustrated by the experience, but this is pretty much only due to to the lack of experience with the intersection style. Once mastered, they are generally simple to navigate.

There are more complex types involving multiple lanes and sometimes multiple intersections, but even these can be handled with experience. And the FHWA, along with many state and local agencies, continues to advocate for roundabouts to reduce fatal and severe injury crashes at intersections.

Something that this publication can get behind. The full report can be found here.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/surprise-fhwa-finds-roundabouts-greatly-reduce-accidents/

New drive mode indicators swell two drive mode pages

Drive mode indicators

While finishing our Lincoln dashboard symbols page update, we find ourselves yet again adding to already swollen drive mode pages with three brand new symbols. The two pages now hold over 90 symbols between them.

And of course, there already existed symbols that could have been used!

Deep snow mode indicatorSnow Mode IndicatorHere is a Deep Snow indicator that we added to our Special Drive Modes page (far right). And next to it is a simple SNOW Mode indicator we have a on a separate page. Were the drawing skills truly necessary?

Excite mode indicatorSport mode indicatorSport mode lightThe next one is truly infuriating. Its an Excite Mode indicator (far right), which, lets face it, is a Sport, Track or Race Mode, of which we have a half dozen examples. We included two here.

As we keep repeating, the proliferation of indicators is a travesty foisted on drivers for the simple reason that manufacturers feel a need to flex some creative muscle. Its frankly embarrassing

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 Drive Mode page is here and the Special Drive Mode page is here.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/new-drive-mode-indicators-swell-two-drive-mode-pages/

Black and white and gray scale indicators gets its page

Lane Keeping Assistance ImageGray scale indicators

Some time ago, we made a table to account for the growing number of black and white and gray scale indicators. However, we neglected to create a page for them.

That oversight has now been corrected.

Auto Hold greenAuto Hold indicatorSymbols seen in black and white and gray scale are principally the result of advanced driver assist systems that are often left on stand by awaiting actual use. An easy example is the use of brake hold systems. When ready for use, the symbol is in black and white. When set, the symbol turns green, as can be seen to the right.

We don’t know how many drivers will search by color alone, and we don’t actually recommend it. But we owe it to them to provide every search option possible.

The best search option remains to choose the manufacturer of your vehicle 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 back and white and gray scale page can be seen here.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/black-and-white-and-gray-scale-indicators-gets-its-page/

We were wrong — somewhat — on the Lincoln owner’s manual fail

Lincoln LogoLincoln owner’s manual fail

So we reported a few days ago that we had run into another owner’s manual fail, this time from Lincoln. In this case we stated that the company had left out a list of indicators found on the Corsair instrument panel completely.

We were wrong. We found the list backed up against a similar list of symbols found on items in the car and manual, but not on the instrument panel.

However, having searched the entire manual — nearly 600 pages — we still found seven indicators that were not in the list! Plus we have three that will be found at the top of the vehicle’s entertainment screen related to over the air updates that we’re going to ad.

So this trend still needs to end, or at least be very carefully addressed by manufacturers. And evidently we need to be more careful searching through manuals.

This remains a mistake — Lincoln owners will still have to thumb though many, many pages to identify some of the indicators on their instrument panel, unless of course they happen to be 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.

Our current set of Lincoln indicators is here. We continue to work on finishing the update.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/we-were-wrong-somewhat-on-the-lincoln-owners-manual-fail/

A completely unneeded symbol expands the auto headlamps page

Auto headlamps

We added a new symbol to our auto headlamps page, courtesy of Lincoln. A completely unnecessary move of the letter A to outside the representation of the lamp!

The page now holds 14 very, very similar images, all of which represent a system that turns the high beams on and off by sensing the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the taillights of vehicles ahead.

We’ll keep saying it: the more symbols that are created the more useless the entire indicator light system becomes.

Auto high beamHigh beam assistantHigh-beam Assistant IndicatorThe newest symbol is at the far right with the letter A seen outside the flattened oval representing the headlamp. Lincoln itself already used the two additional images shown to its left. Why? Why?? What could possibly be gained by adding yet another essentially identical image with the letter A in a new location?

Absolutely, unequivocally, unbelievably stupid. And there are more on the page. Different colors, added words, etc. Where does it end??

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.

You can see the Auto Headlamps page here.

——————————————————————-

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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/a-completely-unneeded-symbol-expands-the-auto-headlamps-page/

A word on tire pressure and tire pressure gauges

TPMS largeTire pressure

So its that time again. Time when the weather cools and your tire pressure drops, as directed by nature, and you’ll soon see the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) light. The one that looks too much like a horseshoe.

vintage pumpAir pumpAnd mine did as well. So off I went to the gas station to use a pump very much like the one to the right. Remember the one next to it??

Set the pressure, 36 lbs in the case of the EV, inflate the tire and the pump stops and beeps when it reaches the the pressure that’s been set. I then check the accuracy of the pump with my pencil type pressure gauge. It read 34 lbs on each tire.

TPMS displayNow the car also reads out the pressures, but only when moving for some reason. So I had to move on before checking. The car read out 34 lbs as well. So now I know to set the pump a couple of pounds higher than what I want the next time I go back. And heaven forbid the tires be overinflated. Over or under — either is potentially dangerous.

Now one might think that powered system like the pump I used might be more accurate, but this is clearly not the case. And while I do recognize that 34 lbs is quite literally close enough, getting to 36 lbs will stave off the next need to fill again as the temperature continues to drop by a few degrees.

And of course, 2 days later its 60° and all 4 tires are at 36 lbs…

Pencil gaugeBack to the pencil type gauge, which some call a pen type (right), I prefer the simplicity of the mechanical system. There are lots of battery operated gauges available, but the internal battery becomes a variable that can’t be tested for.

Keep it simple and stay with the mechanical gauge and its easy to carry. And do back-up the pump and check what’s actually gone in to your tires.

For more tire pressure, check our TPMS page.

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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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/11/a-word-on-tire-pressure-and-tire-pressure-guages/