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 Electric Power Steering (or Electronic or Electronically controlled) (EPS) Indicator symbols. If equipped, the light will come on when the vehicle is first started. If it comes on while driving, it indicates a problem with the system.
The good news is that there may be a way around it…
As an electronic system, there is a chance it can be “reset”. Pull over as soon as possible and shut down the engine for a short period of time (on the order of 10-20 seconds) and restart the vehicle. If the light does not go out you will need to take the vehicle to your dealer or authorized repair facility as soon as possible.
Also, the vehicle can be driven with a power steering failure. However, the steering will lack the power assist and will be far more difficult to steer. So if you choose to proceed, please do so with caution.
Note that there is a picture symbol, right, in use as trouble lights as well for Electric Power Steering. 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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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/2014/01/electric-power-steering-eps-indicator-symbol/
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2014/01/touch-or-no-touch-those-screens-arent-for-everything/
This text symbol, IMA, stands for Integrated Motor Assist. It is associated with hybrid vehicles. The indicator normally comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is first switched on. There is nothing serviceable by the vehicle’s owner, so if the indicator comes on at any other time, you will need to see your dealer or qualified service center as soon as possible. The vehicle will not operate on the gas engine or the hybrid battery alone and IMA connects the two.
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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/2014/01/integrated-motor-assist-symbol-indicator/
Two items caught our attention in the last few days (Dec., 2013). The first was a report on the crash in July, 2013 of Asiana Airlines flight 214 in San Francisco, which laid blame on pilot confusion on the workings of the autothrottle system.
The second was an article from Automotive News on X-(drive-)by-wire, or electronic control of every automotive driving system. It is connected to the first story because what follows X-by-wire is autonomous control; cars that drive themselves.
The Automotive News article laments the fact that back-up systems remain in place, due primarily to drivers being unwilling to put full faith and trust in the electronic systems. The push to move to X-by-wire is to save weight and thus fuel. The back-up systems keep the weight in place.
Whether it is a plane flying itself or a car driving itself, there is simply no room for error, or confusion. The San Francisco plane crash proves this to be true.
This started out as a straightforward piece on the coming driverless car, but question after question come to mind and are nearly overwhelming:
And on and on and on, leaving this whole discussion feeling entirely incomplete.
In regards to back-up systems, it should be remembered that other airplane accidents have resulted in the addition of redundant and back-up systems.
We mean only to advise caution going forward. This entire site is devoted to how drivers are presented with new systems and information. Going forward, it is difficult to see, first, how electronics can be fully trusted and second, how autonomous systems can be introduced without a good deal of driver education.
How has driver education worked so far?
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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/2013/12/autosystem-cited-in-plane-crash-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-car-makers/
These are All-wheel Drive (AWD) On Indicator symbols. Unlike many similar indicators looking indicators, these are green and serve to tell you that your vehicle’s all-wheel drive system is engaged and possibly what mode it is in.
Multiple modes makes the lights necessary. Is the light yellow/amber??
Note that any yellow/amber all-wheel drive indicator, possibly flashing, indicates a problem in the system that must be addressed by your dealer or other qualified service personnel. Turn the system off if possible.
The AWD-V adds a full Vectoring component, which is what the ‘V’ stands for. The stick figure or line drawing that the letters are superimposed on are meant to be four wheels with the front wheels turned to the right.
In AWD-V, more torque is transferred between the rear wheels. This can lead to some slip in the outside wheel in extreme conditions. So, AWD only is recommended in very slippery conditions.
All this is more than necessary for most drivers, so stick to 2-wheel drive (AWD not engaged) in normal driving and AWD alone in slippery conditions.
This pair of symbols are simpler, indicating that the system is in all wheel or two wheel drive. The text inside the stick figures states this clearly. And change in color will, however, indicate a system problem that will require a qualified service shop.
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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/2013/12/all-wheel-drive-on-indicator-symbols/
This past summer (2013), I was fortunate to pick up a pre-owned convertible with a power soft top. The experience has resulted in, first a new power top warning light being introduced to the website and second, a refresher course on the lack of utility that most of today’s automotive warning lights offer drivers.
The power top on my car is quirky and well past its warranty, but being a hands-on guy, I am generally able to deal with any issues that crop up. It sometimes stops near the end of the opening process. The top has gotten confused during the closing process, dropping the rear portion of the top before the storage cover is closed. It may start to open and decide not to! These issues usually require only a moment’s rest and a restart, although in the second case, a manual lift of the rear portion of the top is required.
But the resulting warning light is what I would like to discuss.
What does it tell me that I don’t already know? Nothing! The top is not fully closed? No kidding! It is not fully open? Really? How could I have guessed!
Further, the instrument panel features a small rectangular message center that will actually spell out – wait for it – “Soft top not fully closed.” Oh thank you…
This, of course, was a golden opportunity for the manufacturer to perhaps offer a diagnosis, such as to suggest that an actuator is weak and should be replaced, or a power supply is malfunctioning, etc. But instead, the message center reflects the useless warning light and tells me the obvious.
I do not envy the task of creating warning lights, chimes, buzzers and messages that provide necessary information as well keep a company’s liability at bay. Given this website, I have spent some time thinking about these issues. But if the industry is to remain saddled to the warning light paradigm, it seems to me that at minimum, a good deal more thought could go into the information being revealed in message centers.
In the case of a power top, what failed? Why? Was there user error? Is there an actual mechanical, electrical or hydraulic problem needing attention? With other warning lights, answers to those types of questions and more could be offered. For instance, can the car be driven??? Clearly each system and system light would need specialized attention and specialized messaging, which adds to costs. But as it stands, drivers are left with little choice but spend time at a service center, regardless of actual need or of seriousness of a problem.
All these lights and chimes and buzzers are more closely related to the boy who cried wolf than anything useful in the daily life of the driving public. The end result is that a truly serious warning could be and often is ignored.
For the record, the problems with the top are resolved. If you’re working on yours, this video might be helpful.
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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/2013/10/the-futility-of-a-convertible-top-trouble-light/
These are Convertible or Power Top Trouble Indicator symbols. The second, which just appears as lines and angles one floating above another, is used for a power hardtop from one manufacturer. The first image features just enough “split” or space at the point of the windshield and between the roof and the trunk to suggest that the roof can be folded away. Of course, the owner of a such a vehicle already knows the car is a convertible – we presume. The symbol adds the double directional arrows to indicate that what goes up can come down.
The symbols are meant to indicate trouble with the power top system, before the top is opened or closed. It comes on during a systems check when the vehicle is started and will stay on if a fault is detected. It will also come on during operation of the top and stay on if the process is not fully completed.
Unfortunately, if a convertible top gets stuck mid-stream going up or down, the trouble symbol will often seem pointless. And if there is a fault in the system, the switch will not activate the top!
This next set is a little more helpful. The first is a Top Lock Indicator symbol. The symbol, shown in red, is the image of a car with the top down and a padlock above it. It indicates that the lock mechanism is not engaged or has failed.
This next one, also seen in red, is Top Failure Indicator. It has the same image of the car with an exclamation point above the back of the car. It essentially says that the car does not recognize where the top is and will need to be secured, opened or closed, manually.
This one may also be seen in yellow/amber. In this case, it is most likely that the control mechanism has overheated. Give it a little time and try again.
This one is Speed Warning Indicator. It simply says that the top cannot be activated because the car is moving too fast. This explains what is supposed be a speedometer above the back of the image of the car. It is seen in yellow/amber.
These last two will be seen in the information screen in black and white, along with text describing any problem that may exist. The first is a relatively simple image of a convertible top partially open. Any one of a half a dozen possible messages describing an issue will be seen as well.
The second shows a separation at the back of the car and indicates that the trunk partition is not fully closed. An obstruction may be at fault. The trunk partition opens to take in or release the roof during operation.
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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/2013/09/power-top-trouble-indicator-symbol/
Touch or No Touch: Touch Screens Aren’t for Everything!
Touch Screens Aren’t for Everything
The 38th Automotive News World Congress, held as part of last week’s (Jan. 2014) Detroit Auto Show, featured a number of industry executives, including AutoNation boss Mike Jackson. AutoNation is the largest auto retailer in the U.S. with 210 stores coast to coast.
After talking growth and inventory levels, he took some time to discuss in-vehicle technology (at about the 1:40 mark at the link provided).
He said that customers want to “bring their life” into the car, which is to say their smart phone and all its functionality. That’s not news. What is news is what this automotive insider with a bit of experience has to say about touch screens.
Jackson cites Tesla, which uses its center stack (center mounted) touch screen in the Model S to control nearly everything, eliminating nearly all buttons and knobs. No manufacturer has so thoroughly embraced the touch screen. He flat out says “I don’t think that’s the future,” meaning that having to move one’s attention to a screen to find the right spot to touch for just the right amount of time is an unnecessary distraction. And we would add potentially dangerous.
Thanks for the Support
We’ve made this very point before, several times, and it’s truly great to hear someone with some actual clout in the industry back us up. Touch implies the use of only a finger, but the reality is that a touch screen takes more eye attention than a knob or button.
It is true that space for new features is a real issue, but so is keeping a driver’s eyes on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has set voluntary guidelines for touch-screen systems that call for a drivers’ attention be drawn for no more than two seconds at a time, which is still an eternity at 60 miles per hour.
There simply has to be a role for knobs and buttons and rocker switches, etc. Well placed, they can be accessed with just a glance or even by feel.
This of course assumes that solid, error-free voice recognition remains a distant objective.
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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