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
This is an Auto Brake Hold Indicator symbol. Auto Brake Hold is an advanced system that automatically applies and releases the parking brake when in situations like stop and go traffic. The indicator is on in green when the system is activated and in use.
In an electric vehicle (EV), the Park function is supplied by the brakes. So, when placing the car in Park, it is effectively in Auto Hold mode. To that end, the symbol to the left may be seen, indicating that the vehicle is secure. Note as well that the Park activation button or lever is also used as the vehicle’s emergency brake.
Note that there are other versions you can see here, such as those to the right.
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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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/2010/11/auto-brake-hold-indicator/
These are High-beam Assistant symbols. The green image indicates that the assistant, which automatically switches the high beams on and off, is active and working properly. The “A” stands for Automatic. The systems detects light from oncoming traffic and lowers the high beams so as not to blind other drivers. It may also be impacted by other bright lights along or near the road.
A similar symbol may be seen in black and white in the information display. In this case, it will be accompanied by a text message noting a problem. Most likely, the system’s sensors are blocked and it is unable to function properly.
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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/2010/11/high-beam-assistant-symbol/
This is the Easy Access Indicator symbol. It is found on vehicles with height control features, and the symbol indicates that the car will lower itself, or has been lowered, when the vehicle is turned off for easy access and egress. The image is of a man stepping down, although his head can look like it is caught in a vice. The green color is meant to only to note that the system is active.
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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/2010/11/easy-access-indicator-symbol/
These are Up, Down or simply Shift Indicator symbols. A handful of vehicle manufacturers use these lights in vehicles with manual transmissions to indicate when it is best to shift to a higher or lower gear for optimum fuel economy.
For the most part, the symbols themselves are green, indicating that they are intended to be informative and helpful and not warnings. The symbol above on the far right is an up-pointing arrow and the simple word SHIFT. The images here to the left include a bumpy circle, which represents a mechanical flywheel. The first adds a Plus (+) sign indicating that an upshift is in order. The flywheel without the Plus sign is particular to a Sport Mode selection from one manufacturer and indicates that more aggressive shifting will be employed automatically.
These two indicators, again in green, are again up or down arrows or pyramids. Included in this example is the number 2 as a suggested gear target of the shift. The number 1 or 3 or 4 or 5, etc may be seen as well.
These two, however, are displayed in yellow/amber. In addition, there is an Up Shift and a Down Shift Indicator. Their purpose remains the same, to aide in fuel economizing. The images are that of a shifter with an arrow either above for Up Shift or below for Down. It can be described as a ball on a rod angled away from a two level base.
The ST symbol seen to the left is a Performance Shift Indicator. In vehicles so equipped, the indicator will be seen when the powertrain reaches the optimum upshift point. However, it will flash when the engine is close to hitting the engine speed limiter.
Another exception will be seen in gray scale in the vehicles information display. It appears as a gear – something that may be found inside a transmission – and is part of an electronic shift notification system. Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL) or Performance Algorithm Shift (PAS).
Do not confuse the second image with the Settings Indicator symbol on the right. It is nearly identical to the bumpy circle used when referring to the transmission, but lacks any addition in the center and is shown in gray scale. The settings indicator will most generally be seen in the separate Information Display.
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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/2010/11/up-shift-light-indicator/
Below are examples of Information Displays and Message Centers. These are the latest trend on electronic instrument panels. They will be for the most part shades of black and white, although some manufacturers are choosing a blue background. Full color displays are slowly coming into use as the cost of led displays continue to fall.
These displays are also wider and taller than traditional symbols and indicators. In older models, these will not be red or orange or yellow/amber, which are reserved for malfunction or trouble indicators and symbols.
The bottom line is this: if something appears unexpectedly, there will be a red, orange or yellow symbol visible on the instrument panel in addition to the display.
If there isn’t, there is nothing wrong and a display key on the steering wheel or one of the control stalks has likely been touched accidentally. Consult your manual for options to restore the display to its original view.
However, the evolution of these displays includes the introduction of full color, GPS mapping and individual symbols. In addition, drivers are being given a choice of display style and layout in the more flexible message centers.
The displays allow for larger, more complicated Driver Assist symbols, as well as what are essentially computer controls.
For instance, this is the Settings Indicator symbol. It is nearly identical to the bumpy circle used when referring to the transmission, but lacks any addition in the center and is shown in gray scale – for now. The settings indicator is the what we have become used to seeing on our phones and computers and in fact leads to the customization of the display.
Maddeningly, there appear to be no constraints assigned here, and we have seen the potential for dozens of variations. The image at left is a variation of an Adaptive or Active Cruise Control Indicator switched on and functioning. At right, the system has detected a vehicle ahead and the symbol is larger than typical with the added image of a car in the distance. Note as well that these symbols will go from Green to Amber to Red depending on speed and distance.
The symbol shown may grow wider as well, as seen here. In this situation, another version of the Adaptive Cruise Control symbol has been combined with a lane symbol indicating a curve in the road the vehicle will adjust to. Again the color may vary depending on conditions.
All of which leaves drivers with a bewildering array of notices, symbols, messages and color changes that at best are distracting while behind the wheel and at worst simply impossible to fully understand. To us here at DashboardSymbols.com, auto manufacturers are given far too much leeway in deciding how to present information to drivers — while they are driving!
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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/2010/11/information-displays-and-message-centers/
These are Security and/or Immobilizer System Indicator symbols used by auto manufacturers. One of these symbols is illuminated momentarily to indicate that the ignition switch is locked and will need the proper transponder-equipped key fob to start or re-start. The vehicle is immobilized otherwise. Green symbols will flash when the vehicle is immobilized.
The text symbols Security or Theft, shown to the left have largely been replaced by the padlocked car image shown next to it, in red or yellow/amber/orange. Their operation is the same as those above, with one exception. One manufacturer (Alfa Romeo), also uses the first padlock image in yellow/amber to warn of an attempted break in!
However, if any of these symbols is visible when the vehicle is operating, it indicates a malfunction in the security system. The red dot to the left is on old style indicator. If the engine does not start with the correct key, and the security indicator remains on or flashes, the system may have a malfunction. You will need to contact your dealer or authorized service center in either case.
Do not confuse these with other automotive trouble symbols that make use of the image a key. Click here or here, right to left, for more information.
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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/2010/11/security-indicator-symbol/
These are Maintenance or Service Required Indicators symbols. In most cases, these symbols are used only as a reminder that routine maintenance is needed, such as an oil change, although the car on the lift (below) could suggest a more serious problem. Note immediately that some manufacturers use the image of a vehicle with the wrench inside to indicate an electrical problem! Click here for more, particularly if the vehicle is not operating properly.
Note that some manufacturers use the car on in the air or on the lift symbol to indicate that one of the vehicle’s systems has failed and needs repair. In a case like this, another symbol associated with the actual system will be shown as well.
All routine services in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine start with a change of the engine oil and filter. The text symbol Oil Change used by some manufacturers says it in the simplest way possible, while the text MAINT REQD may be used to mean the very same thing while implying more. The last one is rather cryptic, showing a pan shape with a drop of oil above it.
However, if there is additional text shown identifying trouble with a specific vehicle system, contact your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible.
These red triangles indicate the approach or the passing of a Service Interval. The required service may be a common oil change or something more important such as a transmission service. The first is a single triangle, which may appear in red or yellow/amber. It indicates the approach of a service interval. The second adds another triangle inside the first. It indicates the service is past due and may also appear in red or yellow/amber.
In many European vehicles, a simple wrench (spanner) image will be displayed temporarily as a service interval approaches. It will likely be in gray scale, rather than a more expected amber.
Note that if you see a wrench or spanner in red, it indicates a serious powertrain 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/2010/10/maintenance-required-indicator/