Category: Articles & Commentaries

Discussions on topics of interest to drivers concerning things they may not understand about their vehicles as well as articles on the future of the auto industry.

Ford symbols page update is finished at last

Ford logoFord symbols

The Ford symbols page update, which we have been working on for several weeks, is at last finished. Why so long? Well, we added a full 75 entries to the page, of which 60 were brand new and needed to be created!

There are now over 150 symbols and indicators on the page.

GOAT Rock Crawl Raptor modeThe worst offenders included G.O.A.T. Mode, courtesy of the new Bronco models, which added a full 14 entries alone! We’ll add one example and a link to the page that needed to be created to accommodate them. G.O.A.T. stands for Goes Over Any-type of Terrain, not wins the most Super Bowls….

Launch control activeSport steering modeSport exhaust modePolice pursuit modeOther “offenders” include Launch Control, from ICE-powered Mustangs with eight new entries; steering and exhaust modes, four each; and Police interceptor modes, also with four new symbols.

One wonders if these modes will be available to just anyone if the vehicle ends up in civilian hands.

There’s no end in sight, and we need to add that many of the symbols, particularly of the drive mode variety, are very similar to others already used by the company and we strongly encourage them to recycle existing symbols and not add more burden to their drivers.

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 page covering Ford indicators, and its 155 entries, 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/ford-symbols-page-update-is-finished-at-last/

The Opel dashboard symbols page is now ordered by color

Opel-LogoOpel dashboard symbols

Our Opel dashboard symbols page has now been re-aligned by color. This makes 31 pages transformed to reflect the new color ordering, including our primary pictographic symbols page. We are now well passed the half way mark to re-ordering all our manufacturer symbols pages. There are 49 on the site.

The re-ordering has red symbols up first, followed by yellow/amber/orange symbols (depending on how you see the color!), and finally blue and green symbols and finally to black, white and gray scale indicators.

We have not yet updated the page as we remain buried in the Ford update. We have this far added 57 new symbols with another dozen in process. Fifty seven!!

Even as it is not yet updated, the Opel page already has nearly 130 entries!

Ordering the page by color provides a cleaner, simpler option for drivers searching for information on a new symbol.

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 page covering Opel indicators, and the nearly 130 entries, 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/the-opel-dashboard-symbols-page-is-now-ordered-by-color/

Communication, Communication, Communication

Hybrid Operation Detailed in an ImageCommunication

Communication issues continue to plague instrument panels. The instrument panel is the only interface between the car and its driver. Unfortunately, manufacturers continue to fail their drivers.

Several months ago I posted on the failure of a 12 volt start battery in a electric vehicle (EV). The car’s owner was more frightened than informed by the messages shown her on the instrument panel. They included do not drive warnings and a message on a battery failure that only led her to believe that the high voltage battery had failed.

Tire Pressure Monitor SymbolThen another friend got a low tire pressure warning. Not surprising as it was cold. However, while he had seen an screen depicting the actual tire pressures, he was not shown that screen when the warning appeared.

Finally, in my car, I have had several instances where, as I would begin driving, the car would begin displaying a put the vehicle in Park message, without a reason why. I’ve since come to learn that the driver’s door occasional fails to latch properly.

In each instance, the vehicle essentially failed to properly inform its driver. More specifically, the car’s manufacturer failed to properly program messages that would fully inform their drivers. Their customers. The people that keep them in business.

Symbols, pictures, cryptic messages are a failure. There has to be a better way. Car’s have voice today. It seems to us that systems could be programmed to fully explain any situation in any car at any time.

We’ve pleaded for this in the past…

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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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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/communication-communication-communication/

To cabin heat an EV or not to cabin heat — in the cold

EV logoCabin heat

We’ve have seen several mentions to not use the cabin heater in an EV in cold weather — even in vehicles with a heat pump — but to rather use the seat and steering wheel heaters for warmth in order to maintain the vehicle’s high voltage battery charge. This was even a surprising recommendation in a Hybrid manual. And we’re seeing undeniable evidence that this is true.

Range shownSo we did a video and posted it to YouTube. Sure enough you can watch the range drop as the heat is turned on in the Kia Niro. The drop is 7% immediately. Heat intended to keep the battery warm is now redirected into the cabin. Even an adjustment to the heat settings have a negative impact on range. Both with the blower and temperature.

The Polestar 2 never showed this much sensitivity on screen, but then the car annoyingly only counted down miles in groups of 10. Really hated that. It did give estimated range at the end of a trip when using mapping and that figure would be impacted by the use of heat and particularly when defrosting the windshield.

I’ve learned to use a small amount of cabin heat for only a few minutes at a time. The range tends then to return to normal in between, even in the recent 20 degree weather. A bit of battery and climate control management.

You can see the video on our YouTube channel 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/to-cabin-heat-an-ev-or-not-to-cabin-heat-in-the-cold/

Our Ram dashboard symbols page is now re-ordered by color

Ram logoRam dashboard symbols

Our Ram dashboard symbols page has now been re-ordered into the new color alignment. This makes 30 pages transformed to reflect the new color ordering, including our primary pictographic symbols page. We are now well passed the half way mark to re-ordering all our manufacturer symbols pages. There are 49 on the site.

The re-ordering has red symbols up first, followed by yellow/amber/orange symbols (depending on how you see the color!), and finally blue and green symbols.

We have yet to update the page, but its certainly on our radar to complete soon. The Ford update continues to dominate our time.

Ordering the page by color provides a cleaner, simpler option for drivers searching for information on a new symbol.

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 page covering Ram indicators, with nearly 60 entries, 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/our-ram-dashboard-symbols-page-is-now-re-ordered-by-color/

Oversight causes us to correct the Chevrolet back up open page

Chevrolet logoChevrolet back up open

This is our fail! We updated both the Chevrolet back up open and start pages some time ago, as well as those for Honda and Acura. We then added a video to YouTube describing how to open and start the new Honda and Acura EV models, which are based on some GM EVs.

But we got it wrong! Something was bugging us and sure enough, while we had the Honda and Acura pages correct on the back up open, we had the Chevrolet page and the video wrong!

The older versions of the covered key hole requires the prying of a cap at the back of the driver’s door handle clean off to expose a key hole (far right). In the new Blazer EV and the Honda and Acura versions, only the top portion of the cap is removed (right), and in a far less aggressive way.

We corrected the page and pulled the video.

Regardless, we need to get our hands on one of the models to truly get a “handle” on how the process works. We’ll re-issue a video when we do.

Smart Keys or Intelligent Keys, or Access Keys – or whatever the manufacturer of your chooses to call them – that let you into your car and start it with just a touch use up their internal batteries at alarming rates, catching busy drivers unawares – even though the car had tried to warn you.

Our goal is to help you feel safe – and keep you moving or get you moving if at all possible – rather than leave you fretting whenever your key fob stops working. The instructions for getting into and starting most keyless start cars can be found on our pages – without roadside assistance.

The Honda/Acura back up open page is here and the Chevrolet version 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/oversight-causes-us-to-correct-the-chevrolet-back-up-open-page/

Once again, a Ford manual fail

Ford logoFord manual fail

Unfortunately we found another Ford manual fail, also in the 2024 Escape manual. In this case, a driver might be able to follow a path that will lead to a missing symbol.

In the main list of symbols beginning on page 111, there are a set of EV indicators. When looking at EV Now and EV Later indicators, used to depict Hybrid Drive Modes, the reader is directed to page 274 and 275. Once there however, and brand new icon is seen — EV Auto!

Auto EV indicatorEV later indicatorEV now indicatorIf EV Auto, with the letter A inside, was the first one noted by the driver, he or she would remain in the dark, unless the he or she thought to examine the similar looking EV Now, check mark, and EV Later, clock, versions.

This is simply careless on the part of Ford, and suggests that even they and other manufacturers, are overwhelmed by the absurd number of indicators being developed alongside new systems.

Worse in this case, is that Ford uses very similar looking indicators for charge status as well.

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.

Ford‘s symbols page is here, the charge status page is here and the hybrid 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/once-again-a-ford-manual-fail/