Category: Dashboard Symbols & Tell-tales

DashboardSymbols.com descriptions of the symbols and tell-tales used on automobile and light truck dashboards and instrument panels.

Passenger Air Bag on/off Indicator

Passenger Air Bag

Passenger Air Bag IndicatorThis is the Passenger Air Bag Indicator. Either the word on or off will be active in the symbol. The passenger airbags are a hazard to smaller individuals and are designed to be turned off automatically when a small amount of weight is placed on the seat. This can also occur when a package or bag is placed there. If an adult is in the seat and the air bag is off, take the vehicle to your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible.

  • Are you sure this is your symbol?? If not, return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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/2024/03/passenger-air-bag-on-off-indicator/

Supplemental Restraint System Air Bag Indicator Symbols

Supplemental Restraint

SRS Air Bag Indicator SymbolSRS Text IndicatorThese are the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Air Bag Indicator symbols. Either of these warning lights indicate that a problem exists with one of the many airbags in the vehicle, which should be taken to the dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible. The picture symbol has been described as a beach ball on a lap.

  • But first, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, continue on below. 
  • Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

In most later-model vehicles, the picture symbol replaces the original text symbol, SRS, shown to the above right. This was likely done to help non English-speaking motorists. Older vehicles used the simple Supplemental Restraint System acronym (SRS). And there’s still another…

Air Bag Indicator SymbolYet another version, used by some European manufacturers, is a simple Air Bag text symbol, as shown at left. All versions warn of a failure in one of the air bags, which can only be repaired by your dealer or authorized service center.

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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/2024/03/supplemental-restraint-system-air-bag-indicator-symbols/

Headlamp Leveling System Warning Symbols

Headlamp Leveling

Headlight Levelling System WarningHeadlight Levelling IndicatorThese are the Headlamp Leveling System symbols. They include the curving arrow and may or may not have the exclamation point inside the drawing representing a lamp. The lines pointing out and down represent light. Regardless, if one of these symbols is seen, it indicates a problem with the system. The vehicle should be taken to your dealer or authorized service center.

  • But first, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, then continue on below. 
  • Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

Heavy loads can push the rear of a vehicle down causing the headlamps to point upwards, but leveling system sensors will detect the horizontal level of the vehicle and adjusts the lights accordingly, unless the leveling system is not operating.

Similar Symbols

LED Headlight MalfunctionHeadlamp Malfunction 2Do not confuse the symbols with one of these. Click here or here for more, right to left.

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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/2024/03/headlamp-leveling-system-warning-symbols/

Automatic Headlight Dimmer and Malfunction Indicator Symbols

Auto Headlamps

Automatic high beamsAuto Headlamp Dimmer IndicatorThese are all Automatic Headlight Dimmer indicator symbols. The system is also known as the High Beam Assistant. Shown in the traditional blue of the high beam indicator or in green, the symbols indicates that the high beams are on and that the system will automatically (AUTO or A) switch between the low and high headlight beams on the automobile depending on whether or not sensors detect oncoming vehicle head lights in the distance.

  • But first, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, continue below.
  • Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

High-beam Assistant IndicatorHigh beam assistantAuto high beamAuto high beam indicatorThe letter A may or may not be seen inside the drawing representing a lamp. in fact, it often just seems like a game of where else can we drop the letter A! The lines pointing out represent light.

And believe it or not, similar systems have been available in some form on high-end vehicles since the 1950s!

More Versions

Active High Beams off indicatorOne manufacturer has chosen to combine the auto high beam indicator with the park light indicator. With the auto high beam system on, the symbol is seen in blue and green. With the high beam system off, the light is shown in white. The park lights are on in either instance.

Adaptive high beamThis version, in gray scale or black and white, indicates that the high beams have been turned off because a light has been detected in front of the vehicle. The high beams will reactivate when the light is no longer detected. The starker black and white indicates the system is on and working.

Auto high beam indicatorFrustratingly, this version, also in black and white, means exactly the opposite — it means that the automated system is on and ready for use! This means that you’ll need to consult your car’s manual to be sure what the light actually means.

Headlamp Malfunction 2Auto high beam malfunctionAuto high beam failureThese versions are Automatic Headlamp Dimmer Malfunction indicator symbols. They are displayed in yellow/amber/orange. The letter A, for Automatic, sits inside two of the headlamps and an exclamation point is added to the side in one. The other has the word AUTO inside and the color alone is used to indicate a problem. The headlights themselves will continue to function in high or low beam, but they will need to be cycled manually.

Light or rain sensor fault indicatorFinally, there is this one from Audi which for some reason they use as an Automatic Wiper Fault Indicator as well.  This looks like a hat or a lid open on one side with beams coming out of it to an oval shape in yellow/amber.

Headlight Levelling System WarningHeadlight Levelling IndicatorAll these indicators use the shape of an old style headlamp with lines pointing outward, which are meant to be beams of light. There are others that use these elements, such as those to the right, so don’t confuse them. Click here to learn 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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/03/automatic-headlight-dimmer-or-malfunction-indicator-symbols/

Active or Advanced Cruise Control Indicators

Active Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control indicatorActive Cruise Control SymbolAdaptive Cruise Control IndicatorDrive control active indicatorThese are Active or Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) Indicator symbols. The first symbols add a car to the speedometer (the dial) and arrow (pointer) found in another symbol. Again, unfortunately it is not immediately clear to the average driver just what it is trying to say. The car indicates that the system is responding to traffic ahead and the arrow indicates a speed has been set. Note also that some manufacturers may call these systems Smart or Intelligent Cruise Control. The manufacturer using the blue image with the numbers 999 below the speedometer calls the system Drive Control. It is essentially Active Cruise Control.

  • Also, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then continue on below.
  • Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

There are lots more related symbols shown below. Over time, these indicators have evolved so that it is nearly impossible to distinguish one from another. Each manufacturer takes liberties with very similar images while using them to mean very different things. Please consult the manual from your manufacturer to know exactly why a particular indicator is being displayed in your vehicle.

Many More Variations

Follow mode indicatorFollow Mode IndicatorActive cruise controlDistance setting indicatorDistance chosen 1Distance chosen 2Distance chosen 3More variations of the symbol shows a car seemingly being followed by a double arrow, the back one of which is open. It may also appear as simply lane lines around broken lines or broken lines alone. It will show in green when the system is turned on and amber when actually adjusting the distance to a vehicle ahead. They will appear as well when a distance is being set in the system by the driver. And depending on the manufacturer, a specific Follow Mode can be turned OFF and the indicator seen in gray. Other symbols may appear in gray scale as well, showing the relative chosen distance between vehicles.

Collision warning indicatorAdaptive Cruise ControlAdaptive cruise control indicatorAdaptive cruise control on indicatorThese additional indicators may or may not appear to have lines radiating like heat waves from the roof. They are meant intended to imply a forward looking radar. The system is active if this indicator is shown. The color is up to the manufacturer, so do check your manual. If it is seen in white, it generally means that the system is on but a speed has not been chosen.

Oblect Detected IndicatorAnother variation has the first image above adding a vehicle in front indicating a vehicle has been detected ahead. The images above may simply go from green and turn to yellow/amber or red when a vehicle detected ahead is too close. An image of a foot on a pedal may also be shown, which is a warning to use the brakes. Again, consult you manual to learn what your manufacturer has chosen for color.

Adaptive cruise control indicatorActive Cruise Control SymbolSCC vehicle detectedIn the case of these images, also in green, the vehicle is seen “open” in the first image. That is, the color is not filled in, indicating that there is no vehicle ahead. In the second, the vehicle is colored in, indicating a vehicle is in fact ahead. The third image adds a distance control feature. The number of lines indicates the distance that will be maintained. The more lines, the greater the distance.

Once again, please consult your vehicle manufacturer’s manual to know exactly why one of this wide array of lights is on.

Adaptive cruise control indicatorThis indicator version attempts to show just the top of a speedometer with an arrow indicating where the speed is set. It doesn’t appear to offer any additional information, useful or otherwise. It appears in gray scale in the vehicle’s information display.

ACC indicatorVariously called Radar Controlled, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) or even Distance Control Assist (DCA), the systems operate the same way. It is not warning of an imminent collision, but rather showing that the cruise control system will maintain the speed needed to maintain the proper distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. The text symbol ACC in yellow/amber indicates a fault in the system.

Curve speed adaptAdaptive cruise control and curve controlMore advanced systems have the added capability of adjusting a vehicle’s speed to account for an approaching curve in the road. The symbols shown are variations that may appear on the instrument panel indicating that the speed is being adjusted, likely down.

Smart Cruise Control Malfunction IndicatorSCC Warning Indicator 2Smart Cruise MalfunctionSCC malfunctionAdaptive cruise warningAdaptive cruise control indicatorAll these symbols indicate a problem with the system. The symbols on the far left add the exclamation point to the car and speedometer in yellow/amber/orange. Your dealer or good service center will be needed to resolve the issue. The same is likely true of the next gray scale images, as they would appear in the message area on the instrument panel. These will be accompanied by text describing the problem, which may be as simple as dirty sensors resolved by a car wash. Your vehicle will otherwise operate normally.

Radar Blocked IndicatorCheck Smart Cruise RadarSmart Cruise Control Radar Warning Indicator These symbols are meant to indicate that the system’s radar or camera is blocked. To the left is one showing an arrow pointing the front of the vehicle (or a rectangle or box with two lines in it!) and to the right is one with the familiar exclamation point next to a car with lines in front of it (or behind it). The same is true of the gray scale image on the right as it would appear in a message area on the instrument panel.

Cameras or more commonly radar are used to detect another vehicle in front of yours, and so long as they are blocked, the advanced cruise control system cannot function. If cleaning the front of the car does not clear the symbol, there may be a malfunction, which your dealer will need to address. Standard cruise control can continue to operate, if you choose to use it the vehicle itself is fine.

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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/2024/03/active-or-advanced-cruise-control-indicators/

Cruise Control Indicator Symbols

Cruise Control

Cruise Control Indicator SymbolCruise Control Indicator symbols. This first one to the left is a relatively new symbol that replaces the simple word “Cruise” that is sometimes still found. Unfortunately, it is not immediately obvious to many what this symbol represents, until it is explained.

The symbol is, of course a representation of a speedometer (the dial), with a pointer (arrow) indicating a speed has been set, but not the actual set speed.

Cruise control fault indicatorCruise control fault indicatorThese symbol variations, which adds the exclamation point and is in yellow/amber color, are Cruise Control Fault Indicators. The color and the exclamation point both state that the system needs to be serviced by a qualified service shop as soon as possible.

CRUISE + indicatorThere are also a number of Text versions, that can be seen by following this link, including the combined text (Cruise) and image symbol 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/2024/03/cruise-control-indicator-symbols/

Cruise or Speed Control Indicators

Cruise Control

Cruise Control IndicatorThis first image is the Cruise Control Indicator light in text form. The light is illuminated when the cruise control is engaged. It is perfectly straightforward, as opposed to the many image symbols below that are now often used in its place.

  • First, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then continue reading below.
  • Otherwise return to our main Text Symbols page and scan again!

Note that some manufacturers use this light in yellow/amber when the system is on but not engaged. The indicator will also be yellow/amber if there is a system malfunction.

Cruise Control Main IndicatorAnother Cruise Control IndicatorAlternatively, some manufacturers use the Text Symbol to the left, Cruise Main, to indicate that the cruise control system is turned on. Once a speed is set, it reverts to the Text Symbol to the right, Cruise Control.

Cruise Control Indicator SymbolCRUISE + indicatorCruise control indicatorCruise control indicatorAlternate Cruise Control Indicator symbols. This is a new symbol that sometimes replaces the simple Text Symbols that remain in use. Unfortunately, it is not immediately obvious to most what this symbol represents, until it is explained. Which itself may explain the combination symbol, also in use. Seen in black and white simply means a speed has not been chosen.

It is, of course a representation of a speedometer (the dial), with a pointer (arrow) indicating a speed. A second version in more advanced systems is even more confusing.

Active Cruise Control SymbolAnd last but not least, the Active Cruise Control Indicator symbol. This symbol adds a car to the speedometer and arrow in the previous symbol. Again, unfortunately it is not immediately clear to the average driver just what it is trying to say.

Variously called Radar Controlled or Adaptive, the systems operate the same way. It is not warning of an imminent collision, but rather showing that the cruise control system will maintain the speed needed to maintain the proper distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Click this link for more.

Set Indicator (Cruise Control)Set speed indicatorThese are a Set Indicator symbol and a Set Speed symbol. Some manufacturers use Set to indicate that a speed has been chosen. The second and third will include the chosen speed, while the first may be used to indicate a system problem. It will blink if that is the case.

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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/2024/03/cruise-or-speed-control-text-indicators/