Category: Dashboard Symbols & Tell-tales

Pre-sense Fault

These are Pre-sense Fault Indicator symbols exclusive to the Audi brand. It is seen either as the front of a car inside a circle and brackets with a star at the top in red or It appears as a broken circle with a triangle and exclamation point as part of the circle and the outline of a car inside in yellow/amber. Either may mean something as serious as a failure requiring service – likely in red – or as simple as a dirty sensor, so it makes sense to start with a car wash! The fault will not impact normal driving functions.

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• Otherwise, you can return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

Pre-sense detects collision hazards around the car and initiates specific safety measures. A given vehicle may have only front, front and rear or 360° options.

If a problem is identified, the system may intervene with the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) system in the event of a skid. If a collision is imminent, the system warns the driver with visual, acoustic and haptic warnings and, if necessary, it will provide braking assistance to reduce vehicle speed or even a full brake application to avoid the collision. The system would then pretension the seat belts to reduce the driver or front passenger forward or lateral movements; close the side windows and sliding sunroof; and finally activate the hazard lights.

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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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.

M 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