Category: Dashboard Symbols & Tell-tales

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

Pedestrian or Animal Detection Warning Indicators

Pedestrian and Animal Detection

These are Pedestrian or Animal Detection Warning Indicator symbols. There are two types or styles because the first manufacturer to use the system has developed a changeable instrument display.

  • Before continuing, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
  • Otherwise, you can return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

Pedestrian Warning Symbol 2Pedestrians detectedIf a standard or typical instrument cluster is chosen, the symbol to the left will be shown if a collision with a person detected is imminent. The symbol looks like a human male with energy beams radiating from his hands! It is meant to look like a man standing in the driving lane.

Pedestrian Warning Symbol 1Pedestrian detected indicatorIf a different display type is chosen, and a collision with a person detected is imminent, the symbol to the left will be shown inside the display. It looks like a more generic human with sound waves coming out of him or her. It is meant to indicate radar beams bouncing off the person.

Night vision deerThese systems are generally capable of detecting animals as well, and some manufacturers add the image to the left to separate animal from pedestrian detection. As a driver, your reaction will likely be very, very similar.

Ideally, since the detection system exists the brakes will be applied automatically. Regardless, please apply the brakes yourself and avoid running them over! Of course if you’re reading this after the fact, its a bit late!

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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/2015/11/pedestrian-warning-indicators/

Forward Alert and AVSM Indicators

Forward Alert

Forward Alert IndicatorVehicle detected indicatorThese are Forward Alert Indicator symbols. It shows an image of a car alone or inside a triangle. The use of the triangle is for reasons known only to the manufacturer. The technology makes use the Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) radar, even when the ACC is not in use, to warn if you are on a collision path with another vehicle or even the back of your garage!

Collision warning indicatorCollision warning indicatorForward collision alert indicatorIt Illuminates green when activated and will move through yellow/amber and red and an audible warning will be heard if an obstacle is approached. It will remain green and not offer an audible warning if the driver is already braking. The sensitivity of the alert, or the distance to a detected obstacle, can be increased or decreased. The symbols are variously shown as cars alone from behind, inside a triangle or with lines beneath it inside a circle inside brackets.

Advanced Vehicle Safety ManagementA similar function is found in the Advanced Vehicle Safety Management (AVSM) system. This indicator clearly says that the system is turned OFF, which is a driver’s option. If OFF has not been chosen, a malfunction is indicated. All other systems will function normally and the vehicle is safe to drive.

When in operation, the system will alert the driver to a vehicle ahead in his or her lane that is traveling at a slower speed with a vehicle image and the word CAUTION in the instrument panel information screen. The system will apply the brakes only gently and only when the driver’s foot is removed from the gas pedal.

Similar Symbols

Vehicle ahead detected indicatorDistance Warning IndicatorNote that the symbols to the right are very similar and have a similar function. 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/2014/10/forward-alert-indicator-symbol/

Automatic or Active Speed Limiter or Malfunction Indicators

Speed Limiting

active speed limiter indicator Speed limiterASL Indicator SymbolSpeed limiterThese are Speed Limiter and Automatic or Active or Adaptive Speed Limiter (ASL) Indicator symbols. They illuminate when a speed has been set and the limiter is active. It will appear in green unless or until the set speed is reached when it turns yellow/amber.

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

Speed limiter indicaterSpeed limiter indicatorAutomatic speed limiter set indicatorThe two versions seen to the left start in white inside the message center when the system is on and available. It turns to green, like the third image, or yellow/amber, depending on the manufacturer, when a speed is set. The set speed will be shown separately in the message center and will flash if the speed is exceeded.

In the first example, the set speed is displayed in the image, which is a half or three quarter circle with the letter LIM shown below. The partial circle is likely meant to be a dial. The second image image is that of a broken dial like a speedometer with a marked range indicated by a double-ended arrow. It also gives the appearance of a clock. The acronym ASL is added. The third image is much like the first.

Speed limit assistSpeed limit set indicatorThis version replicates an actual speed limit sign that would be seen on any highway coast-to-coast in North America. It would be displayed in the information center along with a depiction of the car travelling on the highway. It is known as Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), which is uses information from the detected road signs and uses the navigation system data to inform of the speed limit and to help maintain the proper speed automatically.

Alternatively, a speed may be chosen and set which will appear in blue, which indicates the system is active. It is associated with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control.

The image styles are a manufacturer choice, and the one with the speed shown is only marginally more informative than the other.

FiPilot available indicatorFiPilot active indicatorA step ahead is a system from Fisker Inc. that adds the detection of a road’s speed limit and adjusts the vehicle’s speed accordingly. As part of the company’s Advanced Diver Assistance  System (ADAS), Fisker Intelligent Pilot, or Fi-Pilot, uses the symbols to the left to indicate that the system is available, in gray scale or on, in blue.

Other Symbols

Limiter malfunctionActive speed limiter indicatorThese images include the exclamation point and indicates a malfunction in the Speed Limiter system. The numerals found in the first image above are replaced by a broken line. The system will be unavailable until it is serviced by a qualified shop. Note that the system is a part of the cruise control system, and it too may be unavailable.

The system uses the cruise control speed adjustment to set a speed limit. The set limit will likely be displayed in a message screen. When set, the engine will respond normally up to the set speed. The vehicle will not accelerate beyond the set speed unless sudden, rapid acceleration is needed and applied forcing the transmission to kick down to a lower gear. Speed limitation is then suspended.

Related Symbol

Passive Speed Limit IndicatorThe symbol to the right is from an Active system and may be related. 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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2014/10/automatic-speed-limiter-indicator/

Seven Things to Know About Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Know Your TPMS

Its Fall (2014) and time once again for your car’s equivalent of Seasonal Affective Disorder, your Tire Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS. If equipped, one of the two TPMS warning indicators shown will soon attempt to get your attention (Drivers most commonly describe the lights as horseshoes with exclamation points or arrows in them but they are actually a “slice” of a tire). Here are seven things you should know about TPMS.

Tire Pressure Monitor Symbol1)

Unlike any other yellow/amber or red light, these indicators do not normally point to a problem with the car. Rather they are meant to inform. It may be annoying, but the light is doing its job and alerting you to the risk of low tire pressure.

Rare Tire Pressure Light w/Arrows2)

The light comes on (first) in the fall primarily because air shrinks when it cools. So as autumn takes hold and the weather cools, the air in your tires—including the spare—will shrink causing the pressure in your tires to go down. If you are fortunate enough to have a system that also shows the actual pressure in your tires, you will be able to see that they have all “lost” the same amount of pressure.

3)

If the cause is cold weather, no air has actually been lost – it is simply that the existing air is no longer capable of filling the same space! In colder climates, you will likely be prompted to add air to your tires two or three times before the onset of spring. Note that tires will warm while driving, and so the light may resolve itself after a few miles. You will see the light again once the tires cool down. Also, if you garage your vehicle at night, you may only see the light while out and about in the cool air, which can be confusing.

TPMS Malfunction Indicator4)

The text indicator, TPMS, is a Malfunction Indicator only. If your vehicle is equipped with this additional tell tale and it remains lit, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is not operating and needs to be checked by a qualified repair facility.

5)

If your vehicle has only the picture symbols AND there is a malfunction, the indicator will flash. Have it checked by a qualified repair facility.

6)

Do not ignore the possibility that one tire may have picked up a nail or other object and is actually leaking air. This will activate the same warning light. Make a visual inspection of your tires any time the light comes on. A leaking tire will quite likely look “flatter” than the other three. Get to your favorite service department fast!

7)

No other system in your car requires attention due to the season! Fortunately, the cure is relatively simple, and while service departments dislike the annoyance of constant calls regarding TPMS light “trouble” in the fall, most will check and refill your tires at no cost. After all, they will and should be happy to have you available for additional service!

And finally, if your car is NOT equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, your tires will still need some seasonal help. Check your tire pressures!

Related posts and videos:

https://dashboardsymbols.com///2010/09/tire-pressure-monitoring-system/

TPMS video.

And this one, helping you fill your tires!

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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/2014/09/seven-things-to-know-about-tire-pressure-monitoring-systems/

A New Name for Adaptive Cruise Control Revisits an Old Question

Kia LogoAdaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control systems have been available from many auto manufacturers now for several years, These are systems that allow a car to maintain a set distance from a vehicle ahead of it. Kia Motors now in 2014 has it available in its Cadenza and K900 models. The fact that the company has chosen to call the system “Advanced Smart Cruise Control” prompts this piece.

Never mind that manufacturers were already bouncing between the names Active and Adaptive Cruise Control and Radar Controlled Cruise Control. Now the motoring public has a new name – and a new acronym (ASCC) – to adjust to.

Too Many Examples

This is not the first time we’ve commented on the topic of nomenclature. Drivers already face too many instances where their automobiles can make them feel inadequate and under the gun. A look through our Acronyms page finds three names as well for blind spot monitors, five versions of lane departure systems, and no less than twelve names for stability control (go ahead, count them up!). Is any of this really necessary? The answer is no…

It is a wonder that drivers know any the names of the many Smart Cruise Control Malfunction Indicatorfunctions of today’s vehicles and understand what they do. It is a greater wonder that they recognize its associated warning light! Seriously, does the light shown on the right mean that other car is about to hit? We’ve been asked that question!

In the meantime, beleaguered sales and service personnel spend hour after hour explaining advanced systems to their customers and struggle with what is an Automotive Knowledge Gap – drivers simply don’t understand their cars. Meanwhile, the industry continues to build the equivalent of the old VCR with a clock that only a select few know how to program.

Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are standard names across the industry. Where is the consistency, the standards, the sanity, when it comes to other advanced safety systems?

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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/2014/05/a-new-name-for-adaptive-cruise-control-revisits-an-old-question/

Lights Out: Where to Turn if a Warning Light Fails??

What if a Warning Light Fails?

This is not a new problem, but with the increased reliance on electronics and the increased number of warning lights, it is one that will likely be seen more and more.

Cadillac is recalling its sleek ELR (Electric Long Range) coupe (2014) because of a software problem in the car’s electronic stability control (ESC) system. All electronic systems undergo a diagnostic during start up, and in this case, the system software may inhibit certain diagnostics. This means that some fault conditions would not be detected if they occurred, which further means that the ESC malfunction indicator light will not illuminate.

In the case of the ELR, there are but a few hundred cars to be concerned about (656 vehicles from the 2014 model year not equipped with adaptive cruise control) and fortunately GM discovered the problem in house, not after crashes. But the larger concern remains: an increased reliance on electronics across the board and more importantly in safety systems and the reliance of those systems on electronic self-diagnosis and electronic warning lights.Indicator Failure

What warning exists for the failure of a warning light itself? The answer of course, is that there is none. The indicator to the right is a fake we made up only for this piece.

For the record, many, many years ago, an oil sender failed on a personal car. The sender itself leaked all the oil out of the car, rather quickly it might be added, but never once activated the low oil pressure warning light. In this case, a mechanical failure in an electronic sender cost an engine, but in today’s vehicles, a warning light failure could cost a whole lot more.

To correct the ELR’s problem, GM will only need to recalibrate the electronic brake control module. An electronic fix to an electronic problem. Not very satisfying or confidence building, and reflects on the industry as a whole, not simply GM.

GM’s recall letter to NHTSA 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 is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2014/03/lights-out-where-to-turn-if-a-warning-light-fails/

Electric Power Steering (EPS) Indicator Symbols

Electric Power Steering

EPS Indicator SymbolThese 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.

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

The good news is that there may be a way around it…

Power Steering Trouble LightAs 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.

Related Symbol

Steering Trouble IndicatorNote 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.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2014/01/electric-power-steering-eps-indicator-symbol/