Powertrain
These are Drivetrain, Shift or Powertrain trouble symbols or lights, and will be red or yellow/amber if it comes up. This same symbol is also used as an Electric Shift Control System Warning Indicator. It indicates a problem has been detected generally in an automatic transmission or transaxle, or its shift system. This part of the drivetrain should be serviced as soon as possible.
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This version in black and white will be seen in the vehicle’s information display. It may indicate that the transmission is overheated or there is a park lock malfunction or a major transmission malfunction. Fortunately, a text description will be seen as well.
This version is also seen in black and white. It accommodates all of the shift positions with their first letter, D, P, R, etc. If all are seen together and is found to be blinking, there is an issue with the transmission the will need service as soon as possible.
There is little that is user-serviceable in these systems, so you will need the help of your dealer or authorized service center. Some manufacturers also use these to indicate an engine problem, but the Check Engine light is generally reserved for this.
More Versions
While the exclamation point is a recurring motif in automotive instrument panel symbols, the wrench is a bit more rare. Neither is it very informative unless, a) the driver is already familiar with it or, b) the driver stops and reads the owners manual. It often indicates a transmission problem, particularly if seen in red, but it also is used for other purposes. Do consult your manual.
Do not confuse the first image with the Settings Indicator symbol on the left. 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 and is the what we have become used to seeing on our phones and computers.
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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
These are Low Coolant Warning lights. With or without the arrow or “chimney”, their meaning is somewhat straightforward, in that the engine’s cooling system is low on fluid. Topping off the cooling system with the proper fluid may resolve the issue. Please do this only when the engine is cool! Repeat, may resolve the issue.
The shape of the symbols is meant to resemble a radiator and the wavy lines at the bottom indicates fluid level. The waves have also been described as mountains! They are used in a number of symbols and when seen usually means the coolant level is low.
One of the first idiot lights, the warning light to the far left, featuring an old-school oil can or what could be even Aladdin’s lamp, is the Oil Warning Light, either level or pressure 
In either case, the oil level must be checked. The text symbols Oil Level or Low Oil Pressure are used by some manufacturers and is also an admonition to check the oil. In either case, if the oil level is good, the engine needs servicing as soon as possible as an oil pump failure is likely and will lead to serious engine damage.
This is also a Low Oil Pressure Warning Indicator. The exclamation point in the warning indicator, accompanied by a dial and a pointer, indicates that the engine’s RPM has been reduced. The dial and pointer are intended to be a gauge, however, there are no markings to indicate actual oil pressure. As with the text messages above, low oil pressure can result in serious engine damage, even at reduced RPMs, so have the engine serviced as soon as possible.
This one is an Oil Temperature Indicator symbol. It adds a thermometer above the image of the oil can. It is found in vehicles with high-performance engines that may be run very hard. If it is seen on the instrument panel, pull over and shut down the engine as soon as possible to allow it to cool down.
Are you seeing one of these to the right?? 
One of the original idiot lights, at least in 
In 
Finally, shown in 
These are both Master Dashboard Warning Light and Attention 
This same symbol, an exclamation point in a triangle, in 
And then there are these, which feature a lower case letter “i” in a square. It too is meant to alert the driver to look for a message in the information center, but the message will not involve a serious drivability issue. The manufacturer uses the red triangles for this. It may be seen in 
This a Low Brake Pad warning light. Some vehicle manufacturers include this 
This version uses a simple and very easy to understand 
This one includes the acronym 
This is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (
This text version simply says Flat Tire. While this may seem like it would be obvious to a driver, in truth the pressure in a tire can be very, very low and not result in a large change in the handling of some vehicles.
Many manufacturers now add a symbol or information display image that will highlight the tire or tires that are low on air, like the image to the left. Regardless of the symbol seen, the upshot is this: If your are at high speed, reduce your speed. If the tires do not seem to be visually low, it is likely safe to proceed to the nearest service station. The TPMS system will tell you when a tire is low, yes, but one of them leaking quickly, i.e. a single highlighted tire, is a greater danger.
This version features two arrows pointing at a ball in the center. It is most commonly found on a reset button on the dash, if one exists. It can, however, show up on the instrument panel of older vehicles and likely means that the system needs to be reset or could mean that a tire is low as well. Regardless, the tire pressures must be checked for the sake of safety.
This light holds the system’s primary acronym, TPMS. It 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.
Last but not least, this bit of silliness offers a different twist. It is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System Light Load indicator. It illuminates to confirm that the load setting is selected. It appears in black and white as the same slice of a tire, but with a feather inside. The setting essentially tells the TPMS system to expect lower tire pressures, as there is little loading inside the vehicle.