Chevrolet Dashboard Symbols
Chevrolet Dashboard SymbolsSo, what is that light on your dashboard? What follows is easily the most complete list available of symbols and warnings that may appear in and on your car’s dashboard or instrument cluster.
The following are warning lights and indicators found in vehicles built by Chevrolet. Click the link to the right of each one to learn more.
How They Are Presented
They are ordered primarily by color and roughly by importance. First up are red, followed by yellow/amber/orange symbols (depending on how you see the color!), then blue and green symbols and finally white and gray scale symbols.. There are nearly 100 of them so search carefully!
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Models examined include Blazer, Bolt, Bolt EUV, Camaro, Colorado, Corvette, Cruze, Equinox, Impala, Malibu, Silverado 1500, Sonic, Spark, Suburban, Tahoe, Trailblazer, Traverse, Trax, and Volt.
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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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
This symbol is a Brake Trouble Indicator symbol. They could indicate a serious problem with the brakes. However, the light will also be on when the hand, or emergency, brake is engaged.
This symbol is a Parking Brake Indicator. There are a number of considerations. The symbol to the right simply indicates that the parking, or emergency brake is engaged. Be sure to disengage the parking or emergency brake before driving.
One of the first idiot lights, this warning light features an old-school oil can. It is the Oil Level or Oil Pressure warning lights or symbol. A wavy line below the oil can indicates the oil level is low. Without the wavy line, your engine is telling you that the oil pressure is low.
There are several versions of the dreaded Check Engine Light, and this one is the most common. It is one of the oldest of the symbols that you may see. The word “Check” may appear inside the image, or below, or not at all.
One of the original idiot lights, at least in red, this is the Temperature Warning light or symbol. In red, it indicates quite simply that the engine temperature is too high. If you see this light, your vehicle should be stopped and the engine turned off as quickly as possible. Turning on the heater to the highest setting will remove some of the heat as well. Contact your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible.
This is the Master Warning Light symbol, in red. If this light is on, there will likely be text displayed as well on the instrument panel, or another warning light. Look for text in particular. It could very well point out something as serious as low oil pressure. However, despite the serious look to the symbol, it is generally associated with simple reminders such as a door ajar or that it is time to change the oil.
This is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) or Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) warning light symbol. It is also used as Flat Tire Monitor (FTM), which seems redundant. The tell-tale comes on when the inflation on one of the tires is reduced about 25% or more. In most cases, that will be about eight pounds. This is easily the most misunderstood symbol you will ever see on your instrument panel.
The image of a car with squiggly or wavy lines behind it is the Slip Indicator symbol. When a vehicle detects slippery conditions, its stability or traction control system is activated. The light will flash, irregularly in some vehicles, indicating that the system is doing its work, helping to keep the vehicle in control.
This is a Reduced Engine Power Indicator. Only a handful of manufacturers use this light, which comes on automatically with a reduction in the vehicle’s performance. Given what is likely an obvious reduction in power and acceleration, the symbol itself becomes redundant. The image is the same one used for the Check Engine Light above, with the added arrow pointing down.
This combined system warning indicator covers the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and the Brake Assist System (BAS). These systems work together, and a fault in either, or both, will cause the light to come on. If it remains on, see your dealer or authorized service center.
This is the primary Key Fob Indicator. A number of picture symbols are used to indicate the presence of an electronic key in a push button or, ironically, keyless start, or keyless ignition, vehicle. These systems will allow a vehicle to be started only when an electronic key is present in, and detected by, the vehicle.
This is an Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) Off Indicator symbol. IBA uses lasers to identify approaching obstacles and applies the brakes accordingly. The light comes on when the IBA switch is turned off. If the light comes on while the system is on, it is either unavailable temporarily or is malfunctioning. Check that the laser sensor is clean, when it is safe to do so.
Cruise Control Indicator light in text form. This light is illuminated when the cruise control is engaged. It is perfectly straightforward, as opposed to the two image symbols below that are now often used in its place.
This is the most common Check Gas Cap Indicator symbol. It is one of the few things the average driver can do anything about. The image, which is really half of a car with an unscrewed gas cap, can look like a water pitcher with a screw or bolt next to it.
These are Park Assist Indicator symbols. The green version will be visible when the system is activated and working. The manufacturer may refer to this as Intuitive Parking Assistance, Park Distance Control (PDC), etc. It looks like a sail with lines radiating from it!
This is a Low Windshield Washer Fluid Indicator symbol. Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir as soon as possible. The image actually resembles an open hand-held fan, which is supposed to be the windshield. The dashed lines represent two steams of water.
The acronyms AFS and AFLS in these symbols or indicators stand for Adaptive Front-lighting System or Adaptive Front Lighting System. The difference is very subtle and is the result of a manufacturer choice only.
This symbol is a Tail Light Indicator symbols. The replacement of a light bulb or two will restore order. Some manufacturers add a text message in the instrument panel noting exactly which light is out. The symbol is often described as eyelashes coming out of the back of a car!
This symbol is the High Beam On indicator. The light is active only when the high beams are active (turned on) and has been a standard in vehicles for decades. It is one of only a select few presented in a blue color.
This the Fog Lamp Indicator symbol. The indicator in green is active only when the fog lamps are activated. The wavy or squiggly line crossing straight ones is meant to indicate light passing through the fog.
These are Headlamp Out Indicator symbols. One or more of the headlamp bulbs is burned out or malfunctioning. This is another symbol that may utilize an exclamation point, which always indicates a problem, even if its in the green color. Another symbol in yellow/amber only is an alternative Lamp Out indicator.
Here’s the deal: Buckle up, find your model, and if your start battery is still good, we’ll get you underway. Note that they are generally presented as sedans, then SUVs then pick ups.
In Corvette models built before 2014 (C6), the pocket is on the left of the inside of the glove box. Place the transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing the glove box storage area (right). Then, with the vehicle in P (Park) or N (Neutral), press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing up. Again, with the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Find a helpful video 
Push button or keyless start is introduced to the Camaro in 2016. It also uses the cup holder as a back up slot, but to their credit, Chevrolet made this one simple. Make sure there is nothing, particularly coins, in the rear cup holder, and simply drop the fob into it. The car will recognize the key and a press of the brake pedal and Start / Stop ignition button will have you on your way. Corvettes (C8), 2020 – 2023, use this spot as well. In 2024, the Corvette spot is moved to the front cup holder.
The Impala uses a back up pocket located in the front of the center console (right). The model is using the flip key thus far through 2018. Drop transmitter into the pocket with the key ring up and the buttons facing out. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
storage area located above the infotainment screen and remove the rubber mat. Extend the key blade and place the blade into the slot (right).
moved to the center console, as shown. The rubber mat at the bottom of the console will need to be removed, and so anything actually in the console.
The last flip key back-up start option belongs to the Cruze. You must remove the plastic trim piece from the small storage area next to the accessory power outlet near the front of the console. Extend the key blade and insert it into the transmitter slot (right). With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
The 2017 Cruze gets the new key and a new back up location, which is the front cup holder, as seen to the right. Sonic, Equinox and Blazer models now use this spot as well.
The 2024 Blazer Electric Vehicle (EV) is a different animal. Its back up spot is at the bottom of the center console storage area. Drop the key fob on the spot shown (right) with the buttons up.
The Trax, which first saw push button start in 2017, also uses the front cup holder as its back up slot. However, there are three cup holders in the center console area, with the front one being separated from the two behind it. Be sure to use the one in the very front. See the image to right.
The new Trailblazer model has the back up pocket in front of the center console storage area and behind the the two cup holders on the console (image at right). Drop the key fob into the pocket or depression, The manual states that the buttons should be facing the front, but we don’t believe this is possible given the shape of the pocket. We also believe that it will not likely matter. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.
pocket also located in the face of the front of the inside of the center console. However, the pocket points down, as shown to the right. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing out, buttons forward (in the Suburban we had on hand, the engine started with the buttons facing either way). It is a loose fit, so don’t be concerned. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Check out the video 
In the Chevrolet Traverse, through 2023, the transmitter pocket is at the bottom of the center console storage area, as seen in the image to the right. The outline of the transmitter will be visible to the front of the console. The 2024 Traverse uses the left or driver’s side cup holder, exactly like the Silverado EV below. Once the fob is in place, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal to start the vehicle.
shown in the manual. There are three storage spots in the console (see the red arrows), and one of them will be the “pocket” but none of them are actually marked. Drop the transmitter or key fob in the front storage spot first and attempt to start the car normally, with your foot on the brake and pressing the Start / Stop button.
In the Silverado pick up (note that the electric version is discussed below) and the Malibu sedan, the pocket for the transmitter is located in the face of the rear of the inside of the center console. Silverado gets push button start for the first time in 2019. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing up, and the buttons out (or however it will fit!).
the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. The pocket in 2021 Tahoe and Suburban models with a bench seat is also moved to this location, at the back of the console.
transmitter into the left side cup holder (second image below right).
message to Step on the Brake. Press the brake pedal very, very hard when trying to start the vehicle again to be sure that the release switch behind the pedal is engaged. Or wait a few minutes and try again.
Here we show three versions of the Check Gas Cap Indicator 
Because, if you ignore one of these lights, the Check Engine light will likely come on next. So, if you see this light, or the text image below, stop the vehicle in a safe place and make sure the gas cap is tightened properly (to at least one click).