Tag: dashboard symbol

A/T Park Warning Indicator Symbol

A/T Park

This is an A/T Park (Automatic Transmission) (P) Indicator Warning symbol. This light comes on when a vehicle’s 4 wheel drive shifter is in neutral (N). A drive gear cannot be engaged until either the 4 Low or the 4 High option is chosen.

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The light will also be active when there is a malfunction in the Park mechanism of the transmission. If this is the case, the vehicle must be inspected by your dealer or authorized service center as soon as possible.

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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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

Marc 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

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/12/at-p-indicator-symbol/

Brake Hold Indicator Symbols

Brake Hold

These are Brake Hold Indicator and the Automatic Hold Indicator symbols. The lights describe systems that keeps the brakes applied when the vehicle is stopped and other conditions are met. They indicate that the system is on and functioning properly. The image is the circle between brackets used as a standard for brakes, which may hold the letter A or H inside for automatic or hold.

Before continuing, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then read on.
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Special note: If brake hold is activated when coming to a stop in a automated car wash, there will be a problem with the car moving. Shifting in and out of gear should release the hold!

Many More Versions

Note that some manufacturers use the gray or black and white to indicate that the brake is actively keeping the vehicle from rolling away! That is, it senses a force trying to move the vehicle while it is not in park. Alternatively, it may indicate that the system is active and will turn green when actually holding the vehicle in place.

In an electric vehicle (EV), the Park function is supplied by the brakes. So, when placing the car in Park, it is effectively in Auto Hold mode. To that end, the symbol to the left may be seen, indicating that the vehicle is secure. Note as well that the activation button or lever is also used to activate the emergency brake.

Depending on the vehicle’s manufacturer, when in actual use, the indicator may show Hold or Brake Hold, as shown to the left. The brakes are released when the driver steps on the accelerator while in a drive gear. They are generally seen in green.

Also in green is another set from a system called Auto Vehicle Hold or AVH. The AVH indicator states that the system is active and available. The circle in brackets, which is a common combination intended to indicate brake components, in this case shows that the vehicle is in fact being held.

The word or words in yellow/amber or the Hold indicator in red indicate a fault in the system. It may include an exclamation point. Find a qualified service shop as soon as possible. And finally, a line through the words indicates that the system is temporarily unavailable. The light will return to green when the system returns to normal use.

This is another pair of symbols, again starting in green and moving to yellow/amber. The symbols include the image of a hand, palm out. In green, the system in available. In yellow/amber, the system is not available. This may or may not indicate a system problem. If the light persists, see your dealer or qualified repair shop.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/12/brake-hold-indicator-symbol/

Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Brake Assist (BAS) Trouble Indicator

ESP/BAS

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 as soon as possible.

Before moving on, are you sure this is your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
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ESP is what one manufacturer calls its Stability Control System. Click this link to learn more. BAS helps in emergency braking situations when the driver can’t push the brake pedal hard enough. A sensor recognizes the attempt at full braking and transmits the signal calling for full brake pressure from the hydraulic booster reducing the vehicle’s stopping distance.

This is essentially the same as the BAS/ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) system, but do match the acronyms. You can learn more about BAS/ASR here.

The systems are all electronic enhancements. The enhancements will not be available until repairs are performed. However, the brakes will operate normally and the vehicle will be safe to drive. Do so with care.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/11/esp-bas-trouble-indicator/

Electronic Throttle Control Indicator

Electronic Throttle

This is the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Indicator symbol. This light, a lightning bolt between reversed brackets or parenthesis, will illuminate if there is a problem in the electronic throttle control system. It may be seen in red or yellow/amber. As an electronic system, it can sometimes be reset by restarting the car, much or exactly like re-booting a computer.

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If the system and the light do not reset with a restart, the vehicle should be drivable, but your dealer or authorized service center will need to service the system soon.

Note however, that if your vehicle does not operate normally, contact roadside assistance right away.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/11/electronic-throttle-control/

Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) Off Indicator

Brake Assist

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 sensors are clean, but only when it is safe to do so.

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

Another manufacturer calls this Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) but does not feature a warning light for it. Regardless, the vehicle can still be driven safely if the system is inoperable, but your dealer or authorized repair center will need to service it.

These systems are all moving in the direction of automatic braking, which all manufacturers have promised to install in all passenger vehicles by roughly 2020. There is more information on automatic braking here.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/11/intelligent-brake-assist-iba-off-indicator/

Blind Spot Monitor Warning or System Symbols

Blind Spot Monitor

These are Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) Warning or Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Blind Spot Alert (BSA) System (left) or BLind spot Information System (BLIS) (right) or Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) symbols. Yet another instance of essentially identical systems end up with manufacturer-dependent names for reasons that are not at all clear.

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The light or symbol, often seen on the far corners of outside mirrors themselves, will illuminate when a vehicle is detected in the blind spot. Also seen on mirrors are simple yellow/amber lines in many models.

The light will flash while the turn signal is operated. Manufacturers who employ the light on the instrument panel also employ an indicator lamp on the inside of the mirror to draw attention to side of the vehicle being intruded upon.

The systems monitor the areas on either side of the vehicle just behind the driver and front passenger for unseen vehicles and obstructions. The indicator lights look like vehicles pointing a beam at another vehicle, which is pretty much what it is doing.

Note that these systems are evolving to active duty. That is, if an obstructive is detected in the area covered, the vehicle will move itself out of the way (Blind Spot Intervention above).

Many More Versions

System problems are generally indicated by a separate alert and text message in the instrument panel. These may include the Blind Spot Alert Malfunction indicator at the left. The word OFF added to the image means that the option has been switched off or has malfunctioned. The last two also indicate a malfunction one in red and the other with a line through, but still in yellow/amber/orange. A malfunction will not effect any driving systems, so you may continue on your way. Blind Spot Monitoring will not be available, however.

This version displays only the sensors used for blind spot detection. If seen in black and white, as shown here, the system is unavailable, likely because the sensors are dirty. A text message will be seen with the symbol in the information screen. If the system is working properly, the symbol will be displayed in green.

Alternatively or in conjunction with the symbols above, text symbols with the acronym BSM, or Blind Spot Monitor, or BSM OFF, may be seen on the instrument panel. BSM alone in green simply indicates the system is on. On of the symbols above will be seen in the outside mirrors themselves.

BSM alone and in yellow/amber indicates a problem with the system. If on continuously, BSM OFF indicates the system has been turned off. If flashing, BSM OFF indicates a problem with the system. See your dealer or authorized service center for repairs. The vehicle can be driven without the benefit of the advanced system.

This one is used by Audi. It may be the clearest concept, in that it is the image of a car in a mirror! It is the Audi Side Assist Indicator, and, if seen, points to a fault in the system. When the light is on, the assist system is inoperative and will not detect vehicles alongside your car. Find a dealer or authorized repair station soon.

Some manufacturers use an indicator in gray scale is seen when the system is activated. It uses large triangles on either side of an image of a vehicle to show the area covered by sensors. If there is a system problem, a text message will appear. Both are seen in the center information display.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/11/blind-spot-warning-system-symbol/

Daytime Running Lamps Symbols

Running Lamps

These are the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) symbols. One of these lights will be on in green with small dots or lines radiating out from an oval shape intended to represent a lamp whenever the running lamps are switched on. A DRL system is required on all vehicles sold new in Canada. The system causes the low-beam headlamps to be turned on when the car is being operated in daylight. So, why are they green?

But first, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page or Text Symbols page and scan again!

In some European models, the text symbol DRL is shown when the running lights are in use. They are active when the light switch is off and the ignition is on. The green color is meant only to show that the lights are on and working.

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Marc Favreau

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2010/11/daytime-running-lamps-symbol/