Tag: hybrid

We’ve got another owners manual fail, this one from Ford

Ford logoOwners manual fail

Another owners manual fail. has cropped up during our Ford symbols update. We’ve seen similar oversights in Mazda, Kia and Lincoln manuals as we get through our updates. In essence, we’re finding symbols deep inside the documents that are not shown in the original list of symbols assembled near the beginning of the manual.

This one is a little different as there is one symbol shown early on page 112 to represent a High Voltage Fault, which is not seen again, but is rather replaced deeper in the doc on page 180 by another that is given the same description. The indicators belong to the high voltage battery system associated with the Escape Hybrid.

We’re repeating ourselves here, but this trend needs to end!

The shared description is “It illuminates if your vehicle has an electrical component fault or failure that causes your vehicle to shutdown or enter a limited operating mode. A message may appear in the instrument cluster display.”

Master warning 3EV system failure indicatorThe first one shown is a version of the Master Warning Light, which is a red triangle with an exclamation point inside. The second has become the more traditional EV system failure indicator, which has too many variations, but is essentially a vehicle with an exclamation point inside it.

This is not as large a mistake as other manufacturer’s have made, but it is effectively impossible to know which indicator with appear if a problem occurs. We’ve included both in our list and the EV Warning Page here.

Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.

At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble – a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.

Our page covering Ford indicators, currently under update, 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 could be more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2024/12/weve-got-another-owners-manual-fail-this-one-from-ford/

Can zero-emission vehicles hit the California 35% by model year 2026? Toyota NA says no!

EV logoZero-emission vehicle sales in California

As reported by InsideEVs, zero-emission vehicle sales in California is mandated by the state’s Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II to reach 35% of new vehicle sales by model year 2026. Toyota Motor NA’s (North America) chief operating officer says the EV regulations would be “impossible” to meet, despite the fact that the standard can include a mix of plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell models as well as battery electric vehicles.

Not just EVs! In fact, EVs alone in California currently hold a 22% share of the new car market. So far through September. Two years to 35% seems quite doable once hybrids and fuel cell models are included. Not to mention the fact that the EV share is double what it was in 2022.

EV Resistance

Legacy manufacturers remain resistant to the changeover to EVs. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is the lack of service revenue. I personally have not spent a nickel in a dealership service department in going on four years.

Another large bit of resistance comes from sales people, who despise spending time with customers after a sale to explain new technology — even in internal combustion powered vehicles. Salespeople want to move on to the next sale.

Elon Musk was right to avoid the traditional dealership model in favor of direct Tesla sales. Further, Tesla pays little or no commission on sales, leaving well paid personnel to spend all the time in the world helping new EV owners.

Unfortunately resistance is likely to continue and its difficult to see where the tide tide truly turns. One would think the lack of expensive required maintenance and the ability to leave every morning with a full “tank” would be more than enough. Certainly, coupled with current incentives, it seems to us that major inroads have been made.

Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.

At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble – a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.

InsideEVs’ X post on the subject 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/2024/11/can-zero-emission-vehicles-hit-the-california-35-by-model-year-2026-toyota-na-says-no/

Its got to be the plug. Its about the plug!

Charge image 2About the plug

A friend passed along a New York Times article titled Should I Get a Hybrid or Go Full Electric? The title is linked. After reading it, and combined with additional information that was already running around my head, I emailed him back remarking that its all about the plug!

Two hybrids

The article explains the two types of hybrids: conventional and plug-in. Conventional hybrids have a battery that powers an electric motor to augment the gasoline engine. It also incorrectly seems to suggest that energy from braking alone charges the battery, when in fact the gasoline engine charges the battery continuously.

A plug-in hybrid has a larger battery that can powering car solely with electricity for short distances, on average 40 to 50 miles. And they can be charged using the same Level 1 or Level 2 chargers that EVs use. High power Level 3 charging is off the table, which the article misses.

But this is not intended as a critique of the article…

So, back to the point. The battery in a plug-in hybrid will be charged by the gasoline engine if its power is drained, operating exactly as a conventional hybrid.

Imagine you are the owner of a plug-in hybrid. Theoretically, if you drive less than the battery’s range, you can go indefinitely with using any gasoline. What’s needed now is a convenient place to plug in, and the willingness to, in effect, manage an EV!

Further, in the scenario described, a plug-in hybrid needs to be plugged in daily. A full EV only needs a charge maybe once or twice a week!

This is what was rummaging through my mind. The European auto market is down, way down, and only one segment one segment is up, albeit slightly. And its the conventional hybrid market.

Its all about the plug!

Plugging in is the change. As a people, we’ve grown accustomed to driving and stopping randomly for a fill-up. The plug is the change of religion. Everything else is essentially the same: a steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and on and on and on.

Hybrid Charging Station SignIn the interim, the EV market continues to grow, and despite problems in Europe, faster than anyone imagined, exposing more and more drivers to the “new” religion.

The last hurdle will ultimately be more places to actually use the plug!

Heck, even EVs have warning lights. Lots of them. See our page 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/2024/09/its-got-to-be-the-plug-its-about-the-plug/

Battery charge and warning symbols count on our page now at 14

Battery Charge and Warning Symbols

After a Volvo symbols update, our EV, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Battery Charge and Warning Symbols page now holds 14 images! And it is hardly the most prolific page! This is primarily because the automotive industry lacks discipline — or someone to apply that discipline — and continues the absurdity that is automotive dashboard symbols, telltales and indicators. Our pages now hold well over 1,000 distinct versions!

Hybrid battery holding chargeHybrid battery chargingThe Volvo update added two black and white versions (right), bringing the total to six of the 14. We certainly feel obligated to include them, as a driver needs to know that they are looking at exactly what they see on their instrument panel in order to feel confident about the information being given to them.

And note that the second symbol with the padlock is said to be an indicator that the hybrid battery is holding its charge! Isn’t that what its supposed to do??

Despite calls for uniformity and promises of such, auto manufacturers continue to forge their own paths when designing indicators. The addition of information displays on instrument panels has prompted the new assortment of black and white entries. Fortunately, this usually — but not always — include a text message explaining what the indicator is trying to tell the driver.

We’re pretty comfortable saying that oftentimes these messages are less than helpful.

You can see our EV, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Battery Charge and Warning Symbols page 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/2024/08/battery-charge-and-warning-symbols-count-on-our-page-now-at-14/

Hybrid Vehicle Operation Mode Dashboard Indicators

EV Mode Indicators

EV mode indicatorHybrid mode standbyThis and the images that follow below are Hybrid EV Mode Indicator symbols. They are related to the operational state of a hybrid vehicle. The first two indicate that the EV Mode is switched on and operating when in green, but is unavailable when shown in gray scale. Availability depends on factors such as the state of the battery’s charge, outside temperature, vehicle speed, etc., depending on manufacturer.

  • Before moving on, is one of these truly your symbol??
  • If not, you can return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!

EV mode unavailable indicatorThe same basic image as above with a line drawn through it indicates that EV mode is not available, again because the proper conditions are not met. It may also mean that a destination may have been chosen in navigation that exceeds the hybrid battery range.

eDrive indicatorThe text only symbol, eDRIVE, is found in hybrid systems that switch between using the internal combustion engine, the high voltage battery, or a combination of both automatically when conditions warrant. It will be displayed when the vehicle is under battery power alone.

eBoost indicatorThis text only symbol, eBoost, will be displayed when a hybrid vehicle is under extreme acceleration, such as in passing situations. It indicates that the high voltage battery is in full use to support or Boost the acceleration.

Combustion engine operation indicatorThis symbol, also in black and white features a drawing of an internal combustion (IC) engine with an embedded circular arrow. It indicates that the hybrid vehicle is operating on the IC engine alone.

Battery hold indicatorThis image indicates that use of the high voltage battery is on hold. The vehicle will operate using the IC engine predominantly in order to maintain the charge level in the high voltage battery. It too is in black and white.

Automatic hybrid operationAutomatic hybrid operation indicatorThese two are related as they both indicate that hybrid operation is in automatic mode. The second adds a slightly misshapen triangle underneath which indicates that the navigation system is active and that navigation data is being taken into consideration.

Auto charge modeCharge modeEV modeThis set of indicators come from Honda Motors Corp. found in their Hybrid vehicles: Auto Mode, Charge Mode, and EV mode. In Auto Mode, the vehicle selects which propulsion source is most appropriate, the electric motor, the gasoline engine, or a combination of the two and automatically switches to it. In Charge Mode, the engine starts and the High Voltage battery charges. In EV mode, the vehicle is propelled exclusively by the electric motor, so long as the battery has sufficient charge. And to the extent of battery charge, these modes can be chosen at will by the driver.

Battery assist 1Battery assist 2Battery assist 3These final three images are associated with what is termed a Mild Hybrid System, which uses a smaller, 48-volt battery to assist the driveline. The first image is displayed when the battery is supplying power. The second indicates that the battery is supporting high acceleration. The third image indicates that power from the mild hybrid system is unavailable.

The images are truly meaningless without explanatory text. A knobby outside circle with another circle inside? And what do the two lines top right and the three bent ones lower left mean? The last one is essentially a cross out and is the only one of any use — if you already know the meaning of the first two!

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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/2021/09/hybrid-vehicle-operation-mode-indicators/

Hybrid Operation Indicator

Hybrid Operation

This is a Hybrid Operation Indicator symbol. It says that a hybrid vehicle is being powered by both the gasoline and the electric motors, rather than the electric motor alone (see Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode).

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

Its appearance is that of the outline of a car with the letters HV inside.

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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/2019/06/hybrid-operation-indicator/

Lincoln Videos: Handling Dead Key Fob Batteries

How to Open, Start and Replace Fob Batteries in Lincoln Vehicles

We now have ten videos offering help to Lincoln drivers who’s key fobs or remote controls have gone dead

There is some crossover to some Ford models, but they have their own page here!

Just added a video covering all Lincoln models.

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Here is an update for MKX drivers.

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Here’s a 2017 Lincoln MKZ — watch for the quirks!

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This video stars the updated (2017) Lincoln Continental.

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This video is for Ford Mustang, Fusion and Edge, including the hidden key hole, but also covers 2014 and newer Lincoln MKZ and MKZ Hybrid.

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This video will help with Lincoln Navigator as well as the Ford Taurus, Flex and Expedition.

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Video help for the Lincoln MKT and 2013 MKZ Hybrid as well as the Ford Explorer, Edge and Fusion.

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A video exclusive to the Lincoln MKC.

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A video of us replacing the batteries in an early style Ford or Lincoln dead key fob or remote control, updated.

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And another video of us replacing the battery in a different Ford/Lincoln key fob or remote control.

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This one has us replacing the battery in the newest Ford and Lincoln key fob.

Models covered include the Aviator, Corsair, MKC, MKX, MKT, Nautilus, Hybrid, Navigator, MKZ, and Continental.

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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/2018/09/lincoln-video-help-with-dead-key-fob-batteries/