Park Assist
These are Park Assist Systems 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. The gray scale version represents a more advanced system discussed below.
- But first, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then continue on below.
- Otherwise you can return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!
A problem in indicated If the symbols is seen in yellow/amber. See below. And that’s not all…
The systems use ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear to detect how close the vehicle is to surrounding objects. The first symbol itself is meant to show a “beam” detecting an object (the “traffic cone”) to help you park “P”. The cone is often been described by drivers as a sail.
More Versions
If the first symbol is illuminated or flashes in yellow/amber, there is a malfunction in the system or the sensors are dirty. The symbol may include an exclamation point. A good car washing may be all that is needed. The system has no impact on driving, so you may continue on your way, but do add extra care parking.
With the word OFF added, the system may simply have been turned off. If this is not intended, look for a switch with a matching symbol on it. If either of these indicators also flash, there is a malfunction in the system, which has turned it off.
A more advanced version offers the ability to actually find a parking space. When activated, the blue icon with the letter P inside will be seen. This Park Assist system then maneuvers the vehicle in to parallel and perpendicular parking spaces. The system controls the vehicle movement during a maneuver using the steering, acceleration, gear selection, and braking. The lamp illuminates blue when the park assist system is searching for a valid parking space, and can only be active when the vehicle’s speed is less than 18 mph (30 km/h).
Once again, this gray-scale version functions very much like the one above and is called Simple Advanced Parking Guidance System (S-APGS). It does not find spaces, but will control parking maneuvers once a spot is chosen. The system can handle parallel or back in parking.
If more than one valid space is displayed in the park assist screen, multiple icons will appear with an arrow to one side or the other. Touch the preferred parking space to change from the pre-selected parking space.
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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.
These are Stability Control Off Indicator 
Note that BMW uses what it calls 
The image to the left is very, very similar to an “OFF” indicator, except it is a NOT READY indicator. The indicator will most commonly be seen only on start up and should go out in a few seconds. It may stay on longer in cold conditions and will go out once the vehicle is warmed up. However, if it persists, there is clearly a problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.
These text symbols, or one matching one of the other acronyms, will be seen in some early model vehicles that use the system. Newer vehicles are more likely to use the picture symbol above.
This is a Dynamic Stability Control (
A flashing symbol likely means the system requires service. The inclusion of the ‘4 x 4’ is a variation in the appearance of the symbol used in 4-wheel drive vehicles.
These are the Supplemental Restraint System (
Yet another version, used by some European manufacturers, is a simple Air Bag text symbol, as shown at left. All versions warn of a failure in one of the air bags, which can only be repaired by your dealer or authorized service center.
These are Active or Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) Indicator 
More variations of the symbol shows a car seemingly being followed by a double arrow, the back one of which is open. It may also appear as simply lane lines around broken lines or broken lines alone. It will show in 
These additional indicators may or may not appear to have lines radiating like heat waves from the roof. They are meant intended to imply a forward looking radar. The system is active if this indicator is shown.
In the case of these two images, both in green, the vehicle is seen “open” in the first image. That is, the color is not filled in, indicating that there is no vehicle ahead. In the second, the vehicle is colored in, indicating a vehicle is in fact ahead. The third image adds a distance control feature. The number of lines indicates the distance that will be maintained. The more lines, the greater the distance.
This indicator version attempts to show just the top of a speedometer with an arrow indicating where the speed is set. It doesn’t appear to offer any additional information, useful or otherwise. It appears in gray scale in the vehicle’s information display.
Variously called Radar Controlled, Adaptive Cruise Control (
More advanced systems have the added capability of adjusting a vehicle’s speed to account for an approaching curve in the road. The symbols shown are variations that may appear on the instrument panel indicating that the speed is being adjusted, likely down.
The symbols on the far left add the exclamation point to the car and speedometer and is in amber. They indicate a problem with the Smart or Active Cruise Control system that your dealer will need to resolve. 
These symbols are meant to indicate that the system’s radar or camera is blocked. To the left is one showing an arrow pointing the front of the vehicle (or a rectangle or box with two lines in it!) and to the right is one with the familiar exclamation point next to a car with lines in front of it (or behind it). The same is true of the gray scale image on the right as it would appear in a message area on the instrument panel.
This the Cruise Control Indicator 
Alternatively, some manufacturers use the Text Symbol to the left, Cruise Main, to indicate that the cruise control system is turned on. Once a speed is set, it reverts to the Text Symbol to the right, Cruise Control.
Alternate
These are a Set Indicator symbol and a Set Speed symbol. Some manufacturers use Set to indicate that a speed has been chosen. The second will include the chosen speed, while the first may be used to indicate a system problem. It will blink if that is the case.
This symbol is a Tail or Stop Light Out Indicator 
These two versions are a Stop Light or Brake Lamp Out Indicator. They specifically point to a burned out brake light bulb. Again, the eyelashes pointing back are part of the equation, and the words STOP or BRAKE are there for obvious reasons. There may be a further message in the instrument panel noting the exact bulb. Again, have the light bulb replaced.
Also, don’t confuse the stop or tail light indicators with these symbols. Click