Tag: instrument panel

A brand new tech shows up in the Hyundai dashboard symbols update

Hyundai logoHyundai dashboard symbols update

FCEV, ESC, ISLA, N launch — these are all bits and pieces of the 11 new entries from our latest Hyundai dashboard symbols update. However, another stands out as a brand new self-driving technology.

First, we’ll explain the other additions already noted. FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) is an acronym now added to HEV (Hydrogen EV), both describing Hyundai‘s use of fuel cells. A new one was not needed.

ESC, or Electronic Stability Control is another way to say VSC or Vehicle Stability Control. Happily, Hyundai only uses the one.

ISLA is Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, an existing tech that Hyundai has just adopted.

N Launch belongs to Hyundai‘s N-line of Ionic EVs, which gives the cars a kick from a dead start. It sounds like fun — if you’re on a race track! But Lane Following Assist (LFA) is the one we want to highlight.

Lane following assist greenLane following assist in grayLane following assist in whiteLane Following

LFA is a system helps detect lane markings and/or a vehicle ahead on the road, and helps center the vehicle in the lane. It is essentially a light duty self driving system that is a step above lane keeping and behind hands free driving. In fact, the driver gets a hands-off warning and if he or she still does not have their hands on the steering wheel lane following assist is automatically canceled.

In use, if the vehicle ahead and/or both lane markings are detected and the vehicle speed is below 120 mph (200 km/h), the green indicator light is seen. Gray indicates that the lane markings are not detected or the vehicle is above speed. It appears in white when the system is cancelled.

The Hyundai owners manual goes on for several pages describing how to set up and use the system. We wonder if anyone will bother…

You can see it and the other 80+ symbols on our Hyundai symbols page here.

——————————————————————-

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/a-brand-new-tech-shows-up-in-the-hyundai-dashboard-symbols-update/

New entry to our Acronym Page

Acronym Page Update

We added a new set of indicators for a new system called Lane Following Assist (LFA). This resulted in a new entry to our acronym page.

Sometimes, a symbol or indicator seen on an instrument panel and hosted here on the site is in the form of a three or four letter Acronym or Abbreviation, as with the example. Auto manufacturers assume that any given driver knows exactly what these acronyms stand for.

ESC Sport indicator

This is almost never the case. The example to the right, ESC plus the word SPORT, is a new image we made to accommodate a new Hyundai warning light we had to make at the same time as the new Lane Following Assist post that was added.

So when we set up DashboardSymbols.com, one of the very first things we did was add a page of acronyms and the translations as a useful resource for drivers. Further, if the acronym is hosted as a separate entry, we provide a link to it.

The acronym page currently hosts some 230 acronyms, including LFA. The page is here.

——————————————————————-

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/new-entry-to-our-acronym-page/

2024 Buick Dashboard Symbols Update Comes with a Shock

Buick logoBuick Dashboard Symbols

We just finished updating our Buick Dashboard Symbols page, or at least we tried.

Generally, updating a manufacturer’s symbols page results in the addition of at least a half a dozen new symbols. This site now hosts over 1,000 symbols and telltales found on instrument panels.

In this case, and despite the introduction of a new model in 2024, the company is not using any new symbols! This is quite literally a first.

It also means that Buick models are not using any new systems in their vehicles. We are likely to get piled on in 2025!

Locked Out?

Envista door handleThat new model, the Envista, however, does introduce a new door handle with a new way to hide the key hole (right). You can find out how to get inside if the battery in the key fob dies here at this link.

——————————————————————-

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/2024/08/2024-buick-dashboard-symbols-update-brings-a-surprise/

Evasive Maneuver Warning Indicator

Evasive Maneuver

Evasive maneuver warningThis is an Evasive Maneuver Warning or Evasive Steering Assistance (ESA) indicator symbol.  Working with a vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ESA adds technical assistance to steering to aid in avoiding a collision. It effectively enhances a driver’s reflexes by adding extra steering torque and uses data from the vehicle’s front-mounted camera and radar sensors to calculate a safe path around the obstacle.

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

Overall benefits of the system are to help the driver avoid frontal collisions with other objects, guiding the driver to keep a safe path even after swerving, reducing the risk of losing control during an emergency maneuver and initiating braking to reduce the overall severity of a crash.

With all this said, we certainly suggest examining the symbol after the maneuver is completed. Meaning, this light, much like stability control lights, can itself be a distraction at a time when the vehicle needs the driver’s full attention.

——————————————————————-

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/evasive-maneuver-warning-indicator/

At Last a Useful Warning on an Automotive Instrument Panel!

A Useful Warning!

Today has been cold with light snow. Coupled with the salts dropped on the pavement, this made for very dirty spray all over everyone’s car, including mine.

As a result, when I slowed to park the warning below was displayed in the center of my instrument panel…

Clean sensors warning

We have railed for years about the uselessness of warning lights as well as too many of the notifications seen in message displays. Like here, or here. But this one lays it out perfectly!

The Warning

The Park Assist symbol in the upper left is accompanied by the warning that the system’s sensors are blocked and need to be cleaned! Exactly what the driver – me, in this case – needs to do, and exactly what would logical to expect!

As far as we at DashboardSymbols.com are concerned each and every warning light that appears on an instrument panel should be accompanied by instructions that are as specific as possible.

The car’s computer knows what is needed, and its high time it communicated with its driver properly. In most cases the fix will involve a qualified service shop, but at minimum the driver will have the knowledge necessary to communicate with that shop.

——————————————————————-

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/2024/01/at-last-a-useful-warning-on-an-automotive-instrument-panel/

The Ever-growing Dashboard Symbols Saga…

A Short History

Some 13 years ago when we started this site, we believed that the driving public had no idea what it was up against in trying to understand the warning lights and dashboard symbols being thrown at them by their car’s instrument panel.

We had no idea where this would lead.

The Symbols Count

We now host 986 (now over 1000!) of warning lights and indicators! Nine hundred and eighty six! Most are image-style indicators but there are also nearly 200 text indicators.

Every year we update the warning lights from 47 manufacturers who have or currently do sell vehicles in North America and we made the mistake of counting them last week.

If this sounds absurd to you, well we couldn’t agree more. The table below illustrates the problem.

Suspension symbols
Suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreDamping control fault indicatorSuspension setting symbol
More suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreSuspension malfunction indicator
Even more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreAir suspension protection indicator
Air suspension up indicatorYet more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreAir suspension down indicatorAir suspension fault indicator
Air suspension indicatorStill more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreAir suspension setting indicator
Suspension setting indicatorAnd still more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreSuspension mode indicator
Lowering indicatorYes still more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreRaising indicator
Alt trailer height indicatorYes still more suspension setting and malfunction indicators -- click for moreBed low indicator

If you count them, you’ll find 22 different images representing suspension systems. Essentially every manufacturer gets to choose an image style to use. Some include text, which is helpful, and others include a sketch of a vehicle, which is also helpful.

But note the pair that look like a hat with an arrow inside and others that don’t bear any resemblance to anything an average person can relate to!

Idiot lights, or tell-tales, as they are known only in the industry, were designed to help drivers who didn’t understand how to read a gauge and to get your attention. To those who actually did know how to read the gauges, and watched them like a hawk, the tell-tales came to be known as Idiot lights. And the term stuck.

However, in today’s vehicles, there could never be a corresponding gauge to compliment a Check Engine light, or the ABS (anti-lock brake) light for example. There actually could be a pressure gauge associated with air suspension systems represented by some of the symbols in the table. But the industry is long past gauges.

There may be 30 to 40 picture or text tell-tales on a modern instrument panel, each connected to some system in your car. We’ve counted as many as one hundred in some models! And they may illuminate in twos and threes if a problem is detected. That is, a problem with one system causes other systems that are dependent on the first to be shut off. Each of those systems will have an associated, and now illuminated, tell-tale. Today, a driver needs to be an automotive prodigy to know what’s going on.

We’ve called on the industry to trash this near useless system in the past in favor of the car actually telling a driver what’s up and what they can and can’t do. The information is in the vehicle’s computer, but is accessible only to technicians with the proper equipment.

There has been some talk of simplification, but we update the symbols in new cars every year, and when we’re done with 2024, we can assure you that another 30 to 50 symbols will be added to our pages.

We think you, the driver needs help and we are here to do just that. We ultimately hope that the way vehicles communicate with drivers is changed. In the meantime, if you are confused by the symbols that show up on your instrument panel, bookmark this site. We’ll do everything we can to help you not feel like an an “Idiot”!

——————————————————————-

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/2023/12/the-ever-growing-dashboard-symbols-saga/

Are You Seeing a Horseshoe-shaped Dashboard Warning Light?

What is the Horseshoe-shaped Dashboard Warning Light?

Its cold weather time again and time again to speak about the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and its associated warning light(s). Every year several million more drivers who have recently upgraded their cars will encounter the light for the first time.

Tire Pressure Monitor SymbolRare Tire Pressure Light w/ArrowsThese are two versions of the TPMS light, and either one is easily the most misunderstood warning light you’ll find on your instrument panel. And the fact that its shaped like a horseshoe doesn’t help.

First, unlike other yellow/amber lights, there is nothing wrong with your car — it presents you information about your tires and likely as not there’s nothing actually wrong with them either.

Why the Light Is On

There are two possible reasons why you are seeing this light. First, as the weather cools the most likely possibility is that all four of your tires are low on air (and/or the spare!). The second possibility is that one tire has a leak of some sort, but we’ll return to that in a moment.

Air expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Air that has cooled and contracted in your tires leads to reduced tire pressure. The warning light comes on and air needs to be added to your tires. Its important to note that air has not actually leaked out.

TPMS displayBut the warning light does not discriminate between cooling air and actual air leaks. It comes on if one tire is low or all four is low, so more information is needed. Your model may or may not include a display option like the one shown. It is a read out of the tire pressure in the individual tires. If all four tires read roughly the same, within a pound or two, the warning light is the result of seasonal cooling.

And while on the subject,  a thought for manufacturers. Every vehicle equipped with the tire pressure warning light simply must be equipped with this display. Leaving your customers in the dark by displaying the warning light only is unacceptable to us.

Now, if one tire is several pounds lower than the others, 5, 6 or 7 pounds or more, that tire is leaking and needs to be serviced as soon as possible.

If your vehicle is one that features only the warning light, the tire pressures need to be checked by hand to determine the cause — a single leak or seasonal reduction in all four.

If you’re not comfortable checking your tire pressures or with filling them, the good news is that pretty much every tire store, repair shop or car dealer will fill them for you at no cost. Its simple for them to do and they make a friend in the process, meaning more business from you down the road. Please drop in on one of them.

Tire pressure labelIf you are comfortable with checking your tire pressures and adding air, by all means do so. But you will first need to know the required tire pressure. Look for a label just below where the driver’s door latches. The required pressures will be shown. They will match left to right but will likely be a little different front to rear. Set the pressure on the pump and trust it. It will stop pumping once the proper pressure is reached. You may also find yourself using a pump with a built in gauge. Trust it as well and be sure to add your spare tire to the routine.

Each tire valve has a cap that needs to be unscrewed and removed. Don’t lose it — it keeps water and dirt out and will keep the valve from developing a leak.

Learn more about this warning symbol here.

——————————————————————-

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/2023/12/are-you-seeing-a-horseshoe-shaped-warning-light/