This is a combined Light and Rain Sensor Malfunction Indicator symbol used in Audi vehicles. It indicates a malfunction in either the automatic headlight system or the automatic windshield wiper system.
Before continuing, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
The headlights will remain in the low beam setting even if the switch is set to auto. The high beams are available in manual operation.
The windshield wipers also will function fully in manual mode, in either intermittent or full settings.
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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Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow.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
These are Windshield Wiper Failure Indicatorsymbols. The yellow/amber images of the windshield and wiper, one with the added exclamation point, means that the either the front or rear windshield wipers are inoperative, but does not help with additional diagnosis.
Before continuing, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
The fault could lie in the windshield wiper switch, the wiper motor, or within the wiring or connectors. Each component will need to be checked individually by your dealer or a qualified repair shop.
Similar Symbols
Do not confuse the symbol with any of these similar symbols to the right. Click here for more on the first one, and click here for more on the last 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.
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
Unless they appear in green or black and white, all of these symbols are various forms of an Automatic Windshield Wiper Fault Indicatorsymbol. Each is meant to point to a problem that has caused the automatic wipers to shut down. In white or green, they simply indicate that the system is active.
Before continuing, are you sure one of these is your symbol?? If yes, then read on below.
One manufacturer has chosen to combine the second symbol with the lane keeping indicator. They are shown in white or gray. In white, both the lane keeping and rain sensing systems are on. In gray, both systems are on but no lane markers are detected.
There is also this one from Audi which for some reason they use as an Automatic Headlight Dimmer Indicator as well. This looks like a hat or a lid open on one side with beams coming out of it to an oval shape.
All the images are in yellow/amber, which indicates a problem. Note that in all cases, the windshield wipers will continue to work, but will have to be operated manually. The automated systems work by sensing water on the windshield.
Starting on the top left, the image depicts a windshield with the wiper blade extended to one side. The word AUTO appears at the top. This offers easily the clearest message of the three, that there is a problem with the system that may or may not include a problem with the rain sensing gear.
The middle image also includes the windshield and wiper blade, but adds a water droplet on one side. It is also in yellow/amber, which, along with it being illuminated, is the only indication of a problem. The message here is that the rain or moisture sensor is likely dirty or blocked.
The last one is a puzzle. An exclamation point is shown next to what is a cloud with rain falling from it. One could imagine a driver believing that this is a weather forecast, given the sophisticated nature of today’s cars. Sadly, it too is meant only to indicate a problem with the rain sensor(s).
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
We recently took our first look at an Alfa Romeo. In the last two years they have new, more mainstream models, the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which boosted overall sales and begged for coverage.
First up we created our usual back-up open and start pages for push button start, since these new models are the first in the line up with the feature. We’ll find one for a video soon. We then took a look at their owner’s manuals in case there were any new tell tales to add. And that becomes the subject today.
We found no less than 12 new symbols or modifications of existing symbols in the cars and a new use for an existing symbol. That last one at least uses a pre-existing symbol as is.
Are These Necessary?
This continues to pointlessly swell the already absurd number of tell tales that drivers face on a day to day basis. And make no mistake, the industry from the manufacturer on down to retail employees expects drivers to be fully versed on these things. Here are some examples.
This is a dusk sensor failure indicator. In Alpha’s defense, it is at least a new system. But does the image of a light bulb really help here? The symbol points out that the vehicle’s automatic headlight system is inoperable despite being activated. However, these cars, as well as pretty much all others manufactured today, are fully capable of providing a clear text message such as this in the instrument panel instead. Why not?
This one is a rain sensor failure. We’ve seen this represented as a windshield with the wiper and a drop of water or as a similar symbol with the word AUTO (right). Any of these are meant to represent an automatic wiper system. But this new one could easily be mistaken for a weather forecast.
After all, there is this symbol (left), which warns of possible icy road conditions! This is, by the way, a modification of a preexisting tell tale (right) that leaves out the lane lines. Again, in both cases a message could be displayed in the instrument panel in plain language.
This one indicates a speed limiter failure. Now, lets consider that tell tales in general are meant to illustrate an automotive system in a way that can be easily understood by the general population. However, the incomplete circle with a dashed line inside is completely meaningless. This is a true warning light fail.
I won’t cover each one, but this one deserves mention because of its near complete lack of utility. It is the standard gas pump used as a low fuel warning for years, now with a line running through it. It is meant to indicate that the fuel has been shut off due to an accident. I can’t help but believe that if a driver has been in an accident severe enough for the car to shut off the fuel supply, it will be the last thing he or she will be concerned about. Plus it will only be illuminated if the key is left on!
And finally, since it was mentioned at the start, Alpha has given the image of the padlock straddling a car a new use. It will tell you that there was a failed attempt at a break in. If the break in was successful, I suppose it would be obvious. In any case, this one has some utility and at least went unmodified.
We are now approaching 300 distinct symbols or variations of symbols hosted at DashboardSymbols.com. We’ve argued much of this already but bears repeating: the entire system is all but useless. First, there are too many variations for drivers to be fully versed on period. Second, as already noted, today’s vehicles can point out a problem in plain, easily understood language. And fourth, since eyes belong on the road and not looking at symbols or text, the computing power exists for today’s cars to speak the problem and verbally even offer up additional information or solutions.
As far as we are concerned, if you can order a pizza from your car by voice, you should damn well be able to get real information about an ongoing problem. The car knows and the symbols are a futile attempt to communicate what it knows to its driver.
——————————————————————-
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 is a combined Light and Rain Sensor Malfunction Indicator symbol used in Audi vehicles. It indicates a malfunction in either the automatic headlight system or the automatic windshield wiper system.
These are Windshield Wiper Failure Indicator 
Do not confuse the symbol with any of these similar symbols to the right. 
Unless they appear in 
One manufacturer has chosen to combine the second symbol with the
Alfa Romeo Adds to Auto Symbol Overload
Too Many Symbols!
We recently took our first look at an Alfa Romeo. In the last two years they have new, more mainstream models, the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which boosted overall sales and begged for coverage.
First up we created our usual back-up open and start pages for push button start, since these new models are the first in the line up with the feature. We’ll find one for a video soon. We then took a look at their owner’s manuals in case there were any new tell tales to add. And that becomes the subject today.
We found no less than 12 new symbols or modifications of existing symbols in the cars and a new use for an existing symbol. That last one at least uses a pre-existing symbol as is.
Are These Necessary?
This continues to pointlessly swell the already absurd number of tell tales that drivers face on a day to day basis. And make no mistake, the industry from the manufacturer on down to retail employees expects drivers to be fully versed on these things. Here are some examples.
We are now approaching 300 distinct symbols or variations of symbols hosted at DashboardSymbols.com. We’ve argued much of this already but bears repeating: the entire system is all but useless. First, there are too many variations for drivers to be fully versed on period. Second, as already noted, today’s vehicles can point out a problem in plain, easily understood language. And fourth, since eyes belong on the road and not looking at symbols or text, the computing power exists for today’s cars to speak the problem and verbally even offer up additional information or solutions.
As far as we are concerned, if you can order a pizza from your car by voice, you should damn well be able to get real information about an ongoing problem. The car knows and the symbols are a futile attempt to communicate what it knows to its driver.
——————————————————————-
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