Deciphering the icons on the dashboard
drivers are alerted to the presence of a breakdown of various vehicle systems using icons on the instrument panel. It is not always possible to decipher the meaning of such burning icons intuitively, since not all drivers are well versed in cars. In addition, on different cars, the graphic designation of one total icon itself may differ. It is worth noting that not every light on the panel notifies only of a critical breakdown. The indication of the light bulbs under the icons is divided by color into 3 groups:
Red icons they talk about danger, and if any symbol lights up in this color, you should pay attention to the on-board computer signal in order to take measures to quickly fix the breakdown. Sometimes they are not so critical, and it is possible to continue driving the car when such an icon on the panel is on, and sometimes it is not worth it.
Basic icons on the dashboard
Yellow indicators warn of a breakdown or the need to take some action to drive a car or service it.
Green light bulbs inform about the service functions of the car and their activity.
Let's present a list of the most frequently asked questions and a breakdown of what the burning icon on the panel means.
Information icons
car icon it may light up differently, it happens that the “car with a wrench” icon, the “car with a lock” icon or an exclamation mark is on. About all these designations in order:
When such an indicator is on (car with key), then it informs about malfunctions in the operation of the internal combustion engine (often a malfunction in the operation of any sensor) or the electronic part of the transmission. in order to find out the exact cause, it will be necessary to carry out diagnostics.
Lit up red car with a lock, it means that there were problems in the operation of the standard anti-theft system, often such an icon means that the car does not see the immobilizer key and it will be impossible to start the car, but if this icon blinks when the car is closed, then everything is normal - the car is locked.
Yellow exclamation mark car indicator notifies the driver of a car with a hybrid ICE about a breakdown of the electric drive. Resetting the error by dropping the battery terminal will not solve the problem - diagnostics are needed.
Open door icon everyone is used to seeing it burning when a door or trunk lid is open, but if all the doors are closed, and a light with one or four doors continues to shine, then often the problem should be looked for in the door switches (wire contacts).
Slippery road icon starts flashing when the stability control system detects a slippery road section and is activated in order to prevent slipping by reducing the power of the internal combustion engine and braking the slipping wheel. There is no need to worry in such a situation. But when a key, a triangle or a crossed-out skid icon appeared near such an indicator, then the stabilization system is faulty.
Wrench icon pops up on the scoreboard when it's time to service the car. It is an informational indicator and after maintenance it is reset.
Warning icons on the panel
Steering wheel icon can light up in two colors. If the yellow steering wheel is on, then adaptation is required, and when a red image of the steering wheel with an exclamation mark appears, it is already worth worrying about the failure of the power steering system or the EUR. When the steering wheel is red, your steering wheel will probably become very difficult to turn.
Immobilizer icon, usually blinks when the machine is closed; in this case, the indicator of a red car with a white key signals the operation of the anti-theft system. But there are 3 basic reasons if the immo light is constantly on: the immobilizer is not activated, if the label from the key is not read or the anti-theft system is faulty.
Handbrake icon lights up not only when the handbrake lever is activated (raised), but also when the brake pads are worn out or when the brake fluid needs to be refilled / replaced. On a car with an electronic handbrake, the parking brake lamp may light up due to a glitch in the limit switch or sensor.
Coolant icon has several options and, depending on which one is on, draw conclusions about the problem accordingly. One red lamp with a thermometer scale indicates an increased temperature in the internal combustion engine cooling system, but a yellow expansion tank with waves indicates a low coolant level in the system. But it is worth considering that the coolant lamp does not always burn at a low level, perhaps just a “glitch” of the sensor or float in the expansion tank.
Washer icon indicates a low level of fluid in the expansion tank of the glass washer. Such an indicator lights up not only when the level actually drops, but also if the level sensor is clogged (the sensor contacts are covered with a coating due to poor-quality liquid), giving a false signal. On some cars, the level sensor is triggered when the specification of the fluid in the washer is not met.
ASR icon Is an indicator of the Anti-Spin Regulation. The electronic unit of this system is paired with ABS sensors. When such a light is constantly on, it means the ASR is not working. On different cars, such an icon may look different, but often in the form of an exclamation mark in a triangle with an arrow around or the inscription itself, or in the form of a typewriter on a slippery road.
Catalyst icon often lights up when the catalytic element overheats and is often accompanied by a sharp drop in ICE power. Such overheating can occur not only due to poor cell throughput, but also if there are problems in the ignition system. When the catalyst fails, then a large fuel consumption will be added to the burning bulb.
Exhaust gas icon according to the information from the manual, it means a breakdown in the exhaust gas purification system, but, usually, such a light starts to burn after poor refueling or an error in the lambda probe sensor. The system registers misfiring of the mixture, as a result of which the content of harmful substances in the exhaust gases increases and, as a result, the “exhaust gases” light is on on the dashboard. The problem is not critical, but the diagnosis should be made in order to find out the cause.
Reporting breakdowns
Battery icon lights up if the voltage in the on-board network drops, often such a problem is associated with a lack of battery charge from the generator, so it can also be called the “generator icon”. On vehicles with a hybrid ICE, this indicator is supplemented by the inscription "MAIN" at the bottom.
Oil icon, also known as a red oiler - indicates a drop in the oil level in the car's internal combustion engine. Such an icon lights up when the engine is started, and does not go out after a few seconds or may light up while driving. This fact indicates problems in the lubrication system or a drop in oil level or pressure. The oil icon on the panel can be with a droplet or with waves at the bottom, on some cars the indicator is supplemented with the inscription min, senso, oil level (yellow inscriptions) or simply the letters L and H (characterizing low and high oil levels).
Pillow icon can light up in several ways: both the red inscription SRS and AIRBAG, and the “red man wearing a seat belt”, and in front of him a circle. When one of these airbag icons is lit on the panel, this is the on-board computer notifying you of a breakdown in the passive safety system, and in the event of an accident, the airbags will not work. The reasons why the pillow sign lights up, and how to fix the breakdown, read the article on the site.
Exclamation mark icon may look different and its meanings, respectively, will also be different. So, for example, when a red (!) Light is on in a circle, this indicates a breakdown of the brake system and it is advisable not to continue driving until the cause of its appearance is clarified. They can be very different: the hand brake is raised, the brake pads are worn out, or the brake fluid level has dropped. A low level is just dangerous, because the reason may be not only in heavily worn pads, as a result of which, when you press the pedal, the liquid diverges through the system, and the float gives a signal of a low level, the brake hose may be damaged somewhere, and this is much more serious. Although, very often the exclamation mark lights up if the float (level sensor) is out of order or shorted out, and then it just lies. On some cars, the exclamation mark is accompanied by the inscription "BRAKE", but this does not change the essence of the problem.
also, the exclamation mark can burn in the form of an “attention” sign, both on a red background and on a yellow one. When the yellow “attention” sign lights up, it reports a breakdown in the electronic stabilization system, and if it is on a red background, it simply warns the driver about something, and, usually, an explanatory text is lit on the dashboard display or is combined with another informative designation .
ABS badge may have several display options on the dashboard, but regardless of this, it means the same thing on all cars - a malfunction in the ABS system, and that at this moment the anti-lock wheel system is not working. You can find out the reasons why the ABS does not work in our article. In this case, movement can be made, but it is not necessary to count on the operation of the ABS, the brakes will work as usual.
ESP icon It can either light up intermittently or burn constantly. A light bulb with such an inscription indicates problems with the stabilization system. The Electronic Stability Program indicator usually lights up for one of two reasons - either the steering angle sensor is out of order, or the brake light switch on sensor (aka “frog”) ordered to live for a long time. Although, there is a more serious problem, for example, the brake system pressure sensor has covered itself.
Internal combustion engine icon, some drivers may call it the "injector icon" or check, it may turn yellow when the internal combustion engine is running. It informs about the presence of internal combustion engine errors and breakdowns of its electronic systems. To determine the cause of its appearance on the dashboard display, self-diagnosis or computer diagnostics are performed.
Glow plugs icon can light up on the dashboard of a diesel car, the meaning of such an indicator is exactly the same as the “check” icon on gasoline cars. When there are no errors in the memory of the electronic unit, the spiral icon should go out after the internal combustion engine warms up and the glow plugs are turned off. How to check glow plugs read here.
This material is informative for most car owners. And although absolutely all the possible icons of all existing cars are not presented here, you will be able to independently understand the basic designations of the car dashboard, and do not sound the alarm when you see that the icon on the panel is lit again.
