Car Dashboard Symbols and Meanings | The Complete Guide

The warning lights on car dashboard are designed to inform you in advance if there is a problem with your vehicle. If you know what the car dashboard symbols mean, you can take precautions in advance to prevent accidents in your vehicle. So, you can both prevent malfunctions that may occur in your vehicle and protect your safety.

The car dashboard symbols turn on both when there is a malfunction in your car, but also if any of your car’s systems are working or there is any conditions which you need to check in your car.

In addition, the warning lights can also be on in the cases of occurring losing air of your vehicle tire and malfunction in the engine system.

These malfunction warning lights appear in different colors according to the the seriousness of malfunction. You can decide the first thing to be done related to your vehicle easily by indicating urgency of malfunction degree in your vehicle based on these colors.

Degree of urgency based on colors:

Red Warning Lights indicate a potentially serious problem. Also it indicates the problem must be checked immediately by a professional.

On the other hand, a red light might also make a reminder the driver that the time of service maintenance has come.

Yellow or Orange Warning  Lights indicate the problem should be checked in the shortest time possible.

 

Blue or Green Warning Lights illuminate to inform the driver. For example headlights switched on or cruise control works.

The most emergency warnings in car dashboard symbols are appeared in red. In this case, you should stop your vehicle as soon as possible by pulling it to the side so as will not to create a danger to traffic. According to malfunction lights, you should take an action.

For example, illuminating of engine temperature warning light means that the engine is overheated. If you continue to drive your vehicle in this state, more financial damage can be suffered.

This writing will tell you which in warnings what you need to do;

The yellow and orange warning Lights turn on when there is a less serious problem. If the yellow and orange warning Lights turn on, you can continue down the road. But it advises that the problem should be checked in the shortest time possible in order to not cause bigger malfunction.

To know what means what each of the colors mentioned above, will guide you to understand you what’s going wrong on in your vehicle. But, knowing what means what each of the colors does not solve the problem and only inform you about the seriousness of malfunction in your vehicle

You need to also know symbols on Car Dashboard to understand you what’s going on in your vehicle apart from means of colors.

Car Dashboard Symbols and Meanings

Important: If you do not know what the warning lamp on in your car means, you can ask your questions in the comment section at the bottom of the page. I try to answer all your questions on a daily basis. Don’t forget to check out the comments.

What do the symbols on the Car Dashboard Mean?

Each of the symbols on the Car Dashboard indicates a system in your vehicle. These symbols are controlled by the brain of car.

The brain illuminates the related symbol on the Car Dashboard in the event of a malfunction or to indicate that any system is functioning.

Let’s see what the most common warning lights on the car dashboard lights mean;

1-) It is a warning lights that indicates that the Front Fog Light is on.

2-) It is a warning lights that indicates that the Rear Fog Light is on.

3-) Signal Light

• If you want to signal left, you need to push the turn lever download. So, the left side of signal light flashes on and off.
• If you want to signal right, you need to push the turn lever up. So, the right side of signal light flashes on and off.

4-) Indicates that the long beamed headlights are on.

5-) It is a warning lamp that lights are on.

6-) It will be on when there is a fault in any lighting system.

7-) Lights up if any of the brake light bulbs malfunction.

8 -) Headlamp level control lamp. Illuminates when a condition other than the appropriate lighting level occurs. It is recommended to check it to the appropriate level.

9-) It means that the adaptive headlight system is switched on.

10-) Shows that the short beam lights are on.

11-) Battery charge warning light

This dashboard symbol means that your car’s charging dynamo is a problem and that your car only works with the battery.

Whatever the cause of the battery warning, the safest option is once again to take your car to the service station and to the car to check for the fault. When you are in trouble, turn off your radio and air conditioning system and consider going to the repair shop safely.

Click for detailed information: What Does The Car Battery Warning Light On The Dashboard Mean?

12-) It is mostly located on automatic vehicles and is a warning lamp that reminds you to press pedal to operate the vehicle.

13-) Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Warning Light:

The particulate filter is the part of the exhaust gases that pollute the air that is blown out and allows the less harmful gas to be thrown out. This lamp is located on the diesel vehicle and shows that when it is lit, your vehicle is blocked by the exhaust system or due to different substances.

When the diesel particulate filter is on, you may notice that your car has fallen into a draft. If it is too clogged, your vehicle may stop occasionally. Your car’s exhaust emission values may rise. If you use the car for 10-15 minutes at high speeds while the car is running, the soot can be cleaned and the lamp may go out. If it does not go off, you are recommended to go to the service.

14-) Catalytic Convertor Warning Light:

The catalyst system has been developed to reduce environmental pollution. The task of this system is to re-ignite harmful gases emitted by the combustion end of unleaded gasoline cars for a second time. Thereby discharging less harmful gas. If you see this lamp burning in your instrument panel, it is recommended to go to the service as soon as possible.

15-) This warning lamp goes ON very frequently due to adverse conditions in the fuel together with the burning. This lamp is lit when the water level of the fuel filter is detected.

16-) This warning lamp is informing that change of air filter should be cleaned.

17-)Engine Temperature Warning Light

Indicates that the engine is overheating the coolant. One of the three most important warning lamps in your car is the (Others Oil Lamp and Charging Lamp).

Click for detailed information : What Does the Engine Temperature Warning Light Mean?

When you see this red lamp on your car’s instrument panel, you should stop your vehicle as soon as possible and wait for the engine to cool to its proper temperature. Even if your car is cold, it is not recommended that you continue in this situation. It is recommended that you take your car to the nearest service. If you keep driving your car while this lamp is on, you can cause great financial damage to your car’s engine.

18-) It goes ON when the fuel filter is defective. Malfunction may occur after the use of poor quality fuel. It is advisable to change the fuel filter in the event of a malfunction.

19-) Fuel Indicator Symbol: It is the warning light that goes ON when your car is low on fuel. When this lamp is lit, it indicates that you have fuel in your depot at varying rates depending on your brand name. This amount of fuel is written in the manual of your vehicle. The fuel in the depot is lit when the average is between 5 and 8 liters.

20-) Oil Pressure Warning Lamp:

Oil is the lifeblood of your car. The entire engine system works thanks to lubrication. It’s like the water need for the human body. The most important is the warning lamp, which requires immediate action. If this lamp lights up, your car’s oil level is low. You should stop your vehicle as soon as possible and check the oil level after you have cooled off your engine. You must not drive your vehicle with in this light.

21-) Check Engine or Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL):

Engine malfunction warning light. It is one of the most frequently lit lamps. Most vehicles have 2 levels. If the light keeps ON and remains stable, it should be taken at some serious level. However, if the light is flashing it indicates a more serious problem and it is advisable to take the service to the car without driving.

The engine malfunction lamp can be lit for a number of reasons. The most common is the advance setting and the engine system is switched on and the result is lit when the vehicle is not properly installed. Other common causes may include; poor quality fuel, lambda sensor malfunction, catalytic converter malfunction, egr malfunction.

Click for detailed information : Check Engine Light: What Does It Mean and How to Reset ? (The Complete Guide)

22-) It is on when the brake pads are nearing completion or close. This warning lamp is mostly found in new model vehicles. Control of brake pads is recommended as soon as possible.

23-) It is a warning lamp on automatic vehicles that indicates that the brake pedal must be pressed to operate the vehicle.

24-) Air Suspension Warning Light

25-) This warning light is on when there is a suspension malfunction in your vehicle.

26-) This warning lamp illuminates when there is a fault in the vehicle system in automatic vehicles.

27-) A lane that gives information about weather outside the vehicle. If the outside temperature is between 0 ° C and + 4 ° C, it lights in red if it is yellow and below 0 ° C.

28-) Sensor that adjusts the lighting of the headlight system in rainy weather.

29-) Lights when the windscreen defrost feature is turned on.

30-) Lights up when the rear window defrost feature is turned on.

31-) The warning lamp informs that the rain sensor is activated.

32-) It is a car display showing the wiper system is in automatic setting.

33-) Glow Plug Warning Light:

 This warning light is located on diesel vehicles and is the part that sets the ignition required for the vehicle to operate. The ignition in petrol vehicles is made by the spark plug while in diesel vehicles it is done by the heating plug in cold weather. If your vehicle does not work during cold weather and this fault lamp is lit, the heating busses are not functioning and must be replaced.

Click for detailed information: Glow Plug Warning Light: What does Glow Plug Light Mean?

34-) It is one of the car indicators that winter mode is on.

35-) It is a warning light that measures the distance to follow by the sensors found in today’s upper class vehicles and lights up when the level of conformity is exceeded.

36-) It is a warning lamp that indicates that the specified speed has been exceeded.

37-) It is a warning lamp that lights up when the lane change is made without using the signal in the vehicles produced by today’s technolgy.

38-) A warning lamp that lights up when an individual door is open or closed, including luggage in your car.

39-) Buzzer for beet Warning Light

40-) It is a tyre pressure lamp.

41-) A signboard that warns that the vehicle key is not nearby.

42-) On automatic-gear vehicles, lights up when you shift the gear position to park. (P)

43-) Parking aid system warning lamp in new technological vehicles

44-) Steering lock warning lamp

45-) Airbag malfunction lamp. When this lamp is lit, the airbag system is not functioning. You are advised to go to the service.

46-) It is a lamp to show that the system is designed to burn less fuel and the vehicle has a system that reduces the gas response slightly.

47-) Hand Brake Warning Light:

It’s a warning light to show that the handbrake is ON.

48-) Airbag Warning Lamp:

It’s a warning light to indicate that the airbag is not ON.

49-) ABS brake system warning lamp. ABS indicates that the brake system is not active. It is advised to remove the fault as soon as possible for your safety.

50-) Indicator light to indicate that the cruise control is activated.

51-) It is a warning lamp that indicates that the engine bonnet is open.

52-) Warning lamp that indicates that the rear lid is open.

53-) The warning lamp informs that the ignition key is faulty.

54-) Vehicle warning light informing the user that the windshield washer liquid has decreased or run out.