Designation of bulbs on the dashboard

In modern cars, the necessary information about the operation of all systems is displayed on the dashboard. For example, the fog lights icon indicates that they are working, when the dimensions are turned on, another light comes on, etc. There are also symbols warning about malfunctions, if they light up, it is better to stop and not continue driving. It is important to understand the basic notation, this will ensure driving convenience and save you from many problems.

The meaning of the lights on the dashboard

All indicators can be divided into several groups depending on their purpose. This simplifies the orientation in the signals and allows you to quickly understand what this or that symbol is talking about. First of all, it is worth understanding the colors of the bulbs, this is the easiest way to navigate in any unforeseen situation, even if the exact meaning is not clear.

In modern cars, a large number of indicators can be used.

Designating panel icon colors

This marking option is used by all automakers, which simplifies the operation of the driver, who first sat behind the wheel of a car. It is conditionally possible to divide the color indication into three segments:

1. Red lights indicate serious malfunctions or breakdowns. If one of these icons lights up, you need to stop and find out the cause or tow the car to the nearest diagnostic station. If you continue to drive, the whole system may fail, and in some cases it creates a danger to surrounding drivers.
2. Green and blue options suggest that one way or another system is turned on and working normally. These are information elements that do not warn of danger and are needed to control the operation of the equipment.
3. Yellow as well as orange warn the driver of malfunctions or malfunctions that can lead to serious damage if not taken care of. In many modern cars, such signals are accompanied by the transition of the engine to emergency mode, which limits speed and dynamics. Therefore, you should not ride with such indicators.

When starting up, a lot of lights come on, this is normal.

When buying a car, you should pay attention to the light bulbs on the panel. And if the car has already been purchased, you need to study the instructions in order to know what icons are in this model and what they usually mean.

Fog lights, dipped beam and other indicators of the lighting system

These symbols are most often used when driving, as they serve to alert you to the operation of the light signaling and lighting system. The main elements are:

1. Two green arrows can be either together or separately.They work when the direction indicator is on in the corresponding direction. If both flash at the same time, the alarm is in operation.
   Turn indicators on the VAZ 2110
2. A green headlight with beams that crosses a wavy line suggests that the fog lights are on. Moreover, there may be separate indicators for the front and rear of the machine, they are distinguished by color.
   A universal option that denotes fog lights in almost all cars.
3. Two small green headlights, directed in different directions, signal the working parking lights.
   The marker lights are on.
4. The blue headlight symbol appears when the high beam headlights are switched on.
   High beam is on.
5. The light bulb symbol is usually the headlight symbol on the dashboard. He suggests that the dipped beam is working. In many models, after the ignition is turned off, a signal is triggered so that the driver does not forget to turn off the light.
   The low beam indicator may also look like this.
6. If a yellow or green signal lights up in the form of a lamp with an exclamation mark inside, or a crossed out symbol, this indicates a malfunction of one of the elements.

New cars may have additional signals that warn about the automatic switching on of the light, the activation of the adaptive lighting system, malfunctions of the corrector, etc.

Malfunction indicators

This group is intended to warn of failures with which it is better not to drive. Most often on the panel you can see the following symbols:

1. battery icon. Always on when starting the engine, after it goes out. If the light bulb continues to work, this may be due to several reasons.Most often, the problem is a discharged battery, an insufficient charge level of the generator, or a weak drive belt tension.
2. Letters SRS or the symbol of a passenger with an airbag on top indicates a malfunction in this system. In an emergency, the airbags will not deploy, this may be due to problems with the wiring, sensors or other components.
3. Red butter dish indicates that the pressure in the system is below the minimum limit. It may also indicate an insufficient level of lubrication or leakage.
4. Brake indicator group may consist of several elements. The letter "P" in the red circle indicates that the machine is not released from the handbrake. An exclamation point in a circle indicates a brake malfunction or a drop in the fluid level in the expansion tank below the minimum.
5. Motor silhouette, or, as it is also called, a check (check engine). It can be of different colors and configurations, but always indicates a failure in the engine control system or the need for maintenance. In different brands, different systems are attached to this indicator, it is better to study the instructions.
   You should not drive with a burning check, even if at first glance everything works fine.
6. ABS icon”should glow at startup, and then go out. If it is lit, it indicates that the system is not working. Most often this is a problem with the control unit or one of the sensors installed in the wheel hubs.
7. Spiral symbol used in diesel engines and indicates the operation of the glow plugs. It should go out after the cylinders warm up. If this does not happen, it is worth looking for a problem in the engine, or one of the candles is out of order.
8. Image of thermometer in water. If this type of red light appears, the coolant temperature is too high. It is necessary to immediately stop and check the system for leaks, as well as check the level in the cooling system. Some cars have a blue indicator, it works until the engine warms up to operating temperature.

By the way! In many car models, the oil pressure and coolant temperature lamps are located on the corresponding scale. There's just a red light on the far right side.

Security system and auxiliary elements

This is an extensive group, which may include different characters, it all depends on the manufacturer of the car and the year of manufacture. It is the main list that occurs most often and is of great importance when operating the machine:

1. Gear with an exclamation point inside. If it is red, this indicates a problem with the engine or automatic transmission. If it is yellow, then some nodes have failed in the machine or it has overheated and the system is operating in emergency mode.
2. Car and key emblem, or a lock, and a large red dot indicates that the engine is blocked. This is due to improper operation of the immobilizer or a violation of the engine start order. Even if the car starts, it will not be possible to drive it, as it will stall after a short time.
3. Exclamation point in a yellow triangle indicates a malfunction of the stabilization system.
4. If next to the exclamation mark is the steering wheel icon, then there were malfunctions in the operation of the hydraulic or electric power steering. It may also indicate other problems with the steering mechanism.
5. Yellow exclamation mark in a circle may indicate a malfunction of the brake force distribution system or a decrease in the fluid level below the minimum.
6. Circle with dotted lines on the sides lights up when the front brake pad wear sensor is activated.
7. Catalyst silhouette with steam illustration above indicates its overheating or improper operation. It can also be clogged with soot.
8. Down arrow motor silhouette indicates that the power of the power unit is reduced. Most often, computer diagnostics are required to identify the malfunction.

Information icons are diverse.

Very often, you can get the engine out of emergency mode by turning off the car and pausing for 30-60 seconds. Sometimes the indicators light up not due to malfunctions, but due to failures in the control system.

What else you need to know about the display system

To rule out any problems, it is worth periodically checking the bulbs. When you turn on the dimensions, the corresponding icon should light up, this applies to the dipped or main beam. It must be remembered that if the front fog lights and rear fog lights are turned on separately, then their indicators are different.

There are times when the emblem on the dashboard does not light up when the light is turned on. The first thing to do is to check if the headlights are working. If everything is in order with them, then most often the cause is a burnt out light bulb. You need to remove the dashboard and replace it. Sometimes sensors fail or there are wiring problems.

The video describes the detailed decoding and meaning of the icons.

From time to time, you need to check the panel for the operation of the bulbs. If any indicator fails, the driver will not know about the overheating of the engine or box, which will lead to serious damage.

In cars with an on-board computer, along with the signals on the panel, explanatory messages often appear on the display. This makes it easier to find the problem and helps to quickly deal with its cause.

The on-board computer can tell you which system has a problem.

Each manufacturer may have its own indicators, especially for service and information functions. But the basic elements regarding safety and fault prevention are always the same. If you understand them, you can control the operation of systems and quickly identify the problem in almost any car.