What do the light symbols in a car mean
David Craig
Updated on April 19, 2026
The lightning bolt on the dash means that there is a problem with the electronic throttle control system in your vehicle. … The light may be on for a glitch and the electronic throttle control system needs to be reset.
What does the lighting light mean on a car?
The lightning bolt on the dash means that there is a problem with the electronic throttle control system in your vehicle. … The light may be on for a glitch and the electronic throttle control system needs to be reset.
What does the squiggly car light mean?
Why Did The Dash Light With Squiggly Lines Come On And What Does It Mean? This light represents the Traction Control System (TCS) which helps keep your car on the road in slippery conditions like rain, snow, or ice.
What is the yellow warning light on dashboard?
Yellow or amber lights often indicate a lower-grade hazard or warning, such as the activation of the traction control system when driving on slippery roads. Green and blue lights simply indicate that a feature is engaged, such as the headlights or cruise control.What does the orange warning light mean?
Orange or yellow dashboard lights remind you that something needs to be serviced soon, like an oil change, or that something is wrong with your emissions system. While not an emergency, you should have a repair person look at the problem as soon as possible.
What does slip indicator mean?
If the system indicates your tires may be slipping, the slip indicator flashes to indicate that Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and/or Traction Control (TRAC) are operating in order to regain traction.
What's ESC OFF mean?
The electric stability control (ESC) off indicator is located on the instrument panel. This light is illuminated when the ESC has manually been turned off. If the light popped up while driving and the button was not selected, it indicates that an error has been detected in the electric stability control system.
What causes your dash lights to go out?
If it’s light out, make sure that the headlights aren’t turned on. Many headlights often dim the dash automatically when they’re switched on, so this might be the cause of the problem. If that’s not it, look for the dimmer switch. This switch adjusts how bright the dash lights are.What does steering light mean?
This light, a steering wheel and exclamation point, indicates that your vehicle’s power steering fluid levels are low or that there is a fault in the system. … If the light remains illuminated after the fluid is filled or comes back on down the road, then the vehicle needs to be inspected by a technician.
What lights should come on when starting a car?- Engine warning light. …
- Brake fluid warning light. …
- Anti-lock braking system warning light. …
- Oil pressure warning light. …
- Battery charge warning light. …
- Coolant warning light. …
- Tyre pressure warning light. …
- Airbag warning light.
What does the A in a circle mean in a car?
Anti-lock Brake Warning Light – (a circle with “ABS” inside) This light will appear if there is a problem with your antilock braking system. … Although this light does not indicate an immediate risk to your safety, you should have the vehicle checked by a professional as soon as possible.
Can you drive with ESC light on?
If the ESC light stays on, it means your vehicle is not under control. … Of course, if your ESC light turns on, you can keep driving your car. Keep in mind, however, that the ESC light may be an indicator that you are driving on a slippery road, and you may need to slow down to improve your control.
Should ESC be on or off?
The ESC system should never be turned off except by extremely skilled drivers who know what they are doing. If you need to turn off the ESC system, you can do so by pressing and holding the “ESC Off” switch for five seconds.
What does it mean when your check engine light and traction control light on?
The traction control system light should illuminate for 1 to 2 seconds and then go out as the vehicle starts and begins to run. If the light stays on, it either means that the system is deactivated, or there is a problem in the traction control system.
What does the traction symbol look like?
The Traction Control warning light will typically have the abbreviation TC or TCS. Many other models will use a symbol that looks like a car with squiggly lines underneath it. Many traction control systems will illuminate the warning light when the system detects a loss of traction such as in snowy or rainy weather.
How do I reset my power steering light?
If it is an electronic system, there is a chance it can be “reset”. Pull over as soon as possible and shut down the engine and restart it. If the warning light does not go out you will need to take the vehicle to your dealer or authorized repair facility.
Why do my dashboard lights go off when I turn on my headlights?
When dashboard lights go dim when the headlights are turned on, it’s usually because modern vehicles automatically adjust the dashboard brightness because of the current time of the day. Try adjusting your vehicle’s dimmer switch to restore the light levels to your desired brightness.
How do you reset dashboard lights?
- Open the hood of your vehicle. …
- Loosen the nut that holds the negative terminal to the battery with the pliers. …
- Completely remove the cable from the negative battery terminal. …
- Leave the battery disconnected for 10 minutes to ensure that the computer is fully reset.
What lights should show on dashboard?
- Oil pressure warning light. …
- Engine warning light. …
- ABS warning light. …
- Brake warning light. …
- Tyre pressure warning light. …
- Airbag warning light.
What causes ESC failure?
8 out of 10 times, the stability control light comes on due to a faulty wheel speed sensor or an ABS sensor. These sensors can fail over time, get dirty, the wires or connectors can get damaged. It is a widespread problem and relatively easy to fix.
Where is the ESC located?
The ESC system uses sensors located around the wheels of the vehicle. Its purpose is to keep the car going the way you intend for it to go. It does this by monitoring how you turn the steering wheel and where the vehicle is actually going. The ESC can correct the vehicle in a few ways.
Why do drivers turn off traction control?
They turn off the traction control systems because when you’re on a race track the driver wants to be in complete control the vehicle they control the sliding,the braking and steering into corners like professionals when the layman driver needs traction and dstc systems to be safe on the road.
Is ESC a traction control?
ESC involves the traction control systems and adjusts engine power to reduce speed and apply the brakes if the driver gives too much gas. … ESC estimates the direction of the skid. It applies the brakes to individual wheels asymmetrically to bring the car back in line with the driver’s commanded direction.
Does turning off ESP make car faster?
ESP is applied under hard accleration which slows you down a lil but keeps you safe within the limits. Of course with it Off it does not apply any brakes so your car will feel a lil faster.
