The brake fluid warning light tells you that the fluid level in your brake master cylinder reservoir has dropped below a safe point. On many vehicles it shares the red brake symbol, an exclamation point inside a circle, while some cars display a specific message about low brake fluid. Brake fluid is what turns pressure … Read more
The brake pad wear warning light is an early notice that the friction material on one or more brake pads has worn down to the point where replacement is due. On many vehicles it looks like a circle flanked by dashed curved lines, and it is typically amber rather than red. Not every car has … Read more
The parking brake warning light tells you that the parking brake is applied or, on many newer cars, that the parking brake system has a fault. On many vehicles it appears as the letter P inside a circle or the word BRAKE, and it is typically red when the brake is engaged. Most of the … Read more
The trunk ajar warning light tells you the vehicle has detected that the trunk lid, hatch or liftgate is not fully latched. On many cars the symbol shows the rear of a vehicle with the trunk lid raised, though some vehicles combine it with the door warnings in a single top-down graphic. An open trunk … Read more
The hood ajar warning light means the vehicle has detected that the hood, the panel covering the engine bay, is not fully latched. On many vehicles the symbol shows a car profile with the front panel raised, and some cars also display a text message or sound a chime when you start driving. Not every … Read more
The door ajar warning light tells you that the vehicle believes at least one door is not fully latched. On many cars it appears as a small car outline with one or more doors drawn open, and some vehicles add a chime or a message naming the specific door. Most of the time the cause … Read more
The immobilizer warning light belongs to one of the most effective anti-theft features in modern vehicles. An engine immobilizer is an electronic system that allows the engine to run only when it recognizes a correctly coded key, and the warning light reports what that system is doing. The same light can be normal in one … Read more
A key not detected warning usually appears at the worst possible moment: you are sitting in the driver’s seat with the fob in your pocket, ready to leave, and the car insists the key is missing. On vehicles with keyless entry and push-button start, this message means the car cannot confirm that a valid key … Read more
The power limitation warning light means your electric or hybrid vehicle has deliberately reduced how much power it will deliver to the wheels. On many models it appears as a turtle symbol, a fitting picture of a car that is still moving but more slowly than usual. The vehicle limits power to protect its battery, … Read more
An electric motor temperature warning tells you that the motor driving your electric or hybrid vehicle, or the electronics that control it, is running hotter than the system allows. Electric motors are efficient, but they still produce heat, especially when working hard for long periods. This guide explains why drive motors heat up, what the … Read more