What Causes the Exclamation Mark on the Volkswagen Bora Dashboard?
2 Answers
There are five possible scenarios when an exclamation mark appears on the car dashboard: general faults, automatic transmission faults, brake system faults, abnormal tire pressure, and lighting faults. Below is a detailed analysis of these five situations: General Faults: An exclamation mark inside a triangle indicates a malfunction in the car's general performance, components, or functions. Common issues include parking sensor failure, fuel cutoff system intervention or malfunction, external light failure, or engine oil pressure sensor failure. It is necessary to visit a 4S shop for inspection to identify the source of the fault. Automatic Transmission Faults: A yellow gear with an exclamation mark inside is the automatic transmission fault warning light, indicating a transmission issue or low transmission fluid level. The transmission fluid should be replaced promptly. Brake System Faults: An exclamation mark inside a circled parenthesis represents a brake system warning, typically due to brake system failure or low brake fluid level. Immediate inspection of the brake system is required to avoid accidents. Abnormal Tire Pressure: An exclamation mark with a horizontal line underneath a parenthesis is the tire pressure monitoring warning light, which illuminates when the tire pressure is too low. Check the tire pressure and restore it to the normal range. Lighting Faults: A yellow bulb with an exclamation mark is the lighting fault indicator, signaling a malfunction in the car's lights. Solution: Visit a 4S shop for inspection as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can check the commonly used bulbs such as turn signals, fog lights, and interior lights yourself to identify the issue.
Yesterday, while driving my Volkswagen Bora, the dashboard warning light with an exclamation mark came on, which made me a bit nervous, but experience told me to stay calm. The most common reason is low brake fluid. Open the hood and check the round brake fluid reservoir—if the level is below the minimum line, you need to top it up. Otherwise, braking performance will significantly decrease, which is very dangerous. Sometimes, the exclamation mark light is also related to ABS system issues, such as dirty wheel speed sensors or loose wiring, which are also common. I’ve encountered brake fluid leaks before, where a small crack in the line caused the fluid level to drop quickly. If you want to DIY, try topping it up with standard DOT4 brake fluid, but don’t drive for too long. It’s safer to visit a repair shop and use a diagnostic scanner to check the error codes. For prevention, just glance at the transparent scale on the fluid reservoir every month, and check the system’s integrity when replacing brake pads.
