What does a yellow light with an 'a' inside a circle on the dashboard mean?
2 Answers
A yellow light with an 'a' inside a circle on the dashboard indicates that the engine auto start-stop system is active. In this state, the car may shut off, and releasing the brake will automatically restart the engine, allowing normal driving to resume. The auto start-stop system activates under the following conditions: when the coolant temperature is too low after a cold start (below 70 degrees Celsius); when the outside temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius, or when the interior temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius after turning on the heater; when the battery charge is insufficient (typically below 60%); when the steering wheel angle exceeds 30 degrees; when the front seat belts are not fastened; or when parking on a slope. The auto start-stop function activates automatically each time the car is started, provided the above conditions are met, the vehicle speed exceeds 3 km/h, and the condition persists for about 4 seconds, without requiring any additional driver input. However, the auto start-stop function must be turned off in the following situations: during water fording; when driving on a slope (most cars are typically set to automatically disable it in this scenario); and when refueling, as the engine must be completely shut off and the power turned off before refueling.
When I first got my driver's license, I was really startled to see a yellow light on the dashboard with an 'A' inside a circle. After carefully checking the owner's manual, I realized it was the auto start-stop system indicator light. This system is quite useful as it automatically turns off the engine at red lights to save fuel, but the yellow light means it's temporarily inactive. The most common reasons are low battery charge or the engine not reaching normal temperature, which often happens when starting the car in cold weather. It could also be because you've just used the air conditioning or fan, which drains too much power and causes the system to disable itself. After encountering this, I drove for several dozen kilometers to let it recharge, and the light went off. I recommend paying attention to regular vehicle maintenance, such as checking the battery condition, to keep the system functioning properly. If the light keeps flashing or you're concerned, just visit a repair shop—it won't affect driving safety.
