What does the exclamation mark on the vehicle dashboard indicate?
2 Answers
There are five scenarios when an exclamation mark appears on the car dashboard, namely 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: A triangle with an exclamation mark inside indicates that the car's general performance or components and functions have malfunctioned. This mainly includes parking sensor faults, fuel cut-off system intervention or faults, external light faults, engine oil pressure sensor faults, etc. It is necessary to go to 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 that there is a fault in the transmission or the transmission lubricant is below the normal range. The transmission oil should be replaced promptly. Brake System Faults: An exclamation mark inside a circle with brackets represents a brake system warning, mainly indicating a fault in the brake system or low brake fluid level. The brake system should be inspected immediately to avoid accidents. Abnormal Tire Pressure: An exclamation mark with a horizontal line below the brackets represents the tire pressure monitoring warning light. This light will illuminate when the car's tire pressure is too low. The car's tire pressure should be checked and restored to the normal range. Lighting Faults: A yellow bulb with an exclamation mark is the lighting fault indicator light, indicating that a car light has malfunctioned. Solution: Go to a 4S shop for inspection and repair as soon as possible, or you can also check it yourself. Focus on checking commonly used bulbs such as turn signals, fog lights, and interior lighting to see where the problem lies.
That exclamation mark light coming on means there's an issue that needs checking, like low tire pressure, brake system malfunction, or engine warning. I've been driving for many years and often encounter this situation. Once on the highway, that light suddenly came on, I thought it was a minor issue and kept driving, only to have a tire blowout, nearly causing an accident. Later I learned that if it's a yellow exclamation mark with a wheel inside, it indicates low tire pressure; if it's a red exclamation mark with parentheses, it signals brake problems; other patterns might mean low oil level or engine overheating. Don't casually ignore it - pull over to check the owner's manual for its meaning or visit a repair shop. Make it a habit to glance at the dashboard before each startup to prevent many accidents. Also pay attention to brake fluid and tire pressure during routine maintenance for safer driving.
