What does the gear symbol on the dashboard mean?
2 Answers
The gear symbol with an exclamation mark on the car dashboard is the brake warning light. The brake warning light is red and features an exclamation mark inside a circle. When the red brake warning light is illuminated: If the red brake warning light comes on, it indicates one of the following issues with the braking system: severely worn brake pads, low brake fluid level, engaged parking brake, etc. Solutions when the warning light is on: In such cases, please visit the nearest repair shop as soon as possible for inspection. If necessary, you can contact a tow truck. The condition of the braking system is the top priority for driving safety and should never be taken lightly.
A few days ago when I was driving my kid to school, a gear icon suddenly popped up on the dashboard and the car couldn't accelerate. After checking the manual, I realized it was the transmission warning light, indicating an issue with the automatic transmission system. It could be due to high fluid temperature, abnormal oil pressure, or a sensor malfunction. My old car has 120,000 kilometers on it and the transmission fluid has never been changed - probably degraded by now. If you see this warning light, first check if the car has any jerking sensations. If gear shifts feel rough, don't push it. Last time when the light came on, I immediately went to the repair shop and solved it with a $200 fluid change. Delaying repairs could lead to a transmission overhaul costing thousands.