What does the sun exclamation mark on the dashboard mean?
2 Answers
The appearance of this warning light on the dashboard indicates a transmission malfunction. Contrary to its appearance, this warning light is not actually a sun but rather a gear with an exclamation mark inside. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. Immediate inspection required: When this warning light appears while driving, it's recommended that drivers promptly take their vehicle to an auto repair shop for inspection. Automatic transmissions come in various types and are prone to multiple potential faults, making timely inspection at a 4S shop or repair facility essential. 2. Transmission overheating: For vehicles equipped with dry dual-clutch transmissions, this warning light may indicate transmission overheating. Stop-and-go driving conditions can easily cause dry dual-clutch transmissions to overheat. 3. Stop-and-go driving conditions: During traffic congestion with frequent starting and stopping, the transmission constantly shifts between first and second gears. For dual-clutch transmissions, this means the two clutch sets are continuously engaging and disengaging, which readily leads to overheating. Dry dual-clutch transmissions rely on airflow for cooling, and slow-moving traffic reduces this cooling efficiency.
When I first started driving, a warning light with a sun and exclamation mark popped up on the dashboard, which really scared me—I thought the car was broken. Later, I asked a friend and learned that it was a warning for possible icy roads due to low temperatures. Now, whenever I see it light up, I automatically slow down to below 50 km/h and maintain a greater following distance. It most commonly appears during early winter mornings when the sensor detects temperatures around or below 4°C. I think it’s quite user-friendly, as it helps prevent skidding accidents. I remember once ignoring it and slamming the brakes, nearly skidding off the road. My advice to drivers is not to panic—just slow down and also check the external thermometer for confirmation. The car’s system is designed this way to keep everyone safer.
