What does the triangle with an exclamation mark in a car mean?
2 Answers
Car triangle with an exclamation mark refers to the conventional faults of the car. The conventional faults of the car include overheating of the dry dual-clutch transmission, intervention or failure of the fuel cut-off system, parking sensor failure, exterior bulb failure, engine oil pressure sensor failure, traction control system warning or failure, etc. As long as one of these faults occurs, the triangle exclamation mark light on the dashboard will light up. In addition to the triangle exclamation mark indicator light, the dashboard also has indicator lights with exclamation marks such as tire pressure indicator light, lighting fault indicator light, steering system fault indicator light, brake system fault light, transmission fault indicator light and windshield wiper fault indicator light. As long as the warning light with an exclamation mark lights up, it means that the corresponding part of the car has a problem and should be checked and repaired in time.
When I first bought my car, the triangle with an exclamation mark light also gave me a scare. Later, I learned that it's the tire pressure warning light, mainly indicating that one of the tires has low pressure, possibly due to a puncture causing air leakage or contraction from cold weather. I've encountered this often, especially during freezing winters when the light comes on while driving on the highway. I quickly pull over and use a portable pressure gauge to check, only to find the right front tire at just 2.0 bar, far below the standard 2.5 bar marked on the door label. I immediately head to a gas station to inflate it, and the light turns off after driving about 200 meters. Ignoring it leads to faster tire wear, increased fuel consumption, and even the risk of a blowout in summer—definitely not worth it. Sometimes, if the light doesn’t go off, it could mean the sensor is faulty, requiring a visit to the repair shop for diagnosis and repair with specialized tools. Don’t delay, as it affects safety. For daily maintenance, I recommend manually checking tire pressure monthly as a preventive measure. Make it a habit, and sudden alerts won’t catch you off guard.
