Dashboard Icons

I just got a car which did not come with a manual that would tell me what all those icons mean that now appear on the dashboard of my car.

Anyone know where on the web i can go to find out what all those icons mean? Things like someone does not have their seatbelt on is obvious, but there are others I have not a clue as to what they mean!

Oh yeah, what does this mean that as of 2012 cars rolling off the assembly line are now computers on wheels?

How To Find Your Car Owner's Manual Online on Edmunds.com

This should work.

Congratulations on the new car! What did you get?

Glowpun said:

I just got a car which did not come with a manual that would tell me what all those icons mean that now appear on the dashboard of my car.

Anyone know where on the web i can go to find out what all those icons mean? Things like someone does not have their seatbelt on is obvious, but there are others I have not a clue as to what they mean!

Oh yeah, what does this mean that as of 2012 cars rolling off the assembly line are now computers on wheels?

Click to expand...

welcome to the party, cars became computerized starting in the 90s. I would go to the dealership and ask for a manual. if you bought it from a used car dealer they may not have it, but a dealer branded by the manufacturer of your vehicle should. and they want you to come back for service some time so they may just hand you one without even charging for it.

home general universal rules

A saucer type pan=low oil pressure
thermometer, either by itself or with a wavy line looking like water it is "dipping" into = high coolant temp
two arrows pointing to a dot = low air pressure in tire
most vehicles now just have "check engine" in text, but some you may see a graphic that looks like an engine viewed from the side

if the vehicle is a diesel engine a line looking like a coiled wire means that the glowplugs are heating the engine due to cold temp, wait until that goes out to start....

that's all the importants.

Congrats on the new car! What did you get? Also...I've noticed that new cars don't have tachs or temp gauges anymore. I guess manufacturers don't want drivers to realize issues until it's too late?

KevinKohler said:

Congrats on the new car! What did you get? Also...I've noticed that new cars don't have tachs or temp gauges anymore. I guess manufacturers don't want drivers to realize issues until it's too late?

Click to expand...

It must depend on the car. My company has some brand new ford delivery vans, that are based on the focus, and they have tachs and water temp gauges on them.

My Father's 1992 F-150 doesn't have a tach, and many cars in the 80s didn't have water temp gauges, just a warning light. I think it must be stylistically something they do.

My 99 Ford Ranger has the 6 instrument display, Battery voltage, water temp, oil pressure, tach, speedo, and fuel.

EMNofSeattle said:

It must depend on the car. My company has some brand new ford delivery vans, that are based on the focus, and they have tachs and water temp gauges on them.

My Father's 1992 F-150 doesn't have a tach, and many cars in the 80s didn't have water temp gauges, just a warning light. I think it must be stylistically something they do.

My 99 Ford Ranger has the 6 instrument display, Battery voltage, water temp, oil pressure, tach, speedo, and fuel.

Click to expand...

I had a 95 oldsmobile, MANUAL tranny, with NO tach! I wanted to write the company a letter, like, WTF brah?

My wife's new Subaru Forrester has no temp gauge, and it drives me crazy.

Glowpun said:

I just got a car which did not come with a manual that would tell me what all those icons mean that now appear on the dashboard of my car.

Anyone know where on the web i can go to find out what all those icons mean? Things like someone does not have their seatbelt on is obvious, but there are others I have not a clue as to what they mean!

Oh yeah, what does this mean that as of 2012 cars rolling off the assembly line are now computers on wheels?

Click to expand...

In the good old days of Meat Loaf it wasn't dashboard icons but Dashboard Lights.

Glowpun said:

I just got a car which did not come with a manual that would tell me what all those icons mean that now appear on the dashboard of my car.

Anyone know where on the web i can go to find out what all those icons mean? Things like someone does not have their seatbelt on is obvious, but there are others I have not a clue as to what they mean!

Oh yeah, what does this mean that as of 2012 cars rolling off the assembly line are now computers on wheels?

Click to expand...

Wait... there are people who actually read their car manual!?!?

KevinKohler said:

Congrats on the new car! What did you get? Also...I've noticed that new cars don't have tachs or temp gauges anymore. I guess manufacturers don't want drivers to realize issues until it's too late?

Click to expand...

i love my Mini, but not having a temp gauge drives me nuts.

KevinKohler said:

Congrats on the new car! What did you get? Also...I've noticed that new cars don't have tachs or temp gauges anymore. I guess manufacturers don't want drivers to realize issues until it's too late?

Click to expand...

Our cars have temp gauges but no tachs. Almost everything is digital and there are so many sensors making sure things are working perfectly all the time, that unless a light comes on, you generally don't have to worry about it. If a tire gets low, it tells you which tire and how low it is. If the coolant gets low, it tells you long before there's ever a problem. It tests the oil and tells you when to change it. There is no guessing, you know of any problems as soon as they happen, usually before they happen.