Warning light identification - Volkswagen Arteon

By Stuart Johnston 

In this day and age, many manufacturers have dispensed with traditional gauges and instead substituted them with warning lights. This makes the sudden appearance of a warning light more important than ever, as some of them indicate the possibility of a serious malfunction, with cost and safety implications for you, the vehicle owner. However, in more upmarket cars, digital gauges are complemented by warning lights.

In all modern cars, and even older ones, the array of warning lights installed will light up when you turn on the ignition, before starting the car. Once you have started the car, most of them should disappear, excepting ones like the handbrake and seatbelt warning lights.

The Volkswagen Arteon, recently launched on the South African market, is a highly sophisticated car, and the number of warning lights installed on the dashboard reflects this specification.  The warning lights are located in the digital instrument panel,  between the main gauges for engine revolutions and speed, which also incorporate gauges for engine temperature and fuel level.

These are the warning lights that will flash up when you start the car, and what they mean.  They will switch off after a second or two, unless there is a fault. If they glow once you are on the move, you need to stop immediately (as soon as it is safe to do so) and attend to the problem.

We haven’t listed all the warning lights that may flash up if a fault occurs. There are a number of other warning lights that may flash up indicating faults, accompanied by the default exclamation mark light. If these flash up, consult your owner’s handbook in the cubbyhole, and then call the dealership.

1. Airbag and safety restraint system fault

This light glows red and it dictates that there is some sort of fault with the safety restraint system, either the airbag system or the seatbelts. This is potentially a very serious fault, and needs to be attended to immediately. Consult your dealer before driving further.

2. Electro-mechanical steering system fault

This light indicates that there is a fault with the electrical power steering assistance system. Potentially this a serious fault, as modern cars have steering systems that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to operate without electric power assistance.

3. Parking brake

This light will glow if the parking brake is on. In the Arteon, you activate the electronic parking brake by flipping up the switch on he console. After you’ve selected Drive, released the footbrake and applied the accelerator it will automatically release, and the light will go off. If it doesn’t there is a fault that needs to be attended to.

4. Central warning lamp

This lamp comes on when there is a fault with one of the car’s systems, and will be accompanied by the lamp for the specific fault.

5. Exhaust emissions fault

This light depicts an engine, but it doesn’t indicate a general engine fault. It indicates there is a problem with your car’s exhaust system, probably emissions related.

6. Electronic Stability Control

If this light flashes on, it indicates that the electronic stability control system, to prevent wheel spin or skidding, is being employed. This normally occurs on very slippery roads, or when you have entered a corner too fast and the system is correcting your skid. It also occurs when you have accelerated too hard, causing the wheels to spin through the application of too much power. The light sould go off once traction to all four tyres has been restored.

7. ABS warning light

This light will flash on if there is a fault with the antilock braking system. This is an important safety item and should be attended to immediately, via your VW dealer.

8. Brake system fault

This indicates there is a fault with the brakes, obviously one of the most safety-critical systems in a car. It is recommended that you should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, if this light comes on, and call your dealer.

9. Brake pad warning light

This light will come on when sensors in your brake pads detect that they are wearing down to a critical level. Again, take no chances with your braking system. If this light flashes on, the brake pads need replacement. Soon!

10. Tyre pressure monitoring system

When this light flashes on, it indicates that pressure in one of your car’s tyres (or more) is too low. It can indicate a slow puncture, so get your tyres checked at a service station as soon as possible.  If the tyre pressure all seem to be normal, consult your dealer.

11. Apply foot brake

This light indicates you should apply the foot brake to start the car. Most modern cars will not start unless the foot brake is applied.

12. Electronic Stability Control off

This light will flash on when you have purposefully de-activated the electronic stability control system. This may be necessary on very slippery dirt roads, for instance, or when you are driving the car in very sporty circumstances, such as on a race track, where you might require a degree of tyre slip.

13. Seat belts not buckled up

This light will flash on when it detects that the driver or front seat passenger have not fastened their safety belts. The light will normally be accompanied by a warning buzzer, once the car has reached a speed faster than walking pace.