The warning and indicator lights that may appear on your 2018 Ford Taurus is your vehicle's best way of communicating important information to you. Some are designed to alert you to serious mechanical issues that need immediate attention, while others appear when special features are in use. Understanding these symbols will help keep you safe on the road and can save you from costly service repairs.
To help our drivers in the Middletown, Odessa, and Dover, DE, areas, we put together a guide to some of the most common warning light symbols you'll find in your Taurus, as well as some general indicator lights you might not immediately recognize.
2018 Ford Taurus Dashboard Warning Symbols
Warning symbols alert you to immediate issues within your vehicle and should never be ignored. If a warning symbol appears while on the road, immediately pull over to a safe location and review the potential issue before heading back out again.
- Engine Oil Pressure - this symbol looks like a dripping oil can and indicates that there's an issue with your engine's oil pressure system. If it appears while driving, pull over and immediately check your oil level. If your oil level appears normal but the light remains lit, immediately schedule a service check-up to avoid serious damage to your engine.
- Low Tire Pressure - this symbol looks like a horseshoe with an exclamation point inside. If lit, it means one or more of your tires' air pressure is low. Immediately check the air pressure and tread levels of each of your tires. If your tires appear worn or show signs of any punctures or other damage, you'll need to schedule a time to have them replaced.
- Powertrain Fault - if a red wrench symbol appears, that means the system has detected a serious issue with your powertrain or AWD. Immediately pull over and have your vehicle towed to the closest authorized dealer for inspection.
- Engine Coolant Temperature - this symbol looks like a thermometer above two wavy lines. If this indicator appears while driving it means that your engine's coolant system has overheated. Pull over and turn off the vehicle. Allow time for the engine to fully cool down before restarting the engine. If the light reappears, schedule a service appointment as soon as possible
- Low Fuel Level - this symbol looks like a standard gas pump. If lit, it means you're critically low on fuel and should directly seek out the nearest fueling station.
- Service Engine - commonly referred to as a check engine light, this symbol looks like the profile of a vehicle engine and indicates that the On-Board Diagnostics system (OBD) detects an issue in the vehicle's emissions control system. If this indicator keeps appearing, you'll want to schedule a full diagnostics test with your authorized dealer.
- Anti-Lock Braking System - this symbol has the letters ABS fully encircled with two curved lines on either side of the circle. It indicates that there's been a system malfunction, but it's having no effect on your normal braking system. If the light remains lit, schedule to have it immediately checked by an authorized dealer.
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2018 Ford Taurus Indicator Symbols
Indicator symbols appear when a vehicle feature is in use or when that feature might need attention. There are many types of indicator symbols you'll encounter, but here are a few you might have difficulty recognizing at first glance:
- Stability Control - this symbol looks like the back of a vehicle with two vertical wavy lines underneath and indicates that the vehicle's stability control system is engaged. The indicator will flash when you first turn the engine on and should disappear. If the symbol remains lit, it means that the system has malfunctioned and should be looked at immediately.
- Lane Keeping Aid - this symbol looks like a vehicle travelling between two broken lines in traffic. This indicates when the system is actively being used.
- Blind Spot Monitor - this symbol looks like two vehicles travelling down a road separated by two curved lines. This indicates when the monitor has been turned on and is in use.
Schedule Service for Your Ford Taurus
There's no need to keep driving around with a scary warning light. Our highly skilled technicians at Winner Ford of Dover are here to help keep your dashboard clear and your vehicle running at its best. Drivers in Middletown, Odessa, and Dover can schedule an appointment online or by calling us today.
