Identifying dashboard lights

[IvanDobskey]

Had a couple of warning lights come on this morning I wondered if anyone could identify them for me so I don't spend the whole day at work worrying what they are :lol:
The one on the left is a circle with an exclamation Mark in it with brackets either side which I know is related to brakes. It's the one on the right I'm unsure of. It's a triangle with an exclamation mark in it with an arrow circling the triangle. Any ideas chaps? I suspect worn pads / discs.

 

[IvanDobskey]

Hmm, after a bit of fishing around on the net it seems to be related to DSC? I wasn't pushing it when the lights came on though? Just going over a small roundabout at about 20mph if memory is correct. Lights aren't coming back on when firing her up again though. Very odd.

 

[Half Colin]

1st light is the brake system in general the 2nd is the DSC. It's all in the Owner's handbook - "If the telltale light (the DSC light) is flashing: DTC is regulating the propulsive and braking forces." Basically 1 wheel was about to lose traction and the DSC did something about it.

Same light show can be achieved by flooring it on a bend! :evil:

 

[glastoveteran]

It could be something more simple in your case, but I had these lights on recently and the dealer replaced the DSC controller under warranty.

The manual does state that the DSC light on together with a brake warning light indicates a DSC system failure...

I'm sure I heard someone recommending doing a few lock to lock turns in either direction to see if that sorts out the ABS sensors (which it could be related to).

 

[IvanDobskey]

Cheers for the reply
Strange they came on without any provocation though? And they stayed on until I switched the ignition off. No sign of them currently though. Fingers crossed they don't come back on! I smell a large bill looming

 

[Half Colin]

If the lights are on permanently it depends on colour of the brake system light: red or yellow and if the ABS light is also on.

Bit more from the manual -

"If the warning light for the DSC is lit in conjunction with the yellow warning light for the brake system: DSC including DTC and DBC is malfunctioning. The car is still drivable. Have the system checked as soon as possible."

"If the warning light for the brake system shows red, in conjunction with the yellow telltale lights for the ABS and DSC: The driving stability control systems have failed. Have the system checked as soon as possible."

 

[IvanDobskey]

Both lights were yellow and stayed on until I switched the ignition off. No sign of them when restarting the car though.

 

[AlanJ]

Had a couple of warning lights come on this morning I wondered if anyone could identify them for me so I don't spend the whole day at work worrying what they are :lol:
The one on the left is a circle with an exclamation Mark in it with brackets either side which I know is related to brakes. It's the one on the right I'm unsure of. It's a triangle with an exclamation mark in it with an arrow circling the triangle. Any ideas chaps? I suspect worn pads / discs.

Handbook? oke:


.....and in case you ain't got one http://www.bmwz4roadster.net/bmw_z4_brochure.htm

 

[jong]

To the original poster........I had the same thing on a 1 Series that I had a few years ago, but I got the red DSC system etc isn't working lights, they just came on for no apparent reason whilst I was driving along quite gently. On a 1 Series you get a warning triangle with "Stop" come up and a warning bong bong sound. A bit worried I pulled over, turned off and removed the key, then restarted the car and the lights didn't come on again.

When I got home, I rang the supplying dealer and spoke to the service department. Their advice was that sometimes the system can get confused and shuts down. Rebooting the car clears it and not to worry unless it happens again. I was lucky and the lights never lit up again. I'd say, don't worry too much unless it happens again, but maybe watch your right foot for the next couple of days just in case.

Jon

 

[IvanDobskey]

Unfortunately my handbook is at home and I'm at work so I'm on here instead :lol:
Thanks for the one series story, gives me hope it could have been a one off anomaly :?
Been out for a drive lunchtime and as yet no sign of the lights, so fingers crossed!

 

[gannet]

had very similar recently with mine...

both those lights came on after driving not 20 metres up my road and not more than 10 mph. turned round parked it and took the other car.

drove the car 3 days later no sign of the lights, but already booked in to the dealer the next day.

took to the dealer, and both brake pressure sensors or something were faulty, so wasnt cheap (about £390) but could have been worse.

seems there are many reasons these lights could come on, due to the many sensors now involved in these systems designed to keep us on the road :roll:

I hate electronic nanny systems

 

[mcbeee]

Gannet , you would have loved my old Landcruiser, the only thing electronic it was the tape deck I installed . Manual throttle, Manual choke, lots of gear shift levers, I think it also had a manual advance/retard knob on the distributor cap..... :rofl:

 

[AlanJ]

Unfortunately my handbook is at home and I'm at work so I'm on here instead :lol:
Thanks for the one series story, gives me hope it could have been a one off anomaly :?
Been out for a drive lunchtime and as yet no sign of the lights, so fingers crossed!

Please tell me your not an airline pilot, train driver, bus driver....... :rofl:

 

[IvanDobskey]

Well, no sign of the lights on the drive to work today
What's the general concensus? Get it checked out? Or leave it until it happens again?

 

[IvanDobskey]

Unfortunately my handbook is at home and I'm at work so I'm on here instead :lol:
Thanks for the one series story, gives me hope it could have been a one off anomaly :?
Been out for a drive lunchtime and as yet no sign of the lights, so fingers crossed!

Please tell me your not an airline pilot, train driver, bus driver....... :rofl:

Nothing quite so exciting I'm afraid :lol:

 

[gannet]

maybe get yourself a fault code reader?

but ask yourself this...

when do you want to find out your ABS/DSC system isnt working - on the road when you need it on the road or in garage while it is being investigated?

I would get it checked out at least.

 

[Gecko1980]

Mine came on yesterday afternoon after taking a drive down to the pub. I was driving it nice and easy (im trying to get the MPG as high as possible), slowed down from about 20 to 10 to pull into the car park and the both yellow warning light and DSC light came on, so as already posted this part of the manual is applicable to me:

"If the warning light for the DSC is lit in conjunction with the yellow warning light for the brake system: DSC including DTC and DBC is malfunctioning. The car is still drivable. Have the system checked as soon as possible."

My lights stay on, i drove home with them on and its still on this morning when i started up - i was really worried as the yellow warning light was red this morning - but of course i had the hand brake on....

Now I have not changed a thing or poked around in the wheels cleaning or anything like that and i have not driven it hard since the last fuel fill (a week ago) so i reckon it a genuine fault.

Im due to drive from Bournemouth to Leicester on Thursday but the manual does say I can drive and I cant belive it would state that if i was in any sort of danger. However, im taking it to get checked out in the morning via the computer and see what it throws up - hopefully just a sensor, its probably going to cost to get it sorted though.

I will let you know how I get on.

BMW 3.0SE 44K 54Plate.

 

[yg54sg]

i would guess the ABS sensors are at fault which i believe let the DSC know how fast the wheel is turning. I had this come on once like you said when I fitted an emergency odd size tyre to get me to the dealers when I had a cracked rim. I think the system senses one of the wheels is ouf of character or recieving a bad signal form the sensor and it shuts the traction control down completely until you turn off the ignition otherwise imagine if it went wrong on the motorway killed your power to throttle then started braking the other 3 wheels to bring them inline with the one thats doing 0 mph :driving:

which brings me to a question .... the M has no DTC.... with DSC fully on (light off) does it kill engine power all the time like a non M when the wheels slip? When DSC fully off (Light on) i guess then there is no assistive braking like on the non M. I like the fact that when DTC is on the car still sorts itself out if you go too far and you can feel it do its work stabbing the brakes on each wheel, from what I gather the M in this case would either be complete nanny mode (light off) or no protection at all (light on) was there a reason they did this?

:driving:

 

[IvanDobskey]

Well it turned out to be a brake pressure sensor at fault, part number: 34521164458
Cost me about £200 in total to get it fixed Wonder what next to go wrong? Fingers crossed it isn't the roof motor :headbang:

 

[gannet]

Well it turned out to be a brake pressure sensor at fault, part number: 34521164458
Cost me about £200 in total to get it fixed Wonder what next to go wrong? Fingers crossed it isn't the roof motor :headbang:

same as mine then, must be something with 7yearish lifespan