What do all these symbols mean?!

marywooyeah

hi can someone help? when I started my car today a load of symbols flashed up, one was yellow and looked a bit like a lamp, one was red and looked like a battery, and there was another one which I thought might be for the oil.

I bought some oil for a petrol car today, but when I looked up online how to change the oil it says you need jacks to get under the car! is that right? I need to go underneath it?! guessing one means that it needs a new battery but no idea what the lamp one means.

also, last night the dashboard didnt light up like it usually does when I have my main beams on, it took about 3 or 4 minutes for it come on so I'm kind of confused as to whats going on with it - I'd be very grateful of some advice and realise they are probably sillly questions to people who are experienced motorists, thanks in advance!

scheming_gypsy

from your post I'd recommend a trip to the garage!

You only need to go under the car to do a full oil change so you can remove the sump plug and drain the oil (and replace the filter if you want), but to top up the oil you just need to pop the bonnet and there'll be a screw cap with an oil can on it... unscrew and top up - but not too much!


Although you could have some sort of electrical problem which is causing the dashboard to play up... Did the lights stay on or go off? as they're all meant to come on and then go off again when you turn the ignition,.

ariba10

I think you should ask a friend, relative or someone that lives near you to have a look and give an opinion.

It will work out safer, and cheaper that way.

mildred1978

marywooyeah wrote: »

hi can someone help? when I started my car today a load of symbols flashed up, one was yellow and looked a bit like a lamp, one was red and looked like a battery, and there was another one which I thought might be for the oil.

I bought some oil for a petrol car today, but when I looked up online how to change the oil it says you need jacks to get under the car! is that right? I need to go underneath it?! guessing one means that it needs a new battery but no idea what the lamp one means.

also, last night the dashboard didnt light up like it usually does when I have my main beams on, it took about 3 or 4 minutes for it come on so I'm kind of confused as to whats going on with it - I'd be very grateful of some advice and realise they are probably sillly questions to people who are experienced motorists, thanks in advance!

What does your manual say about the lights?

RichGold

Sounds to me like your alternator or battery is on its way out. What car is it?

marywooyeah

wow that was quick! its an Astra GLS 1.4, was worried someone would reply as SG has!

they go off when the ignition is on but the only one which used to come on when I first got it was the brake light showing the hand brake was on, I never noticed any of the others before.

I was planning just to change the oil and screenwash - I did think it was just popping the bonnet but was a bit frightened by the video showing a guy jacking a car up!

I don't really know anyone on this street so wouldnt really feel comfortable asking someone to help, but if I take it to a garage think they might see it as a chance to rip me off so I thought I'd ask on here.

thanks for the replies, I'm just worried about taking it out in case it blows up or something!

marywooyeah

Hammyman your post is really out of order, as I said I have noticed one of the symbols before but the others haven't come on when the ignition comes on before so I was worried something was wrong.

I also said I realised it was probably a silly question for experienced motorists but I've only been driving for 3 weeks so wanted to ask on here.

Maybe you should familiarise yourself with the forum rules.

mikey72

marywooyeah wrote: »

Hammyman your post is really out of order, as I said I have noticed one of the symbols before but the others haven't come on when the ignition comes on before so I was worried something was wrong.

I also said I realised it was probably a silly question for experienced motorists but I've only been driving for 3 weeks so wanted to ask on here.

Maybe you should familiarise yourself with the forum rules.

Ignore him, he's someone that has to take his car to Kwik Fit for an oil change.

Vauxhalls light up all the lights when you turn the ignition on, then they should all go out when the engine starts.

It sounds more like an earth fault on the dash, if you've only just noticed a change in the lights, and they aren't doing that anymore.

RichGold

OP, When you cook something do you read the cooking instructions, set the oven to the correct temperature and cook for the correct length of time or do you just throw it in and guess how hot it should be and for how long?

Do you see the point hammyman and mildred are making?

The manual will tell you everything you need to know.

The other thing to consider is if you are such a novice with cars, are you sure you bought the correct oil for your vehicle?

marywooyeah

I see the point, just think it was made in a nasty way when I had already stated that I appreciated it would seem a silly question to people who were experienced motorists.

If I had a manual for the car of course I would look in it, I'll see if I can get one off ebay or something. I will take it to a garage and see if there's a dashboard fault, it would explain why it didnt come on last night and why the other symbols have only just shown up.

pitkin2020

marywooyeah wrote: »

Hammyman your post is really out of order, as I said I have noticed one of the symbols before but the others haven't come on when the ignition comes on before so I was worried something was wrong.

I also said I realised it was probably a silly question for experienced motorists but I've only been driving for 3 weeks so wanted to ask on here.

Maybe you should familiarise yourself with the forum rules.

whilst hammyman may have come across a little harsh he is correct in that you should take the time to read the manual all those warnings lamps will be explained. The fact you only started driving 3 weeks ago really is no excuse to not know what your car warning lights mean, in reality what would you do at 3am 100 miles from home when you can't ask on here!!.

I would also be concerned that you wish to attempt an oil change without really knowing what your doing, you could potential damage the engine if you don't do things correctly. By all means learn as much as you can the more you learn the more confident you will be when you require a garage but in this instance with the warning lamps you have you really need a garage to diagnose it as it could be one or more of several problems.

I would also suggest you join one of the vauxhall forums where you'll find loads of how tos and information that are specific to vauxhall.

Best of luck