Orange cog with a yellow flashing exclamation mark

makeorbrake

I have an 06 Ford Fiesta van TDCi - recently serviced.

Yesterday on my hour long commute, a sign on the dash started flashing - an orange cog with a yellow flashing exclamation mark. After a while, it stopped.

What is this indicating??

Cookie_Monster

makeorbrake wrote: »

What is this indicating??

that you should read the manual

makeorbrake

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

that you should read the manual

LOL....i was in fear of that suggestion

Better go and have a rummage and see if i can find it...!

Anan1

makeorbrake wrote: »

LOL....i was in fear of that suggestion

Better go and have a rummage and see if i can find it...!

Read up on all the warning lights while you're at it. I've had two friends lose engines because they didn't bother to RTFM.:)

IITYWYBMAD

If it's a cog, it's most likely a transmission warning. As was said above, have a look at the manual, and it will explain.

Berty

I have just gone through the manual for my 09 TDCi and I cannot find anything like that symbol you refer to.

corktina

it amazes me the number of posts on here reporting dashboard lights and still driving without finding what they mean.

mailforkev

Hope this helps.

It dosen't look too promising, think you might need to call your garage.



Source - page 59

makeorbrake

Yes - it says transmission or engine fault. Will have to call in to garage.

Thanks all.

makeorbrake

corktina wrote: »

it amazes me the number of posts on here reporting dashboard lights and still driving without finding what they mean.

It happened just after midnight last night - ten minutes after having to swap out a wheel in the dark! I don't want to drive it but i'm 40 miles to work and there is NO other option other than walk (and yes, i know you will be saying I will be doing more of that shortly...).

smash

Looking at that diagram above, why have for decided to use an engine management warning light to indicate a malfunction indicator lamp?

tossy

The only positive id take from it is that it is orange/yellow and not red.

mgbgt1978

When you said "swap out a wheel" did you mean put on the spare because you got a puncture ?
Maybe the spare is a space-saver and the difference in tyre size (and road speed ) has upset the transmission a liitle bit and caused the light to come on.
If you fitted the spare to the front, try swapping it with one of the rear wheels then go for a short drive and see if the light goes off.

makeorbrake

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

When you said "swap out a wheel" did you mean put on the spare because you got a puncture ?

Yes.

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Maybe the spare is a space-saver and the difference in tyre size (and road speed ) has upset the transmission a liitle bit and caused the light to come on. If you fitted the spare to the front, try swapping it with one of the rear wheels then go for a short drive and see if the light goes off.

The light came on for a ten minute period when driving to work. Then when driving home from work shortly after putting on the spare, it happened again - for approx. 10 minutes.
I drove to work today (yeah, i know - people will say I shouldnt but i didnt know what it was and i had no other way of getting to work!) - and no sign of the flashing light..
Seems like the spare doesn't come into the equation (it wasn't a compact - it was regular size).

shamwari

Similar light in my previous Ford Focus was the traction control light. If it is flashing after a wheel change then certainly the car is not happy with the replacement!

makeorbrake wrote: »

Seems like the spare doesn't come into the equation (it wasn't a compact - it was regular size).

Yes but if the rim and / or tyre are different to those fitted on the rest of the car, then this can cause an problem. If your car is fitted with ABS, the ABS control unit counts the wheel rotations of each wheel, and a mis-sized wheel will be detected through it having a different number of rotations that the others. This is crucial for controling ABS, some body stability systems, traction control, and even the speedo on the dash!

makeorbrake

shamwari wrote: »

Yes but if the rim and / or tyre are different to those fitted on the rest of the car, then this can cause an problem. If your car is fitted with ABS, the ABS control unit counts the wheel rotations of each wheel, and a mis-sized wheel will be detected through it having a different number of rotations that the others. This is crucial for controling ABS, some body stability systems, traction control, and even the speedo on the dash!

I see the point your making. The only thing that I'm confused about is the fact that the first instance of this happening was on the way to work. The puncture and subsequent wheel change didn't come until 9 hours later on my way home.

kasper

maybe when the light came on first your wheel was soft and later you changed it when it was flat