Warning lights and gauges can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to the warning lights and gauges could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there could be a problem with a vehicle function. Some warning lights come on briefly when the engine is started to indicate they are working.
Gauges can indicate when there could be a problem with a vehicle function. Often gauges and warning lights work together to indicate a problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on while driving, or when one of the gauges shows there may be a problem, check the section that explains what to do. Waiting to do repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
Instrument Cluster
English Shown, Metric Similar
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle's speed in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the vehicle has been driven, in either kilometers or miles.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer shows how far the vehicle has been driven since the trip odometer was last reset.
Press the trip odometer reset stem on the cluster to switch between the odometer and trip odometer.
To reset the trip odometer to zero, press and hold the trip odometer reset stem while the trip odometer is displayed. Be careful not to reset the engine oil life monitor accidentally.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
Caution
If the engine is operated with the rpm's in the warning area at the high end of the tachometer, the vehicle could be damaged, and the damage would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not operate the engine with the rpm's in the warning area.
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge indicates about how much fuel is left when the ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
When the tank nears empty, the low fuel warning light will come on.
There is still a little fuel left, but the vehicle's fuel tank should be filled soon. See Low Fuel Warning Light for more information.
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates on which side of the vehicle the fuel door is located.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None of these show a problem with the fuel gauge: