Problem with Icons on the dash

[Ghostteck]

Hey guys i was wondering if anyone could tell me whats up with my car. I have a little icon that appers on the far left under the heat and gas meter and it look like a car with rays coming out the back at first i thought it was my back lights are out so i checked them and reverse lights and signals and there all fine. it shows up everytime i press on the brakes but my brakes are fine... can anyone help me with that?

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Here's what you do; pull the handbrake on, start your car with JUST the key... DON'T hold down the brake pedal (habit from driving BMWs where it acts as security so I'd thought I'd make that clear).

Now, start by turning on just the parking lights and see if it turns on then. Once you're done, place your foot on the brake pedal; observe. Then, shift it into reverse, repeat.

Usually the turn signals won't cause the "rear light out" indicator, but rather a quicker-than-usual blinking of the signal lights. Once you've found your culprit, keep in mind that Toyota usually has a "fail safe" type operation, which means that once the primary filament of the bulb burns out, it'll activate the secondary (usu. dimmer).

Example (and I've seen this firsthand on my mom's Camry): Your front left large filament (reserved for signal) burns out. Instead of NOT sending a signal response, it'll send the lighting power to the small filament (reserved for parking light marker). I don't know if this is the case for the taillights, but that's one thing you gotta look out for.

[Jon11582]

Here's what you do; pull the handbrake on, start your car with JUST the key... DON'T hold down the brake pedal (habit from driving BMWs where it acts as security so I'd thought I'd make that clear).

Now, start by turning on just the parking lights and see if it turns on then. Once you're done, place your foot on the brake pedal; observe. Then, shift it into reverse, repeat.

Usually the turn signals won't cause the "rear light out" indicator, but rather a quicker-than-usual blinking of the signal lights. Once you've found your culprit, keep in mind that Toyota usually has a "fail safe" type operation, which means that once the primary filament of the bulb burns out, it'll activate the secondary (usu. dimmer).

Example (and I've seen this firsthand on my mom's Camry): Your front left large filament (reserved for signal) burns out. Instead of NOT sending a signal response, it'll send the lighting power to the small filament (reserved for parking light marker). I don't know if this is the case for the taillights, but that's one thing you gotta look out for.

Keep the Handbrake up. Put your parking lights on, put your hazards on and throw it in reverse. Go behind the car and observe. That covers pretty much all the rear lights except for the brakes. Then ask a friend to tap your brake, and check out that all three brake lights are lighting up.

Remember if any filament is out, then the rear light out indicator will turn on. The brake and parking light are in the same bulb, but are two different filaments in those bulbs. If it does indeed redirect to the low filament on the amber bulb if the high filament is out, then if your turning signal filament is out, your blinker may be dimmer on one side, but still blink.

[Ghostteck]

Hey thanks guys ill try it and get back to you

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Then ask a friend to tap your brake, and check out that all three brake lights are lighting up.

^^ My prediction is on the brake lights . Its a tough cookie to check it by one person. I usually have a stick de-press the brake pedals (one side) and have its other end below the drivers seat. This way the brake pedals are presses...that how i check my brake lighs..but its easier if you have friend.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Here's what you do; pull the handbrake on, start your car with JUST the key... DON'T hold down the brake pedal (habit from driving BMWs where it acts as security so I'd thought I'd make that clear).

Now, start by turning on just the parking lights and see if it turns on then. Once you're done, place your foot on the brake pedal; observe. Then, shift it into reverse, repeat.

Usually the turn signals won't cause the "rear light out" indicator, but rather a quicker-than-usual blinking of the signal lights. Once you've found your culprit, keep in mind that Toyota usually has a "fail safe" type operation, which means that once the primary filament of the bulb burns out, it'll activate the secondary (usu. dimmer).

Example (and I've seen this firsthand on my mom's Camry): Your front left large filament (reserved for signal) burns out. Instead of NOT sending a signal response, it'll send the lighting power to the small filament (reserved for parking light marker). I don't know if this is the case for the taillights, but that's one thing you gotta look out for.

Keep the Handbrake up. Put your parking lights on, put your hazards on and throw it in reverse. Go behind the car and observe. That covers pretty much all the rear lights except for the brakes. Then ask a friend to tap your brake, and check out that all three brake lights are lighting up.

Remember if any filament is out, then the rear light out indicator will turn on. The brake and parking light are in the same bulb, but are two different filaments in those bulbs. If it does indeed redirect to the low filament on the amber bulb if the high filament is out, then if your turning signal filament is out, your blinker may be dimmer on one side, but still blink.

The reason why I suggested it the way I did was for an auto. For that, you'll have to press the brake pedal to get it out of Park and therefore affect the results.

[Jon11582]

Here's what you do; pull the handbrake on, start your car with JUST the key... DON'T hold down the brake pedal (habit from driving BMWs where it acts as security so I'd thought I'd make that clear).

Now, start by turning on just the parking lights and see if it turns on then. Once you're done, place your foot on the brake pedal; observe. Then, shift it into reverse, repeat.

Usually the turn signals won't cause the "rear light out" indicator, but rather a quicker-than-usual blinking of the signal lights. Once you've found your culprit, keep in mind that Toyota usually has a "fail safe" type operation, which means that once the primary filament of the bulb burns out, it'll activate the secondary (usu. dimmer).

Example (and I've seen this firsthand on my mom's Camry): Your front left large filament (reserved for signal) burns out. Instead of NOT sending a signal response, it'll send the lighting power to the small filament (reserved for parking light marker). I don't know if this is the case for the taillights, but that's one thing you gotta look out for.

Keep the Handbrake up. Put your parking lights on, put your hazards on and throw it in reverse. Go behind the car and observe. That covers pretty much all the rear lights except for the brakes. Then ask a friend to tap your brake, and check out that all three brake lights are lighting up.

Remember if any filament is out, then the rear light out indicator will turn on. The brake and parking light are in the same bulb, but are two different filaments in those bulbs. If it does indeed redirect to the low filament on the amber bulb if the high filament is out, then if your turning signal filament is out, your blinker may be dimmer on one side, but still blink.

The reason why I suggested it the way I did was for an auto. For that, you'll have to press the brake pedal to get it out of Park and therefore affect the results.

I too have an auto. Yes, you do have to step on the brake to get it in reverse, but I have no idea why that would affect the results, since your brakes do not stay lit after you take your foot off the brake.

Even if you do find out its your brakes are triggering it, you still have to figure out which of the three bulbs it is by physical observation, which you will still need a friend to press the brakes while you observe. (...or by rigging a stick, as Jai suggested.)

[Ghostteck]

Hey i found out the problem wen i was in back of my car my lights were working so i asked my friends to step on the brake pedal and everything was working and the passanger side flicked on and off
......sooo the filament was just about to brake but not there yet so i just changed the bulbs completely and its fine now... i think it was becuase of the light flicking in and out that cuase the icon to come up every now and then

[woa_its_j3ff]

just replace the bulbs... simple.