Peugeot 208 I Indicators: Orange Warnings (2012-2015)

Orange lamps on your dashboard are a mix of indicator lamps and warning lamps. Some simply confirm that a system has been switched on or switched off on purpose. Others warn of a fault that needs action from you, often with an audible signal and a message on the screen. Certain lamps also come on for a few seconds when you switch on the ignition and should go off once the engine starts.

This guide covers the first-generation Peugeot 208 (2012-2015) and is based on the handbook edition for vehicles produced from 1 May 2014. Some lamps only appear on certain versions or with certain equipment, so your car may not have all of them.

Quick Reference

Rear foglamp

This lamp shows the rear foglamp symbol. It stays on steadily to confirm that you have switched on the rear foglamp using the ring on the lighting control stalk.

What to do:

• To switch off the rear foglamp, turn the ring on the lighting control stalk rearwards.

Diesel engine pre-heating

This lamp shows the Diesel pre-heating symbol. It stays on steadily when the ignition switch is in the second position, with the ignition on. How long it stays on depends on the weather, and in extreme conditions it can be up to about thirty seconds.

What to do:

• Wait until the lamp goes off before you start the engine.
• If the engine does not start, switch the ignition off and on again.
• Wait for the lamp to go off once more, then start the engine.

Foot on the brake pedal

This lamp shows the brake pedal symbol. When it stays on steadily, you need to press the brake pedal. When it flashes on a car with an electronic gearbox, you have been holding the car on a slope with the accelerator for too long and the clutch is overheating.

What to do:

If the lamp is on steadily:

• With an electronic gearbox, press the brake pedal to start the engine, with the lever in position N.
• With an automatic gearbox and the engine running, press the brake pedal before releasing the parking brake to unlock the lever and move it out of position P.
• If you release the parking brake without pressing the brake pedal, the lamp will stay on.

If the lamp is flashing:

• Stop using the accelerator to hold the car on the slope.
• Use the brake pedal and/or the parking brake instead.

Foot on the clutch*

This lamp shows the clutch pedal symbol. It stays on steadily when Stop & Start is in STOP mode and the switch back to START mode is refused because the clutch pedal is not fully down.

What to do:

• Press the clutch pedal all the way down so the engine can switch to START mode.

Passenger's airbag system

This lamp shows the passenger airbag symbol. It stays on steadily when the control in the glove box is set to OFF, which means the passenger's front airbag is deactivated. In this case you can fit a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat.

What to do:

• To activate the passenger's front airbag again, set the control in the glove box to ON.
• With the airbag activated, do not fit a child seat in the rear-facing position.

Service

This lamp shows the Service symbol. When it stays on together with another warning lamp, major faults have occurred. When it stays on with a message on the screen (if your car has a display screen), there is a fault that has no warning lamp of its own.

What to do:

If it is on with another warning lamp:

• Check the section for that other warning lamp.
• Then contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If it is on with a message on the screen:

• Read the message to identify the fault, for example the engine oil level alert, a risk of the particle emissions filter becoming blocked (Diesel) or the Diesel fuel additive level (Diesel with particle emissions filter).
• Check the matching section of this guide or your handbook.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Braking

This lamp shows the braking symbol. When it stays on steadily together with the ABS warning lamp, the electronic brake force distribution (EBFD) system has a fault.

What to do:

• Stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Have the system checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

This lamp shows the ABS symbol. If it stays on steadily, the anti-lock braking system has a fault. Your car still has conventional braking.

What to do:

• Drive carefully at a reduced speed.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay.

Dynamic stability control (DSC/ASR)

This lamp shows the stability control symbol. When it flashes, the DSC/ASR system is working. When it stays on steadily, the DSC/ASR system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system is optimising traction and improving your car's directional stability because grip or the car's path has been lost.

If the lamp is on steadily:

• Have the system checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Power steering

This lamp shows the power steering symbol. If it stays on steadily, the power steering has a fault.

What to do:

• Drive carefully at a reduced speed.
• Have the power steering checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Engine autodiagnosis system

This warning uses two engine symbols. The main engine lamp stays on steadily if the emission control system has a fault, and flashes if the engine management system has a fault. A second engine symbol stays on steadily together with the Service warning lamp when a minor engine fault has been detected.

What to do:

If the main engine lamp is on steadily:

• The lamp should go off when you start the engine.
• If it does not go off, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay.

If the main engine lamp is flashing:

• There is a risk of destroying the catalytic converter.
• Have the engine checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the second engine symbol is on with the Service lamp:

• Have the minor fault checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

AdBlue® additive (BlueHDi Diesel)

This warning uses the AdBlue® symbol. One AdBlue® symbol stays on steadily when you switch on the ignition, with an audible signal and a message showing your remaining driving range, when that range is between 350 miles (600 km) and 1500 miles (2400 km). Two other symbols flash together with the Service warning lamp, with an audible signal and a message, when the range is between 0 and 375 miles (600 km) or when the tank is empty and starting is prevented.

What to do:

If the lamp is on steadily with the remaining range shown:

• Have the AdBlue® tank topped up as soon as possible.
• Go to a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop, or top it up yourself by following the AdBlue® section of your handbook.

If the lamps are flashing with the remaining range shown:

• Top up the AdBlue® tank to avoid a breakdown.
• Go to a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop, or top it up yourself by following the AdBlue® section of your handbook.

If the lamps are flashing and a message says starting is prevented:

• The AdBlue® tank is empty and the starting inhibition system required by law stops the engine from starting.
• Top up the AdBlue® tank at a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop, or yourself by following the AdBlue® section of your handbook.
• You must add at least 3.8 litres of AdBlue® before the engine will start.

SCR emissions control system (Blue HDi Diesel)

This lamp shows the SCR emissions control symbol. It comes on when you switch on the ignition, together with the Service and engine diagnostic warning lamps, an audible signal and a message. A steady lamp means a fault has been detected in the SCR emissions control system, while a flashing lamp shows your remaining driving range or tells you that starting is prevented.

What to do:

If the lamp is on steadily with an emissions control fault message:

• The alert goes away once exhaust emissions return to normal levels.

If the lamp is flashing with the remaining range shown:

• Your remaining driving range is between 0 and 650 miles (1 100 km).
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay.

If the lamp is flashing and a message says starting is prevented:

• You have gone over the authorised driving limit and the starting inhibition system stops the engine from starting.
• Call on a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop to be able to start the engine.

Under-inflation

This warning uses the tyre pressure symbol. The under-inflation lamp stays on steadily when the pressure in one or more tyres is too low. Different symbols flash and then stay on, together with the Service warning lamp, when the tyre pressure monitoring system has a fault or no sensor is detected on one of the wheels.

What to do:

If the under-inflation lamp is on steadily:

• Check your tyre pressures as soon as possible.
• Ideally, check them when the tyres are cold.

If the lamps flash and then stay on with the Service lamp:

• The system can no longer reliably detect under-inflation.
• Have the system checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Airbags

This lamp shows the airbag symbol. It comes on for a few seconds when you switch on the ignition and then goes off. If it stays on steadily, one of the airbag or seat belt pretensioner systems has a fault.

What to do:

When you switch on the ignition:

• The lamp should go off when you start the engine.
• If it does not go off, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp stays on steadily:

• Have the system checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If You're Not Sure

If an orange lamp comes on and you are not sure what it means, read the message on the instrument panel or multifunction screen, as it will usually explain the fault. If you are still unsure or the problem continues, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Most orange lamps on your Peugeot 208 either confirm that a system is on or off, or give you an early warning before a small fault becomes a bigger one. Take note of each lamp when it appears, and you will find it much easier to keep your car running well.

Related guides: Peugeot 208 I (2012-2015) red warning lights, Peugeot 208 I (2012-2015) green and blue lights, Peugeot 208 Indicators: Orange Warnings (general guide) and all Peugeot 208 guides.