Peugeot 308 I Indicators: Red Warnings (2007)

Red warning lamps on your Peugeot 308 point to something that needs your attention straight away. Several of them tell you to stop the car immediately and as safely as possible. When you switch the ignition on, the orange and red lamps light up briefly. Once the engine is running, they should go out. If one stays on, look it up below.

This guide covers the first-generation Peugeot 308 (308 I), based on handbook edition ed01-07, for cars produced from 20/09/2007. Some lamps depend on the version or equipment of your car, so you may not see every one listed here.

Quick Reference

Handbrake applied

This lamp is shown as a red handbrake symbol.

It is an operation indicator. When it comes on, it confirms that the handbrake is applied.

What to do:

• No specific action is given for this lamp. It simply shows you that the handbrake is on.

Central alert

This lamp is shown as a red central alert symbol.

It lights up together with another warning lamp: punctured wheel, braking, power steering, engine oil pressure or coolant temperature.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.
• See which other warning lamp is on alongside it, and read that section of this guide.

Braking

This lamp is shown as a red braking symbol.

When it comes on, it means there is a fault in one of the braking systems. This is either a significant drop in the level in the brake circuit, or a fault in the electronic brake force distribution (EBFD). For the EBFD fault, the ABS warning lamp comes on at the same time.

What to do:

If the braking lamp comes on by itself, the level in the brake circuit has dropped significantly:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.
• If the lamp is on while you are driving, check that the handbrake is fully released.

If the ABS lamp comes on together with the braking lamp, there is an EBFD fault:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Maximum coolant temperature

This lamp is shown as a red coolant temperature symbol.

When it comes on, the temperature in the cooling system is too high.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Engine oil pressure

This lamp is shown as a red oil pressure symbol.

When it comes on, there is a fault in the engine lubrication circuit.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Battery charge

This lamp is shown as a red battery symbol.

When it comes on, there is a fault in the battery charging circuit. The handbook gives examples such as dirty or loose terminals, or a slack or cut alternator belt.

What to do:

• No specific action is given for this lamp. It tells you there is a fault in the battery charging circuit.

Door open

This lamp is shown as a red open door symbol.

It means a door or the boot is open. On cars with an alarm, it also covers the bonnet. How it warns you depends on your speed.

What to do:

Below 6 mph (10 km/h):

• The lamp stays on continuously to show that something is open.

Above 6 mph (10 km/h):

• The lamp stays on continuously and you also hear an audible signal.

Seat belt not fastened/ unfastened

This lamp is shown as a red seat belt symbol.

When it comes on, the driver or the front passenger has not fastened their seat belt, or has unfastened it. It also comes on if one or more rear passengers unfasten their seat belt.

What to do:

• The lamp is telling you that a front seat belt is not fastened, or that a front or rear seat belt has been unfastened.

Battery charge

This is the displayed version of the battery warning, shown as a red battery symbol.

When it appears, there is a fault in the battery charging circuit. The handbook gives examples such as dirty or loose terminals, or a slack or cut alternator belt.

What to do:

• No specific action is given for this warning. It tells you there is a fault in the battery charging circuit.

Engine oil pressure

This is the displayed version of the oil pressure warning, shown as a red oil pressure symbol.

When it appears, there is a fault in the engine lubrication circuit.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Coolant temperature

This is the displayed version of the coolant temperature warning, shown as a red temperature symbol.

When it appears, the temperature in the cooling system is too high.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Coolant level

This warning is shown as a red coolant level symbol.

When it appears, there is not enough coolant in the cooling circuit.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Door open

This is the displayed version of the open door warning.

It means a door or the boot is open. On cars with an alarm, it also covers the bonnet. Its colour depends on your speed.

What to do:

Below 6 mph (10 km/h):

• The warning is displayed in orange to show that something is open.

Above 6 mph (10 km/h):

• The warning is displayed in red to show that something is open.

Braking

This is the displayed version of the braking warning, shown as a red braking symbol.

When it appears, there is a fault in one of the braking systems. This is either a significant drop in the level in the brake circuit, or a fault in the electronic brake force distribution (EBFD). For the EBFD fault, the ABS warning lamp comes on at the same time.

What to do:

If the braking warning appears by itself, the level in the brake circuit has dropped significantly:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.
• If the warning appears while you are driving, check that the handbrake is fully released.

If the ABS lamp comes on together with the braking warning, there is an EBFD fault:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Power steering

This warning is shown as a red steering wheel symbol.

When it appears, there is a fault in the power steering.

What to do:

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

If You're Not Sure

If you are not sure which lamp you are looking at, or a red lamp stays on after you start the engine, check the section of your handbook for that lamp. Where the handbook tells you to stop, stop the car immediately and as safely as possible.

Red lamps are the ones to take most seriously on your Peugeot 308. Get to know them now, so that you can react calmly and quickly if one comes on while you are driving.

Related guides: Peugeot 308 I (2007) orange warning lights, Peugeot 308 I (2007) green and blue lights, Peugeot 308 Indicators: Red Warnings (general guide) and all Peugeot 308 guides.