Peugeot 308 II Indicators: Orange Warnings (2014-2015)

Orange lamps on your Peugeot 308 II either point to a fault that needs your attention, or confirm that a system is working or has been switched off on purpose. Some come on with a message and an audible signal, and some can be steady or flashing. The way a lamp lights up, together with what the car is doing at the time, tells you whether everything is normal or something is wrong.

This guide covers the second-generation Peugeot 308 built from 1 November 2014, based on handbook edition ed01-15 (2014-2015). Several lamps come on for a few seconds when you switch the ignition on and should go out once the engine starts. Some lamps only appear on certain versions or with certain equipment, so your car may not have all of them.

Quick Reference

Rear foglamps

This orange lamp is the rear foglamp indicator. When it is on steadily, it simply confirms that your rear foglamps are switched on.

What to do:

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

Diesel engine pre-heating

This orange lamp is the Diesel pre-heating indicator. It comes on steadily when you turn the ignition switch to the second position (ignition on) or press the START/STOP button. How long it stays on depends on the conditions outside, up to about thirty seconds in extreme conditions.

What to do:

• Wait until the lamp goes out before starting the engine. The engine will then start straight away, as long as you press the clutch pedal fully down with a manual gearbox, or keep your foot on the brake pedal with an automatic gearbox.
• If the engine does not start, switch the ignition off and back on, wait for the lamp to go out again, then start the engine.

Passenger airbag system

This orange lamp shows the status of the front passenger airbag. When it is on steadily, the control switch at the passenger's end of the dashboard is set to "ON" and the front passenger airbag is active. Never fit a rearward-facing child seat on the front passenger seat while it is active.

What to do:

• If you need to fit a rearward-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, turn the control switch to "OFF" to deactivate the passenger airbag first.

Passenger's front airbag

This orange lamp appears in the seat belt and front passenger airbag warning lamp display. When it is on steadily, the control switch at the passenger's end of the dashboard is set to "OFF" and the front passenger airbag is deactivated, so you can fit a rearward-facing child seat on the front passenger seat.

What to do:

• To reactivate the front passenger airbag, set the control switch to "ON".
• Once the airbag is active, do not fit a rearward-facing child seat on that seat.

Dynamic stability control (DSC/ASR)

This orange indicator lamp comes on steadily when you press the DSC/ASR button. It confirms that dynamic stability control (DSC) and anti-slip regulation (ASR) have been deactivated.

What to do:

• Press the button again to switch DSC/ASR back on. The indicator lamp will go out.
• The system switches on automatically every time you start the car, and if you have deactivated it, it comes back on by itself from around 30 mph (50 km/h).
• See the DSC/ASR section of your handbook for more details.

Service

This orange lamp is the Service warning. It is used for faults that do not have their own warning lamp, and on BlueHDi Diesel versions it also tells you when servicing is overdue. A message on the display tells you more.

What to do:

If the lamp comes on briefly, a minor fault has been detected:

• Read the message to find out what it is, for example low engine oil level, low screenwash or headlamp wash fluid, a flat remote control battery, low tyre pressures, or a saturated particle filter (FAP) on Diesel vehicles.
• For more on the particle filter, see the "Checks - particle filter" section of your handbook.
• For any other fault, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp stays on, a major fault has been detected:

• Read the message to identify the fault, then contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp stays on and the service spanner flashes and then stays lit (BlueHDi Diesel versions only):

• The servicing interval has been exceeded, so have your car serviced as soon as possible.

Electric parking brake fault

This orange lamp is the electric parking brake fault warning. When it is on steadily, a fault has been detected in the electric parking brake.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay.
• See the electric parking brake section of your handbook for more details.

Deactivation of the automatic functions of the electric parking brake

This orange lamp relates to the automatic functions of the electric parking brake. When it is on steadily, automatic application (when you switch off the engine) and automatic release are either deactivated or faulty. If there is a fault, a message appears as well.

What to do:

• To turn the automatic functions back on, follow the steps in the "electric parking brake" section of your handbook.
• If the brake will not apply or release automatically, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.
• You can still release the parking brake manually.

Braking

This is the braking warning lamp. When it is 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 car checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

This orange lamp is the ABS warning. When it is on steadily, the anti-lock braking system has a fault, although 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 orange lamp shows the DSC/ASR system at work. When it flashes, the system is actively helping traction and keeping the car stable after a loss of grip or a change in its path. When it stays on steadily, the DSC/ASR system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system is working to improve traction and keep the car on its intended line, so drive with care.

If the lamp stays on:

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

Engine autodiagnosis system

This orange lamp is the engine autodiagnosis warning. When it flashes, the engine management system has a fault and there is a risk of destroying the catalytic converter. When it stays on steadily, the emission control system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• Have the car checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop, as the catalytic converter could be destroyed.

If the lamp stays on:

• It should go out once the engine is started.
• If it does not go out, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay.

Emergency Collision Braking System

This orange lamp belongs to the Emergency Collision Braking System. When it flashes, the system is braking. When it stays on with a message and an audible signal, the system has a fault. When it stays on without these, the system has been deactivated via the menu.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system is braking briefly to reduce the speed of a collision with the vehicle ahead.

If the lamp stays on with a message and an audible signal:

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

If the lamp stays on without a message or audible signal:

• The handbook gives no action for this case: the lamp shows that the system has been deactivated via the menu.

Deflated tyre

This orange lamp is the deflated tyre warning. When it stays on steadily, the pressure in one or more tyres is too low. When it flashes and then stays on, the under-inflation detection system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp stays on:

• Check your tyre pressures as soon as possible, ideally when the tyres are cold.

If the lamp flashes and then stays on:

• Have the system checked by a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.
• See the under-inflation detection section of your handbook for more details.

Foot on the brake pedal

This orange lamp is a reminder to press the brake pedal. When it is on steadily, the car needs you to press the brake pedal before it will continue.

What to do:

• With an automatic gearbox and the engine running, press the brake pedal before releasing the parking brake, so the gear lever unlocks and you can move it out of position P.
• If you release the parking brake without pressing the brake pedal, the lamp will stay on.

Foot on the clutch

This orange lamp relates to Stop & Start. When it is on steadily, the engine is in STOP mode and cannot switch to START mode because the clutch pedal is not fully pressed down.

What to do:

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

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 screen, as it usually explains the fault. If it still is not clear, or the lamp does not go out when it should, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop for advice.

Most orange lamps on the Peugeot 308 II are a prompt to act or a confirmation that a system has been switched on or off, rather than an emergency. Keep an eye on any messages that appear with them, deal with faults promptly, and your 308 will look after you in return.

Related guides: Peugeot 308 II (2014-2015) red warning lights, Peugeot 308 II (2014-2015) green and blue lights, Peugeot 308 Indicators: Orange Warnings (general guide) and all Peugeot 308 guides.