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

An orange warning lamp on your dashboard means a system has a fault that needs investigating, or a function has changed its operating status. Some orange lamps come on for a few seconds when you switch on the ignition and should go off as soon as the engine starts. A lamp may come on steadily or flash, and it may come with an audible signal or a message on the screen.

This guide covers the orange warning lamps on the Peugeot 308 II (2015-present), based on the handbook edition for vehicles produced from 1 September 2020. Some lamps only appear on certain versions or with certain equipment, so your car may not have all of them.

Quick Reference

Engine self-diagnosis system

This is the orange engine self-diagnosis lamp. If it flashes, the engine management system has a fault and there is a risk of destroying the catalytic converter. If it stays on steadily, the emission control system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without fail.

If the lamp is on steadily:

• The lamp should go off once the engine has started.
• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop quickly.

Service

This is the orange Service warning lamp. If it comes on temporarily, one or more minor faults have been detected that have no warning lamp of their own. If it stays on steadily, one or more major faults of this kind have been detected.

What to do:

If the lamp comes on temporarily:

• Read the message on the instrument panel to find out what the problem is.
• You can deal with some problems yourself, such as an open door or a particle filter that is becoming saturated.
• For other problems, such as a fault with the tyre under-inflation detection system, visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp is on steadily:

• Read the message on the instrument panel to find out what the problem is.
• Then visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Release not available (with electric parking brake)

This involves the orange Service warning lamp. If it stays on with the message "Parking brake fault", automatic release of the electric parking brake is not available. On BlueHDi Diesel engines only, if the Service warning lamp stays on and the service spanner flashes and then stays on, the servicing interval has been exceeded.

What to do:

If the Service warning lamp is on with the message "Parking brake fault":

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the service spanner flashes and then stays on with the Service warning lamp (BlueHDi Diesel only):

• Have your car serviced as soon as possible.

Malfunction (with electric parking brake)

This covers several electric parking brake alerts. If the orange electric parking brake fault lamp stays on by itself, the electric parking brake has a fault. If another warning lamp comes on with the Service warning lamp and the message "Parking brake fault", the car cannot be held stationary with the engine running.

If warning lamps including the automatic functions lamp flash when you start the car, the parking brake has not been fully released. If the automatic functions lamp, the Service warning lamp and other warning lamps stay on with the message "Parking brake fault", the parking brake can no longer be relied on to hold the car safely in all circumstances.

What to do:

If the electric parking brake fault lamp is on steadily:

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop quickly.

If a warning lamp stays on with the Service warning lamp and the message "Parking brake fault":

• If applying and releasing the brake manually does not work, the control lever is faulty.
• Use the automatic functions at all times. They switch back on by themselves when the control lever has a fault.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamps flash when you start the car:

• Stop as soon as it is safe to do so and switch off the ignition.
• With your foot on the brake pedal, try to release the parking brake fully using the control lever.
• If the problem persists, contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the automatic functions lamp, the Service warning lamp and other lamps stay on with the message "Parking brake fault":

• Park on a level surface to make the car safe.
• With a manual gearbox, engage a gear. With an automatic gearbox, select P and place the supplied chocks against one of the wheels.
• Then contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Under-inflation

This is the orange under-inflation lamp. If it stays on with an audible signal and a message, the pressure in one or more tyres is too low. If it flashes and then stays on while the Service warning lamp is also on, the tyre pressure monitoring system is faulty and tyre pressures are no longer being monitored.

What to do:

If the under-inflation lamp is on with an audible signal and a message:

• Check your tyre pressures as soon as possible.
• Reinitialise the detection system once you have adjusted the pressures.

If the under-inflation lamp flashes then stays on with the Service warning lamp:

• Check your tyre pressures as soon as possible.
• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

AdBlue® (BlueHDi)

This is the orange AdBlue® lamp, and a message shows your remaining driving range. If it comes on for around 30 seconds when you start the car, you have between 1,500 and 500 miles (2,400 and 800 km) left. If it stays on when you switch on the ignition, with an audible signal, you have between 500 and 62 miles (800 and 100 km) left.

If it flashes with an audible signal, you have less than 62 miles (100 km) left. If it flashes with a message saying starting is prevented, the AdBlue® tank is empty and the legally required engine immobiliser stops the engine from starting.

What to do:

If the lamp comes on for around 30 seconds at start-up:

• Top up the AdBlue®.

If the lamp stays on when you switch on the ignition:

• Top up the AdBlue® promptly, or visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp flashes and shows your driving range:

• You must top up the AdBlue® to avoid the engine being prevented from starting, or visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp flashes and says starting is prevented:

• To restart the engine, top up the AdBlue® or contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.
• You must add at least 5 litres of AdBlue® to the tank.

SCR emissions control system (BlueHDi)

This alert uses the orange AdBlue® lamp together with the engine self-diagnosis lamp. If both stay on when you switch on the ignition, with an audible signal and a message, a malfunction of the SCR emissions control system has been detected.

If the AdBlue® lamp flashes and the engine self-diagnosis lamp stays on, with a message showing your driving range, you may be able to drive for up to 685 miles (1,100 km), depending on the message, before the engine immobiliser is triggered. If the message says starting is prevented, the permitted driving limit has been exceeded after the fault was confirmed, and the immobiliser stops the engine from restarting.

What to do:

If both lamps stay on with an audible signal and a message:

• The alert disappears once exhaust emissions return to normal levels.

If the AdBlue® lamp flashes and a message shows your driving range:

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop without delay to avoid the engine being prevented from starting.

If the AdBlue® lamp flashes and a message says starting is prevented:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop to get the engine started.

Distance Alert/Active Safety Brake

This is the orange Distance Alert/Active Safety Brake lamp. If it stays on with a message, the system has been deactivated in the vehicle configuration menu. If it flashes, the system is braking the car briefly to reduce the speed of a collision with the vehicle in front. If it stays on with a message and an audible signal, the system has a fault.

If it stays on together with the seat belt lamp, the driver's seat (and/or front passenger seat, depending on version) has detected a weight but that seat belt is not fastened.

What to do:

If the lamp is on steadily with a message only:

• This tells you the system has been switched off in the vehicle configuration menu.

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system is braking the car momentarily to lessen a collision with the vehicle in front.

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

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

If the lamp is on together with the seat belt lamp:

• Fasten the seat belt for the occupied seat.

Diesel engine preheating

This is the orange diesel preheating lamp. It comes on for a short time when you switch on the ignition, if the weather and the engine temperature make preheating necessary.

What to do:

• Wait until the lamp goes off before starting the engine.
• With Keyless Entry and Starting, the engine starts straight away when the lamp goes off if you press and hold the clutch pedal (manual gearbox) or the brake pedal (automatic gearbox).
• If the engine does not start, switch the ignition off and on again, wait for the lamp to go off, then start the engine.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

This is the orange ABS lamp. When it stays on, the anti-lock braking system has a fault, but your car still has conventional braking.

What to do:

• Drive carefully at a moderate speed.
• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Dynamic stability control and Anti-slip regulation (DSC)

This is the orange DSC/ASR deactivation lamp. When it stays on, you have switched the system off. On the GTi version, the DSC/ASR systems have been deactivated with the deactivation button. On other versions, the ASR system has been deactivated in the Driving functions menu.

What to do:

• Except on the GTi version, the system switches back on by itself above 31 mph (50 km/h).
• On all versions, it also switches back on when you switch off the ignition.
• To switch it back on below 31 mph (50 km/h), press the button again or use the Driving functions menu, depending on version.

Dynamic stability control /Anti-slip regulation (DSC)

This is the orange DSC/ASR lamp. If it flashes, the system is working to correct a loss of grip or of the car's trajectory. If it stays on steadily, the DSC/ASR system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system is helping you keep grip and stay on your intended path.

If the lamp is on steadily:

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Emergency brake malfunction (with electric parking brake)

This is the orange emergency brake lamp, shown together with the Service warning lamp. When both stay on with the message "Parking brake fault", emergency braking is not working at its best.

What to do:

• If automatic release is not available, release the parking brake manually.
• Alternatively, visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Airbags

This is the orange airbag lamp. When it stays on, one of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners is faulty.

What to do:

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Front passenger airbag (ON)

This is the orange front passenger airbag ON lamp. When it stays on, the front passenger airbag is active and its control is set to "ON".

What to do:

• Do not fit a rearward-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, as there is a risk of serious injury.

Front passenger airbag(OFF)

This is the orange front passenger airbag OFF lamp. When it stays on, the front passenger airbag is deactivated and its control is set to "OFF".

What to do:

• You can fit a rearward-facing child seat on the front passenger seat.
• The exception is if the airbag warning lamp is on, showing an airbag fault.

Deactivation of automatic functions (with electric parking brake)

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

What to do:

• You can still release the parking brake manually.
• If automatic application or release no longer works, visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Automatic application (with electric parking brake)

This is the orange automatic functions lamp, shown together with the Service warning lamp. When both stay on with the message "Parking brake fault", automatic application is not available and you can only use the parking brake manually.

What to do:

• Apply the parking brake with the electric parking brake control lever.
• If automatic release is not available either, release the parking brake manually.

Malfunction (with electric parking brake)

This alert uses the automatic functions lamp, the Service warning lamp and another warning lamp together. When they stay on with the message "Parking brake fault", the parking brake is faulty and both the manual and automatic functions may not be working.

What to do:

• When stationary, pull and hold the control lever for about 7 to 15 seconds until the indicator lamp comes on on the instrument panel.
• If that does not work, park on a level surface and engage a gear (manual gearbox) or select P and place the supplied chock against one of the wheels (automatic gearbox).
• Then contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Active Lane Keeping Assistance

This is the orange Active Lane Keeping Assistance lamp. If it stays on by itself, the system is deactivated or on standby. If it flashes, you are about to cross a broken lane marking without using your indicators. If it stays on together with the Service warning lamp, with a message and an audible signal, the system has a fault.

What to do:

If the lamp is on steadily by itself:

• This tells you the system is deactivated or on standby.

If the lamp is flashing:

• The system steps in and corrects your path on the side of the detected lane marking.

If the lamp is on with the Service warning lamp, a message and an audible signal:

• Visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Automatic headlamp dipping

This is the orange automatic headlamp dipping lamp. When it stays on with an audible signal and a message, a fault has been detected with the function or the camera.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop.

Rear foglamps

This is the orange rear foglamp indicator. When it stays on, your rear foglamps are switched on.

What to do:

• This is a reminder that your rear foglamps are on.

If You're Not Sure

If you are not sure what a lamp is telling you, check whether it is steady or flashing and read any message on the instrument panel, as this helps you tell a normal situation from a fault. Any orange warning lamp points to a fault that needs looking into, so if in doubt, visit a PEUGEOT dealer or a qualified workshop, and if the car feels unsafe, stop somewhere safe first.

Orange lamps on your Peugeot 308 II are an early warning, so acting on them promptly helps keep small problems from growing. For more detail on any system mentioned here, refer to the relevant section of your handbook.

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