Peugeot 407 I Indicators: Red Warnings (2004)

A red warning lamp on your dashboard is the car asking for your attention, and in some cases asking you to stop straight away. This guide explains each lamp, what it means and what you should do when you see it.

It covers the first-generation Peugeot 407, based on handbook edition ed01-04 for vehicles produced from 22 April 2004. The lamps described here are common to the 4-dial and 5-dial instrument panels. Some lamps only appear on certain versions, engines or equipment levels, and a few depend on the country.

Quick Reference

Braking system warning light

Look for the braking system symbol on your instrument panel. It can mean one of three things: the handbrake is applied or has not been released properly, the brake fluid level has dropped too far, or the electronic brake force distribution system has a fault. In the last two cases the STOP warning light comes on as well, and the warning is repeated on the instrument panel screen.

What to do:

If the handbrake is applied or not fully released:

• Release the handbrake fully.

If the brake fluid level has dropped too far (with the STOP light):

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

If the electronic brake force distribution system has a fault (with the STOP light):

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Seat belt warning light

This is the seat belt symbol on your instrument panel. With the ignition on, it comes on if an occupant has not fastened their seat belt or unfastens it.

What to do:

• Make sure everyone in the car has fastened their seat belt.

Low fuel level warning light

This is the fuel pump symbol on your instrument panel. It tells you the fuel level is low. Depending on the engine and driving conditions, you may be able to travel less than 30 miles (50 kilometres) on what is left, and the tank holds approximately 67 litres.

What to do:

• Refuel as soon as you can.

Engine diagnostics warning light

This is the engine diagnostics symbol on your instrument panel, and the warning is repeated on the instrument panel screen. How it lights up tells you what is wrong.

What to do:

If it stays on steadily, the engine emission control system is not fully effective:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

If it flashes, there is an emission control system fault and a risk of damage to the catalytic converter:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

If it comes on with the service warning light while the engine is running, there is an injection or ignition system fault:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Anti-lock braking system warning light (ABS)

This is the ABS symbol on your instrument panel, and the warning is repeated on the instrument panel screen. If it stays on above 6 mph (10 km/h), there is a fault with the ABS. You still have conventional servo-assisted braking.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Diesel engine pre-heat warning light

This is the pre-heat coil symbol on your instrument panel. It shows that the diesel engine is pre-heating, and how long it stays on depends on the weather outside.

What to do:

• Wait for the light to go out before you start the engine.

Passenger air bag disarming warning light*

This is the passenger air bag symbol on your instrument panel. If it stays on, the passenger air bag has been disarmed on purpose. This lamp depends on the country.

What to do:

• No action is needed if you disarmed the passenger air bag yourself.

STOP warning light

This is the STOP lamp on your instrument panel. What it means depends on whether it comes on alone or with another warning light.

What to do:

If the STOP light is the only light on, it means there is a power steering fault:

• Stop somewhere safe if steering feels different.

If it comes on with the engine oil pressure, coolant temperature, braking system or punctured tyre warning light:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Engine oil pressure warning light

This is the oil can symbol on your instrument panel. It means the engine oil pressure is too low, and the STOP warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Stop immediately if it comes on while the engine is running.
• If the engine is short of oil, top up the engine oil.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Coolant temperature warning light

This is the coolant temperature symbol on your instrument panel. It means the engine temperature is high, and the STOP warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Wait for the engine to cool down before topping up the coolant, if needed.

Battery charge warning light

This is the battery symbol on your instrument panel. It points to a fault in the charging circuit, for example the battery terminals or the alternator belt.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Punctured wheel warning light

This is the punctured wheel symbol on your instrument panel. It means one or more punctured wheels have been detected, and a message on the multifunction display shows which wheel. The STOP warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Change the damaged wheel.
• Have the damaged wheel repaired by a PEUGEOT dealer.

Electronic stability control system warning light (ESP)

This is the ESP symbol on your instrument panel. It either stays on or flashes, and each means something different.

What to do:

If it stays on, the ESP has been deactivated or has a malfunction:

• If there is a malfunction, contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

If it flashes, the ESP is in regulation mode, which means it is working:

• No action is needed.

Water in diesel filter warning light*

This is the diesel filter symbol on your instrument panel. It means there is water in the diesel filter, which risks damaging the injection system.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Air bags warning light

This is the air bag symbol on your instrument panel. It means there is a fault with the air bags. This lamp depends on the country.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Service warning light

This is the service symbol on your instrument panel. It comes on together with a range of other warnings, such as tyre under-inflation, engine diagnostics, a blown bulb, low wash-wipe fluid, particle emission filter saturation, engine oil level, low coolant level or brake pad wear. It also covers cruise control, automatic lights, obstacle detection, the engine immobiliser, a flat remote control battery, the automatic headlamp beam adjustment, low diesel additive level and doors open above 6 mph (10 km/h).

What to do:

• Check which other warning light or message has appeared with it.
• Follow the advice for that warning.

Low coolant level warning light

This is the low coolant level symbol on your instrument panel. It means there is not enough coolant in the cooling circuit. The cooling circuit is pressurised, so take care.

What to do:

• Stop immediately and wait for the engine to cool, then unscrew the cap by two turns to let the pressure drop and avoid any risk of scalding.
• Once the pressure has dropped, remove the cap and top up the coolant.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Engine oil level warning light

This is the engine oil level symbol on your instrument panel. It means the engine oil level is critical, either too low or too high.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Power steering warning light

This is the steering wheel symbol on your instrument panel. It means there is a power steering fault, and the STOP warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Handbrake warning light

This is the handbrake symbol on your instrument panel. It means the handbrake is applied or has not been released properly, and the braking system warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Release the handbrake fully.

Low wash-wipe and headlamp wash* fluid level warning light

This is the washer fluid symbol on your instrument panel. When you switch the wipers on, it tells you the fluid level is too low. Headlamp wash depends on the country.

What to do:

• Fill the wash-wipe and headlamp wash fluid reservoir.

Service warning light

This is the service symbol on your instrument panel. It always comes on with another warning, for example tyre under-inflation, engine diagnostics, a blown bulb, engine oil level, low coolant level, brake pad wear or particle emission filter saturation. It can also relate to cruise control, automatic lights, obstacle detection, the immobiliser, a flat remote control battery, headlamp beam adjustment, low diesel additive level or doors open above 6 mph (10 km/h).

What to do:

• Look for the other warning light or message shown with it.
• Follow the advice for that warning.

Low coolant level warning light

This is the low coolant level symbol on your instrument panel. It means the cooling circuit level is too low. Remember that the cooling circuit is pressurised.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, let the engine cool, then unscrew the cap by two turns so the pressure can drop without any risk of scalding.
• When the pressure has dropped, remove the cap and top up the coolant.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Engine oil level warning light

This is the engine oil level symbol on your instrument panel. It warns you that the oil level is critical, meaning too low or too high.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Power steering warning light

This is the steering wheel symbol on your instrument panel. It warns of a power steering fault and appears together with the STOP warning light.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Handbrake warning light

This is the handbrake symbol on your instrument panel. It shows that the handbrake is on or not properly released, and it comes on together with the braking system warning light.

What to do:

• Release the handbrake fully.

Low wash-wipe and headlamp wash* fluid level warning light

This is the washer fluid symbol on your instrument panel. It comes on when you use the wipers and the fluid level is too low. Headlamp wash depends on the country.

What to do:

• Fill the wash-wipe and headlamp wash fluid reservoir.

Activation warning light

This is one of the electronic stability control system (ESP) warning lights. It relates to the ESP being activated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Regulation warning light

This is one of the electronic stability control system (ESP) warning lights. It relates to the ESP working in regulation mode.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Deactivation warning light

This is one of the electronic stability control system (ESP) warning lights. It relates to the ESP being deactivated.

What to do:

• No action is needed if you switched the ESP off yourself.

Malfunction warning light

This is one of the electronic stability control system (ESP) warning lights. It relates to an ESP malfunction.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Tyre under-inflation warning light

This is the tyre pressure symbol on your instrument panel. It means the pressure in one or more tyres is too low, and a message on the multifunction display shows which wheel.

What to do:

• For your safety, check the tyre pressures as soon as possible.
• Use the information label on the central pillar of the driver's door for the correct pressures.

Punctured tyre warning light

This is the punctured tyre symbol on your instrument panel. It means one or more punctured wheels have been detected, and a message on the multifunction display identifies which. The STOP warning light comes on with it.

What to do:

• Stop immediately, somewhere safe.
• Change the damaged wheel.
• Have the damaged wheel repaired by a PEUGEOT dealer.

Tyre under-inflation detection system warning light

This is the tyre pressure detection system symbol on your instrument panel. It means one or more tyre pressure sensors are missing or not working, or the system itself has a fault.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Electronic engine immobiliser warning light

This is the engine immobiliser symbol on your instrument panel. It means the electronic engine immobiliser system has a malfunction.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Front brake pads wear warning light

This is the brake pad wear symbol on your instrument panel. It means the front brake pads are worn.

What to do:

• For your safety, have the brake pads replaced by a PEUGEOT dealer.

Fuel tank cap warning light (according to version)

This is the fuel tank cap symbol on your instrument panel, fitted on some versions only. With the engine running, it means the fuel tank cap is not secured properly or is missing. Its colour depends on your speed.

What to do:

Below 6 mph (10 km/h), the light comes on in orange:

• Check the fuel tank cap is in place and secured properly.

Above 6 mph (10 km/h), the light comes on in red:

• Stop somewhere safe.
• Check the fuel tank cap is in place and secured properly.

Door/bonnet*/boot open warning light

This is the open door symbol on your instrument panel. With the engine running, it means a door, the bonnet or the boot has not been closed properly, and an illustration on the multifunction display shows which. The bonnet warning is only on vehicles fitted with an alarm.

What to do:

Below 6 mph (10 km/h), the light comes on in orange:

• Close the door, bonnet or boot shown on the display.

Above 6 mph (10 km/h), the light comes on in red:

• Stop somewhere safe.
• Close the door, bonnet or boot shown on the display.

Air bags warning light

This is the air bag symbol on your instrument panel. It warns you that there is an air bag fault.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Bulb blown warning light (halogen lights)

This is the bulb symbol on your instrument panel. When the lights are on, it means one or more bulbs are faulty. The side repeaters and the 3rd brake light are not covered by this warning.

What to do:

• Have the faulty bulb replaced by a PEUGEOT dealer.

Automatic headlamp beam adjustment system warning light

This is the headlamp beam adjustment symbol on your instrument panel. It means the automatic headlamp height adjuster is faulty.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Automatic switching on of the lights system warning light

This is the automatic lights symbol on your instrument panel. It means the system that switches the lights on automatically has a fault. You can still switch the lights on manually.

What to do:

• Use the lights manually.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Particle emission filter saturation warning light (Diesel engine)

This is the particle emission filter symbol on your instrument panel. With the engine running, it means the filter is starting to become saturated, usually after a lot of slow town driving or long traffic jams, or that the diesel additive reservoir level is low. After long spells at very low speed or idling, you may notice water vapour from the exhaust when you accelerate, which does not affect the car's performance or the environment.

What to do:

• As soon as traffic allows, drive at 40 mph (60 km/h) or above for at least five minutes, until the light goes out, to regenerate the filter.
• If the light stays on, contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Automatic gearbox fault warning light

This is the automatic gearbox symbol on your instrument panel. It means there is an automatic gearbox fault, and the gearbox runs in a downgraded mode, locked in 3rd gear.

What to do:

• Never force the selector lever.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Electronically controlled suspension fault warning light

This is the suspension symbol on your instrument panel. It means the electronically controlled suspension has a malfunction.

What to do:

• Select automatic suspension operation.
• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer as soon as possible.

Speed control system warning light

This is the speed control symbol on your instrument panel. It means the cruise control has a fault.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Obstacle proximity detection system warning light

This is the obstacle detection symbol on your instrument panel. When you select reverse gear, it means the obstacle proximity detection system has a fault.

What to do:

• Contact a PEUGEOT dealer.

Electronically controlled suspension indicator light

This is the suspension indicator on your instrument panel. It comes on when you activate the SPORT function.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic switching on of the lights indicator light

This is the automatic lights indicator on your instrument panel. It comes on when you activate the AUTO function.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic switching on of the lights deactivation indicator light

This is the automatic lights deactivation indicator on your instrument panel. It comes on when you switch the AUTO function off.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic wipers indicator light

This is the automatic wipers indicator on your instrument panel. It comes on when you activate the AUTO function.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic wipers deactivation indicator light

This is the automatic wipers deactivation indicator on your instrument panel. It comes on when you switch the AUTO function off.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Park" indicator lights

This is one of the automatic gearbox lever position indicator lights. It shows the lever is in Park.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Reverse"

This is one of the automatic gearbox lever position indicator lights. It shows the lever is in Reverse.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Neutral" indicator lights

This is one of the automatic gearbox lever position indicator lights. It shows the lever is in Neutral.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Drive" indicator lights

This is one of the automatic gearbox lever position indicator lights, showing the lever is in Drive. If the letter S or the symbol T appears with it, the Sport or Snow program has been selected. The handbook also links this display to an automatic gearbox program fault.

What to do:

• No action is needed if you selected Sport or Snow yourself.

Electronically controlled suspension indicator light

This is the suspension indicator on your instrument panel. It lights up once the SPORT function is activated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic switching on of the lights indicator light

This is the automatic lights indicator on your instrument panel. It lights up once the AUTO function is activated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic switching on of the lights deactivation indicator light

This is the automatic lights deactivation indicator on your instrument panel. It lights up once the AUTO function is deactivated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic wipers indicator light

This is the automatic wipers indicator on your instrument panel. It lights up once the AUTO function is activated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

Automatic wipers deactivation indicator light

This is the automatic wipers deactivation indicator on your instrument panel. It lights up once the AUTO function is deactivated.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Park" indicator lights

This is one of the lever position indicator lights for the automatic gearbox. It tells you the lever is in Park.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Reverse"

This is one of the lever position indicator lights for the automatic gearbox. It tells you the lever is in Reverse.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Neutral" indicator lights

This is one of the lever position indicator lights for the automatic gearbox. It tells you the lever is in Neutral.

What to do:

• No action is needed.

"Drive" indicator lights

This is one of the lever position indicator lights for the automatic gearbox, telling you the lever is in Drive. An S or T shown alongside means the Sport or Snow program has been selected. The handbook also links this display to an automatic gearbox program fault.

What to do:

• No action is needed if you chose Sport or Snow yourself.

If You're Not Sure

If a lamp comes on and you're not sure what it means, stay calm, stop somewhere safe and check your handbook or this guide. Where the advice is to contact a PEUGEOT dealer, do so before carrying on with any long journey.

Red lamps are there to protect you and your Peugeot 407, so it pays to know them before you need them. Bookmark this page so you can find it quickly next time a light appears on your dashboard.

Related guides: Peugeot 407 I (2004-2005) red warning lights, Peugeot 407 I (2005-2010) red warning lights, Peugeot 407 I (2005-2010) orange warning lights and all Peugeot 407 guides.