# In this thread we discuss dash lights and what they resemble **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2024, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226 "2024-08-26T02:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/21 "2024-08-27T16:36:00Z")
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/rp-production-public-content/u7ai785eahlditusv00qfx4m7rss) ](https://storage.googleapis.com/rp-production-public-content/u7ai785eahlditusv00qfx4m7rss) Barry Allen, time to put on that goofy looking suit and race Superman around the Andromeda galaxy, again. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/22 "2024-08-27T16:47:04Z")
[image|400x400](https://boards.straightdope.com/uploads/short-url/mMrAZuPaR2XDJpe0bIHeF8kddfv.png) Your windshield is happy to see you! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/23 "2024-08-27T17:03:56Z")
I think that has something to do with Pikachu ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/24 "2024-08-27T17:30:57Z")
The low tire pressure also monitors the spare. It took me _ages_ to figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/25 "2024-08-27T18:03:17Z")
I didn’t want to be _that guy_ that posts other people’s work, but it’s been a couple days. I think this is pretty funny. [![](https://bockauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dash-lights-funny.jpg) ](https://bockauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dash-lights-funny.jpg) Concerning the vintage engine icon, I still see this warning sign on the road, for tractor crossing: [![](https://www.trafficsign.com/images/source/medium-images/X5755-EG.jpg) ](https://www.trafficsign.com/images/source/medium-images/X5755-EG.jpg) Tractors (and farmers, too, most likely) that look like that haven’t been made since 1965, yet that’s what people think tractors look like, I guess. And for us old fartes, the check engine icon looks like what an engine should look like; a real American V8. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/26 "2024-08-27T21:26:29Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > the check engine icon looks like what an engine should look like; a real American V8. well, word is, the **real American V8 ™** was the reason Check Engine Lights had to be invented ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/27 "2024-08-27T21:31:57Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > It’s telling you to check your helicopter. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Or drone in 2024 Or an airship. Built by some guy named Cid who appears in video games that go by the name _Final Fantasy_. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/28 "2024-08-27T21:41:06Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The Traction Control icon looks like it’s making fun of me for swerving around. “I have detected that you’re too drunk to drive. Get out now and call a cab!” > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Tractors (and farmers, too, most likely) that look like that haven’t been made since 1965, yet that’s what people think tractors look like, I guess. I’ll also note that “XING” is uniquely American signage, at least AFAIK. Around here crossing signs are spelled out: CROSSING. “XING” always makes me think of an alien planet, or the alien inhabitants of which, who are preparing to invade Earth with ray guns. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/29 "2024-08-27T22:09:43Z")
XING the Merciless > [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ll also note that “XING” is uniquely American signage My good friend in college wanted to try his hand at standup. One of his jokes was about the signs, specifically the ubiquitous WI and MN “DEER XING” signs, and how originally there were going to be “DEER t ING” like “cross-ing”, but that people were misinterpreting them as a euphemism for urine. “Look out Martha! There’s deer ting in the road!” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/30 "2024-08-27T22:59:51Z")
Some of the 60’sstyle gas pump/fuel warning lights make me think of an 8-bit elephant head. (They certainly don’t look like any gas pump I used in decades. It’s like floppy drive and telephone icons.) ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/31 "2024-08-28T00:54:45Z")
Had that come on once, accompanied by a feeling that the car had sunk up to its hubcaps in tar. Turns out it was informing me of a failure in the Electronic Throttle Control module. Given the title, I thought it would cost more than the car was worth to repair; however, the place where I have it serviced replaced the unit for $400 or so (and I could probably have done it myself if there had been more than 6mm clearance between the module and the radiator). ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/32 "2024-08-28T13:19:33Z")
I’ve always thought the glow plug light (“owl?” in **Just\_Asking\_Questions** ’s picture) looks like a spring, or maybe a Slinky. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226/33 "2024-08-28T17:54:18Z")
I thought that tractor sign was Chinese ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-this-thread-we-discuss-dash-lights-and-what-they-resemble/1006226.md?page=1)