1996 FORD ASPIRE Owners Manual

55
Warning Lights and
Gauges
[LG00600(ALL)07/95]
The following lights and gauges are on the
instrument cluster. All of the warning lights and
gauges alert you to possible problems with your
vehicle. The following section details what each
of these indicators means.
[LG00650(ALL)05/95]
In your vehicle, the warning lights and gauges
are grouped together on the instrument panel.
We call this grouping a cluster. Your vehicle has
a standard cluster.
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56 [LG01600(ALL)07/95]
full page art:0032162-EInstrument panel
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57 [LG01900(ALL)07/95]
full page art:0032163-E
The standard cluster
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*
[LG01950(ALL)01/95]
Indicator Lights and Chimes
%*
[LG01975(ALL)07/95]
Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime
[LG01990(ALL)09/93]
one inch art:0030171-B
Safety belt light
[LG02000(ALL)07/95]
This warning light and chime remind you to
fasten your safety belt under the following
conditions:
[LG02100(ALL)02/95]
q
If the safety belt is not buckled when the
ignition is turned to the ON position, the
chime will turn on for four (4) to eight (8)
seconds and the light will come on for at
least 60 seconds.
[LG02200(ALL)02/95]
q
If the safety belt is buckled while the light is
on and the chime is sounding, both the light
and chime will turn off.
[LG02300(ALL)07/95]
q
If the safety belt is buckled before the
ignition is turned to the ON position, neither
the light nor the chime will come on.
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59
*
[LG02400(ALL)06/95]
Brake System Warning Light
[LG02550(ALL)09/93]
one inch art:0032206-B
Brake system and parking brake light
[LG02600(ALL)12/93]
This light comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition key to START or ON. It
normally goes off shortly after the engine starts
and after you release the parking brake.
However, it may stay on for up to 60 seconds. If
the light doesn't illuminate after the engine is
started, stays on for longer than 60 seconds, or
comes on after you have fully released the
parking brake, have the hydraulic brake system
checked.
*
[LG02650(ALL)02/94]
This light will also come on if the parking brake
does not release fully. If it does stay onafterthe
parking brake is fully released, it means there
may be a brake problem. Pull off the road and
stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push, the pedal may go closer to the
floor, or it may take longer to stop the vehicle.
Try the brakes again after you have stopped.
[LG02675(ALL)02/95]
Your vehicle has a divided brake system. If one
part isn't working, the other part can still work
and stop the vehicle. For good braking, you
need both systems working well. If the warning
light goes on, there could be a problem. Have
the brake system inspected right away.
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*
[LG02700(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes
may not be working properly. Have the
brakes checked immediately.
*
[LG03200(ALL)01/95]
Charging System Light
*
[LG03300(ALL)03/95]
This light, shown as a battery symbol on your
cluster, indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system checked.
[LG03400(ALL)05/93]
one inch art:0030172-C
Charging system light
*
[LG03500(ALL)07/95]
This light comes on every time you turn the
ignition to the ON or START position (engine
off). The light should go off when the engine
starts and the alternator begins to charge.
*
[LG03550(ALL)01/95]
If the light stays on or comes on when the
engine is running, have the electrical system
checked as soon as possible.
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61
*
[LG03615(ALL)02/95]
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
[LG03715(ALL)07/93]
This light indicates low oil pressure, not low oil
level. However, if the engine's oil level is low, it
could affect the oil pressure. This light comes on
every time the ignition key is turned to ON or
START, but it normally turns off when the
engine starts.
[LG03800(ALL)05/93]
one inch art:0030173-C
Engine oil pressure light
[LG03900(ALL)02/95]
If the light stays on or turns on while the engine
is running:
*
[LG04000(ALL)03/95]
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible.
[LG04100(ALL)03/94]
2.Shut off the engine immediately.Continued
operation could cause severe engine damage.
[LG04200(ALL)02/95]
3. Check the engine oil level. Make sure the car
is on level ground.
[LG04300(ALL)07/93]
4. Add oil to the full mark on the dipstick
before you drive your car again. Do not
overfill. Do not operate the engine when the
oil light is on. For more information about
adding oil, seeEngine oil recommendationsin
the Index.
[LG04350(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not rely on the oil light to tell you
when the oil is low. Have the oil checked
often. It is possible for damage to occur if
an engine is operated with a low oil level.
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62
*
[LG04500(ALL)01/95]
High Beam Light
*
[LG04600(ALL)03/95]
This light comes on when the headlamps are
turned to high beam or when you flash the
lights.
*
[LG04700(ALL)01/92]
one inch art:0030174-A
High beam light
*
[LG05300(ALL)03/95]
Check Engine Warning Light
*
[LG05400(ALL)05/95]
This light comes on when the electronic engine
control system is not working properly. This is
the computer system that controls the operating
conditions of the engine.
*
[LG05450(ALL)09/93]
one inch art:0030175-B
Check engine warning light
*
[LG05600(ALL)05/95]
This light comes on briefly when you turn the
ignition to the ON position, but should turn off
when the engine starts. If the light does not
come on when you turn the ignition to the ON
position or if it comes on and stays on when
you are driving, have your vehicle serviced as
soon as possible. This indicates a possible
problem with one of the engine's emission
control systems.You do not need to have your
vehicle towed in.
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