Your Jaguar is equipped with an array of tech and safety features, all installed to provide you with a smooth, reliable and safe journey. With its numerous sensors and lights, your car can detect and then inform you of a variety of issues that may need urgent attention.
The Jaguar warning lights are like a guide for troubleshooting vehicle problems. They inform you of various issues, helping you navigate your way to an optimal solution. The thing is, you may not always know what they mean and might ignore them or even address something different altogether.
In this blog, we explore Jaguar warning lights and tell you what they mean and what you may need to do.
Jaguar dashboard warning lights explained
Firstly, you’ll notice that Jaguar warning lights are red or yellow. It’s common to assume that red is to be seen as a high-level warning and yellow to indicate something less severe, but in our opinion, treat them all equally. No matter the scale of the problem, it could escalate to something more problematic. In the case of your Jaguar, yellow warning lights normally indicate problems that need checking soon, but may not be an immediate issue. Red lights, on the other hand, mean a potential safety issue and stopping as soon as possible is advised.
Let’s explore them in some more detail:
Jaguar red dashboard warning lights
We’ll cover the red dashboard warning lights for your Jaguar first. As we touched upon earlier, these are the ones that may require immediate action.
Battery
Resembling a rectangular box with a plus and minus sign, a red battery light indicates a problem with the battery charging system. The causes vary and should be investigated as soon as possible by a professional Jaguar service centre.
Seatbelt
The red seatbelt warning light shows a person sitting with a seatbelt. It will illuminate if someone undoes their seatbelt while the car is being driven. As soon as the seatbelt is clipped back into place, the light goes out.
Handbrake
Your handbrake light is a circle with an exclamation mark inside it, and what looks like a bracket on either side. It lights up when you start your Jaguar and should then go out. If it remains lit, you could have faulty brakes or need to top up your brake fluid.
DEF
Your DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) light will come on when your DEF is low. This needs to be addressed as soon as possible, as once the reservoir has dried out, your car won’t start. If you have inadvertently used the wrong fluid, you’ll also get the warning light. This is the light that looks like two raindrops and two sticks above a wave!
Engine temperature
Looking like a thermometer on a wave, this light tells you that the engine temperature has got too high. You’ll also get a warning message on the instrument panel. As soon as you see this light, stop as soon as you can to prevent further issues.
DPF filter
Your DPF filter can get blocked, and if it has failed to regenerate, the light will turn red. This indicates a severe problem and likely means that your filter is blocked. Do not continue to drive and request help from a specialist right away.
Lane departure warning
If the lane departure feature is active, this light will activate, informing you that you are changing lanes without indicating. Think of it as a way to prevent accidents rather than a fault with your vehicle.
Low oil pressure
With a dripping oil can, this light informs you that the oil pressure is too low. Stop your Jaguar immediately and switch off the engine. Check the oil levels and top up accordingly.
Jaguar yellow dashboard warning lights
Yellow warning lights on your Jaguar will indicate issues that are bad but not yet severe. They should still be addressed as soon as possible to prevent the problems from escalating. Many yellow lights will often turn to red if the issue is particularly serious.
Airbag
Your airbag warning light will always come on when you first start the car, but it will go out again shortly afterwards. If it doesn’t and it remains on as you drive, there is likely to be a fault with the airbag system.
ABS
Like with many of the warning lights, the ABS light will come on when the car is first started. It should then go out. If it doesn’t or it comes back on as you drive, the ABS has developed a fault. The brakes will still work, but you should avoid heavy braking.
Brakes
If your brake light stays yellow after you start the car or reappears while driving, it indicates that your brake pads may be worn. When yellow, the problem isn’t always severe, but it is best to exercise caution and have your brakes inspected.
Check engine
If the check engine light illuminates when the engine is running, it is a sign of an emission fault with the car. You can still drive, but it would be best to have the issue addressed as quickly as possible. In some cases, your Jaguar might activate limp mode to protect the engine from further harm.
Dynamic stability control
The DSC lamp, which looks like a car skidding on the road, will flash when the system activates. The light will stay on if there is a fault, and a warning message will be shown on the instrument panel. Your Jaguar remains safe to drive at this point, but you’ll no longer have DSC, so you should drive more carefully.
Exhaust filter
We mentioned earlier that the filter light may turn red when there is a severe issue, but it may also go yellow if the filter is getting full. When this happens, follow the on-screen messages to solve the problem.
External temperature
Looking like a snowflake, this light is there to tell you that the weather outside is cold enough for ice to form on the road. This presents a slip hazard and is there to advise caution.
Low fuel warning
Perhaps the most common yellow light to see. With a petrol pump graphic, this light indicates that your fuel is running low and you should refuel as soon as possible. An arrow on the display will remind you which side your fuel cap is on.
Tyre pressure monitoring system
The TPMS lamp looks like an exclamation point in a vase. This will come on when one or more tyres are under-inflated and need attention.
What should you do when a warning light shows on your Jaguar?
You’ll have seen from our list that Jaguar specialists should treat many of the issues; some can be tackled by driving a little more carefully or by following on-screen instructions. However, for added peace of mind, it can always help to speak to a professional.
At RCV, our more than 40 years of experience help Jaguar owners get the best from their vehicles. With Jaguar MOTs as well as Jaguar tyres & wheel alignment and comprehensive diagnostic testing, we provide a one-stop shop for all aspects of Jaguar care. Contact us today to find out more.