Flashing orange (!) tacho warning light?

Rusty12 · Post by **Rusty12** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:23 pm

What does it mean when the usually red (!) warning light flashes orange whilst driving?

Its been happening on and off this week, normally about 2 mins after I startd the car, and then normally dissapears.

I thought it must have been oil but there is an oil light on the other side... where is the exhast light?

GPXXX · Post by **GPXXX** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:32 pm

coud be your windscreen washer liquid running low...

Post by **smorison** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:45 pm

which light exactly? is it up the top right? if so its your washer bottle getting empty.... i think every FTO owner has been scared by this the first time they see it

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:58 pm

as someone who has pulled there dash apart many times I can confirm that each of the warning lights only has one globe behind it and as such cannot change colour.

The (!) light is the brake warning light and is most definitely red, so if you are seeing an orange light then it is from another warning indicator.

More than likey, as the other two have mentioned this is your washer bottle warning light and it is coming on when you corner, brake or accelerate, as the water is too low and gets slushed around.

Rusty12 · Post by **Rusty12** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:05 am

I have SEEN the light with my very own eyes and its definately orange. The same colour orange as the lights that light up on the other side of the tacho when you first turn your car on. Maybe its the light under the (!) one, but there are only three lights on that side.

Um, I thought I heard some people talking about a green light on the tacho that turns both orange and red.

Post by **smorison** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:39 am

Rusty12 wrote: Um, I thought I heard some people talking about a green light on the tacho that turns both orange and red.

there is no provision for this to happen in the dash setup...

easiest way to find out is go run your washers for a bit .... see if the light comes on and stays on...

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:59 am

I can see from a FTO brochure that the warning light below the brake warning light does light up orange, however when I check the owners manual it makes no reference as to what this warning light is.

What model and year of car do you have?

Rusty12 · Post by **Rusty12** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:04 am

thanks, i'll check it out. must have a really small tank as i swear i only filled it up about 2 months ago.

Is there are green light on the tacho? any light that turns green? i swear i've seen a pic floating around somewhere of a green light on the tacho...

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:09 am

here we go... if it is the warning light below the (!) brake warning light, then it is the ABS warning light.

...and that's probably one warning light you don't want to come up!

So what model and year car do you have?

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:27 am

If it is the ABS warning light turn on, then theres only two reason that i can think of, which happen to me.

1. Your Master brake cylinder seal is leaking.

2. Your brake pads or disc are worn.

Rusty12 · Post by **Rusty12** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:52 am

I have a fully kitted 95 GS, so, from my knowledge, its essentially a GPX but with the 1.8 4G93 engine. Chassis number indicates it came from the plant with the 4G93.

I didn't think mine had ABS brakes, never really sussed it out and never knew how to really check. Do all FTO models come with ABS as standard? I didn't think they did. What does the 3rd warning light stand for on non ABS cars (if they exist).

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:54 am

Not all fto's came with ABS, i believe that pre 96/97, ABS was an option while post 97, ABS was standard on most fto's. Correct me if i'm wrong please ppl

The way to check would be either if you have an ABS light that comes on while starting the car or by slamming on your brakes

If the brakes lock up while suddenly stopping then that means you don't have ABS, i suggest you find a some grass or gravel... it will make it easier for you and your tyres

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:07 pm

If you got a photo of your engine bay, I can tell you if you got ABS, its usually located at right rear side of the engine bay near the firewall (Looking from the front of your car.)

You can test it few different way by driving it, or using the handbrakes, but if you do it wrong, you might end up with few "dints" on your car.

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:13 pm

An even easier way to tell is that you cannot get ABS by itself, it always comes bundled with AirBags as the two systems are closely linked.

So if you have AirBags, you have ABS. You can tell if you have an AirBag by your steering wheel, it will say so on it.

The series 1 FTO ('94-'96) had AirBag & ABS as option whereas the series 2 FTO ('97-'00) had it as standard.

In case you don't have ABS, here is the list of warning lights on the right hand side of the dash and their colour, from top down they are:

orange - washer bottle
red - car doors
red - brakes
orange - ABS (if you have it)

As stated before these colours cannot change, so if you are seeing an orange light it is either the top one which is the washer bottle or the bottom one which is the ABS.

Rusty12 · Post by **Rusty12** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:27 pm

Ok, it was definately the washer bottle, just filled it right up and now the light is gone! After closer inspection, the ABS light is too low, so I don't think it was that that I seen.

I don't have airbags, at least there is no logo on the steering wheel. I doubt I have ABS, i never thought i did, but the brakes seem really good. I have never experienced them locking up, even under reletively hard braking. I'll have to sus it out.

thanks for all your help.

D-TRAIN · Post by **D-TRAIN** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:03 pm

Just noticed today that other "Orange" warning lights include the Engine Check light and the ABS.

And I vaguely remember the fuel tank warning light is also orange?? I could be wrong though.

Post by **Supplanter** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:10 pm

Yup, the fuel light is orange.