Warning lights coming on on on your dashboard are rarely a good thing. In fact, they’re often nerve-wracking. The dreaded check engine light, the dangerous oil light, and the unpleasant gas light all indicate problems, usually expensive ones. But if you’re fortunate enough to rarely see these warning lights, you might not know what they all mean. In particular, you may be unfamiliar with the lightning bolt symbol on your car.

We’ve broken down the meaning behind the symbol, what systems in your car may be affected, and what to do if you have this light come on on your dashboard.

What Does the Lightning Bolt Symbol on My Car Mean?

The lightning bolt symbol on your dashboard is a warning about your electronic throttle control system (ETC). As the name suggests, the ETC system controls your throttle. This is important because there are several features in your car that are governed by your throttle. As Damiaan Domiv writes in Controlling an Automatic Valve,  the ETC system “make[s] it possible to integrate a cruise control system, to do traction control, or it can even be used for pre-crash systems or other systems that require torque control.”

Essentially, this system gives you more precise control over the different features that utilize the throttle than you would get from the gas pedal alone. This is great when it functions properly, but when it’s damaged, it’s a big problem. If you see a lightning bolt on your dashboard, stop driving your car as soon as possible. If the ETC system isn’t working, those aforementioned features probably won’t work either. This can be dangerous, so this is the kind of problem that should be repaired sooner rather than later.

What’s the Best Way to Fix My ETC System?

You may be tempted to try to repair your ETC yourself, but that may not be wise. As frustrating as it is, this is the kind of fix that is best left to the professionals. Because the ETC works with multiple features of your car, the indicator light doesn’t tell you exactly what’s wrong. Rather, it alerts you that there’s a problem somewhere in the system.

Unless you have a lot of hands-on experience in car repair, and the right equipment to diagnose which part of the ETC is failing, you’ll be safer calling your mechanic to diagnose and address the problem.

Source

Controlling an Automotive Valve. Damiaan Dimov. 2024.

Author
Rebecca Wright Brown
Rebecca has been her dad’s DIY assistant since she was old enough to walk. Prior to Family Handyman, she worked as a freelance writer and editor across industries.   
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