Vauxhall Adam Dashboard Warning Lights

This is the full set of Vauxhall Adam / Opel Adam dashboard warning lights. If you have a warning light on your dashboard, locate it on the dashboard display above and read about it below. In general, red warning lights are the most serious and require immediate attention.

Many of the warning lights on your Vauxhall Adam illuminate when the ignition is switch on and go out shortly after. This is a normal process and either involves a bulb check or a self-system check.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam electronic stability control warning light.
Description: Electronic stability control (ESC) is a safety and stability program that when necessary, improves driving stability and traction. The program uses traction control to help prevent wheel slip and individual wheel braking and/or engine power reduction to help prevent understeer or oversteer when cornering. The ESC warning light may come on for two reasons:

It flashes: This means that ESC is actively stabilising the vehicle.
It’s constantly on: This means there’s a fault with the system. This can often be associated with wheel speed sensors, connections or wiring that are used by the ABS. These are located on each wheel. If the ESC system is faulty, you can still drive, but be cautious as the vehicle may be less stable when traveling round corners. Have vehicle checked by a Vauxhall dealer who will assess the fault with diagnostic equipment in order to read fault codes.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam electronic stability control OFF warning light.
Description: Electronic stability control (ESC) which includes traction control (TC) is activated upon each engine start. Though it can be manually deactivated, it’s almost always beneficial to leave it on. On occasions, such as when you become stuck in mud or snow, switching off traction control may prove beneficial for gaining enough traction to free your vehicle. To do this, press the ESC warning light on the dashboard:

For 5 or more seconds to deactivate ESC and traction control.
Briefly to deactivate traction control only. When deactivated, the ESC OFF warning light illuminates. Press the button again to reactivate ESC and traction control.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam upshift warning light.
Description: The ‘upshift’ indicator illuminates in green to inform the driver when changing up a gear is recommended as part of an ‘eco’ fuel saving measures.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam ABS warning light.
Description: The antilock brake system (ABS) prevents the wheels from locking. This added safety feature allows the driver to continue to steer, where locked wheels would otherwise prevent this. If the ABS warning light comes on, it means the system has malfunctioned. This is often due to the sensors located on each wheel hub due to being subjected to wear and tear. You can continue to drive with the ABS warning light on, but be cautious on how much pressure you apply to the brake pedal as the wheels have the potential to lock.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam battery warning light.
Description: The red battery warning light comes on due to a problem with the charging system. Under normal operation, the alternator should charge the battery while driving and a malfunction is preventing this from happening. When battery charge is expired, the engine may shut off. If you cannot pull off the road, immediately switch off any vehicle functions that use electric such as heating, air condition, radio etc. This will prolong the battery charge. Make your way immediately to a vehicle repair workshop. Typical faults that cause the battery warning light to come on are:

Old/failing battery.
Loose/corroded connections and/or wiring.
Failing alternator.
Broken or loose alternator belt.

Warning
Continued driving with the battery warning light on may prevent the engine cooling system and the brake servo from operating correctly. Greater force on the foot pedal may be required to brake the vehicle.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam oil warning light.
Description: The red oil warning light is a critical warning as it may result in severe engine damage if ignored. This warning may indicate low oil level or low oil pressures. If the oil light comes on:

Immediately pull off the road, ideally on a level surface and switch off the engine.
Wait 5 minutes or so for the oil to drain to the pan of the engine (bottom of the engine).
Open the bonnet, locate the dipstick (A) and check the oil level.
Wipe the dipstick clean using a cloth and once again insert it. Remove it again and check the end to see where the oil level is. If the oil level is within the MIN. and MAX. marks (B), do not continue driving. This is low engine oil pressure.
If the oil level is low, add oil (C). Be careful not to overfill with oil as the excess will need to be suctioned out. Restart the engine and only continue driving if the warning light goes out.

Engine oil type for Vauxhall Adam
Use 5w-30 engine oil for your Vauxhall Adam.

Vauxhall Adam Engine Oil Dipstick Location

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam airbag warning light.
Description: Under normal operation, the airbag warning light should come on for about 4 seconds when the ignition is switched on, then go out. If it doesn’t come on at all, stays on when the engine has started or comes on while driving, there’s a fault with the airbag system. The airbags and seat belt pretensioners may not trigger in the event of an accident. The cause for the airbag warning light is often due to seat belt pretensioner cables or connections becoming dislodged under the front seats or the seat belt buckle or passenger occupancy sensors.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam brake warning light.
Description: The red brake warning light illuminates for two possible reasons:

Hand brake: The hand brake is applied. Make sure the hand brake is properly released.
Brake / clutch fluid: The brake and clutch fluid levels are too low. Check the brake fluid level. Locate the brake fluid reservoir under the bonnet. The level should be between the MAX. and MIN. marker. As brake pads wear, brake fluid levels fall, but a falling brake fluid level may be a sign of a leak in the sealed system. Check for leaks. Add brake fluid if required, but before continuing your journey, contact a Vauxhall workshop as it may be unsafe to continue.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam seat belt warning light.
Description: The seat belt warning light illuminates or flashes in the dashboard driver information centre.

Illuminates: The warning light illuminates for 35 seconds or more when the engine has start or until the seat belt is fastened.
Flashes: When you begin to drive off without the seat belt fastened, the warning light will flash.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam check engine warning light.
Description: The check engine warning light, also called the ‘malfunction indicator lamp’ (MIL) means there’s a fault with the engine emissions system. The Vauxhall Adam check engine warning light may illuminate or flash:

Illuminates: If the check engine light stays on all the time, it means there’s a fault with the emissions system. It’s often a sensor related fault.
Flashes: A flashing check engine warning light may be more serious and possibly result in engine or catalytic converter damage.

What to do
Regardless of whether the check engine light is illuminated or flashing, immediately reduce speed and avoid harsh acceleration. If the check engine warning light is illuminated, it’s unlikely too serious, but have it checked as soon as possible. If it’s flashing, it’s advised to have the engine serviced immediately to avoid damage. The vehicle will need diagnostic checks. These tools bring up fault codes that help to locate the issue.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam left indicator warning light.
Description: The left-side steering wheel stalk is pushed down to activate the left turn signal / indicator. Both the left and right indicators flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are activated.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam full beam warning light.
Description: This blue warning light is used to inform the driver that full beam headlights have been activated.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam right indicator warning light.
Description: The left-side steering wheel stalk is pushed up to activate the right turn signal / indicator. Both the left and right indicators flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are activated.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam service warning light.
Description: The car with wrench / spanner is the service vehicle soon warning light. The symbol displays along with a message in the Driver Information Centre. Arrange to have the vehicle serviced.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam seat belt warning light.
Description: For the driver’s seat belt, the warning light illuminates or flashes red in the tachometer. For front passenger, the warning light illuminates or flashes red in the centre console. The warning lights go out when the seat belt if fastened.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam park assist warning light.
Description: The ultrasonic parking assist system helps the driver to park by measuring the distance and giving a audible warning in relation to how close to an object they are. The system has six ultrasonic parking sensors in both the rear and front bumper. The warning light comes on if:

There’s a fault in the system.
The sensors are blocked due to being covered in dirt, snow etc.
External ultrasound sources are causing the system interference. The system will resume once the external interference has been removed.
The bumper has been knocked, damaging a sensor.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam trip/fuel information menu.
Description: Menu pages can be selected by pressing the MENU button on the left indicator lever. Turn the adjuster wheel to select a submenu. This menu displays:

Trip odometer
Average fuel consumption
Average speed
Digital speed readout
Vehicle range based on remaining fuel
Instantaneous consumption

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam vehicle information menu.
Description: Menu pages can be selected by pressing the MENU button on the left indicator lever. Turn the adjuster wheel to select a submenu. This menu displays:

Unit (imperial or metric selection)
Tyre pressures displayed
Tyre loads displayed
Remaining oil life before a service is required
Speed warning – warns when a speed limit has been exceeded

Unit (imperial or metric selection)
Tyre pressures displayed
Tyre loads displayed
Remaining oil life before a service is required
Speed warning – warns when a speed limit has been exceeded

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam ECO information menu.
Description: Menu pages can be selected by pressing the MENU button on the left indicator lever. Turn the adjuster wheel to select a submenu. This menu displays:

Shift indication. This indicates the current gear of travel along with a recommended gear to save fuel.
ECO index display. Fuel consumption indicated in a segment display. To drive economically, keep the filled segments within the Eco area.
Top consumers. This lists the top comfort consumers that are currently switched on. Consumers such as air conditioning use more fuel.
Economy trend. Displays average fuel consumption over 50 km.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam gear selection display.
Description: This section displays the current gear that the vehicle is in.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam cruise control warning light.
Description: The cruise control warning light illuminates in white or green:

White: The system is on and ready.
Green: Cruise control is active.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam immobiliser warning light.
Description: The Vauxhall Adam immobiliser receiver checks with the transmitter key to determine whether the vehicle can be started. If the immobiliser warning light flashes in yellow, there’s a fault and the engine will not start. Try the starting process again using the spare key. Check that the key batteries do not require replacing.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam exterior lights warning light.
Description: This green symbol indicates that the exterior lights are on.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam power steering warning light.
Description: The steering wheel with the exclamation mark is the power steering fault light. It illuminates either due to a temporary or permanent fault. If the steering wheel has been left on a full lock for an extended period, or the driver makes continuous slow steering movements whilst the vehicle is stationary, it can cause the system to overheat. When the system cools, normal operation will continue. During a fault, the steering wheel will be harder to turn. You can continue driving, but have power steering serviced as soon as possible.
Power steering calibration
If the power steering and ESC warning light both illuminate, it means the power steering needs calibrating. This can occur for example when turning the steering wheel for one rotation with ignition switched off. To calibrate the steering, switch on ignition and turn steering wheel once from lock to lock.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam operate clutch pedal warning light.
Description: The operate the clutch pedal warning light illuminates or flashes in yellow:

Illuminates: If the engine has been switched off in Autostop mode, the clutch pedal must be pressed to restart the engine. Autostop is part of the engine start stop system designed to save fuel but stopping the engine automatically when the vehicle comes to a standstill. When Autostop takes place, the AUTOSTOP green text symbol is displayed in the tachograph.
Flashes: The clutch pedal must be pressed and the engine restarted with the key.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam rear fog light warning light.
Description: This yellow warning light comes on when the rear fog light is activated.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam low fuel warning light.
Description: The symbol illuminates in yellow when fuel is getting low. If it begins to flash, fuel is almost out – refuel immediately. Running out of fuel runs the risk of damaging the catalytic converter.
Arrow next to fuel gauge
If you wonder what side of the car your fuel filler cap is on your Vauxhall Adam, the arrow next to fuel gauge points you in the direction of the filler cap.

Warning light name: Vauxhall Adam tyre pressure warning light.
Description: The Vauxhall Adam is equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system that alerts the driver when one or more tyres become under-inflated. The warning light will illuminate or flash:

Illuminates: One or more tyres has a loss of pressure. Gently slow the vehicle to a stop and check tyre pressures or replace wheel.
Flashes: There is a fault in the tyre pressure system or a tyres has been fitted that does not contain pressure sensors.