BYD Shark 6 Dashboard Warning Lights: What Every Symbol Actually Means?
BYD Shark 6 dashboard warning lights follow a three-colour code. Red means stop the vehicle immediately. Yellow or amber means service soon. Green or blue means a system is active. Critical reds include airbag, high-voltage battery, steering, and powertrain faults. Common ambers include ABS, TPMS, low fuel, and ADAS faults. All meanings come directly from the BYD Shark 6 Owner's Manual.
Warning Light Colour Code at a Glance
| Colour | Severity | Driver Action |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Critical fault | Stop driving safely and contact BYD service |
| Yellow / Amber | Caution, service soon | Drive carefully and book a service visit |
| Green | System active | No action required, system is working |
| Blue | System active (driving mode or high beam) | No action required |
| Measurement note | Momentary illumination during self-check at ignition is normal. A warning light that lights up briefly during operation does not always indicate a problem. | |
Red Warning Lights: Stop the Vehicle Immediately
Red lights signal a serious fault. Pull over safely, power down, and contact a BYD authorised dealer.
- Airbag fault warning light: SRS protection may not deploy in a crash.
- High-voltage battery fault warning light: Do not drive.
- High-voltage battery overheating: Stop the vehicle. If flashing, leave the vehicle.
- Steering system fault: Power steering has failed or is overheating.
- Powertrain fault warning light: Drivetrain fault. Avoid driving.
- Coolant overheating: Engine overheating. Park to cool down.
- Low oil pressure: Pull over and shut down the engine.
- Parking system fault (with ABS fault): Brakes impaired. Stop carefully.
Yellow / Amber Lights: Caution, Service Soon
Amber lights flag a fault, but the vehicle is generally safe to drive. Book a service visit promptly.
- Engine fault (emission) warning light: Drive carefully, avoid hard acceleration.
- ABS fault: Anti-lock braking offline. Vehicle still brakes.
- ESC OFF or fault: Stability control disabled.
- Headlight fault: Bulb or lighting circuit needs attention.
- Low fuel: Refuel as soon as possible.
- TPMS warning: Check tyre pressures and inspect for damage.
- Driving power limit: Power output reduced. Visit a dealer.
- Smart key warning: Key not detected or low fob battery.
Green & Blue Indicators: Systems Active
Green and blue indicators confirm a system is on and operating. No action needed.
- EV indicator (blue): Vehicle in pure electric mode.
- HEV indicator: Engine contributing to the drive.
- Sport, Comfort, Economic, Normal: Current driving mode selected.
- Off-road mode indicators: Snow, Muddy, Mountain, Sand, or Wade active.
- AVH, HDC, EPB indicators: Hill-hold and parking-brake engaged.
- Turn signal, high beam, fog lights: Standard lighting in use.
- OK indicator: Charging connector seated correctly during a session.
Battery and Charging Warning Icons
Several icons signal high-voltage battery and charging status:
- High-voltage battery low SOC: Amber. Charge or switch to HEV.
- Charging connection indicator: Connector seated and active.
- Discharge indicator: Lights up in the upper-left when V2L is supplying power.
- Low-voltage power system fault: Red. 12V or charging system fault.
- High-voltage battery overheating: Red. Cool the vehicle before driving on.
For charge port indicators and Mode 2 cable setup, see our BYD Shark 6 charging guide.
ADAS System Indicators (ELKA, BSD, ACC)
| System | Active Indicator | Fault Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | ACC working indicator | ICC fault warning light |
| Blind Spot Detection (BSD) | BSD activation indicator | BSD fault indicator |
| Lane Support System (LSS) | LSS indicator | LSS fault / LSS off |
| Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) | AEB indicator | AEB fault warning light |
| Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) | TSR indicator | TSR fault / TSR off |
| ELKA | Urgent avoidance flashing | ELKA fault / ELKA off |
Engine Fault and Generator Warning Lights
The engine fault light (also called the emission fault light) illuminates briefly at ignition self-check. If it stays on or comes on while driving:
- Pull over safely.
- Power off, then on again and restart the engine.
- If the light persists, drive carefully (avoid high speed and hard acceleration) and book a BYD service inspection.
Continuous driving with this light on may damage the emission control system and engine.
Tyre Pressure (TPMS) Warning Light
The TPMS light comes on when one or more tyres fall outside the recommended pressure range. Shark 6 cold pressures sit around 2.5 bar front and rear for normal driving and towing.
- Check all four tyres with a quality gauge.
- Inspect each tyre for cuts, embedded objects, or sidewall damage.
- Inflate to the pressure on the driver's door jamb.
- If the warning returns after correct inflation, see a BYD dealer for sensor calibration.
Fuel Level and Low Fuel Warning
The low fuel light indicates the tank is nearly empty. When the tank sloshes on a slope or sharp curve, the light may activate earlier than usual.
The Shark 6 PHEV setup gives you battery range as a buffer, but ignoring the fuel light is risky on long trips. Refuel at the next safe opportunity, especially if battery SOC is also low.
Towing Mode Indicator Explained
- Solid blue: Trailer connected, towing mode operating normally.
- Solid red: Trailer cable fault or disconnection during driving. Pull over and inspect.
- Off: No trailer cable connected.
A solid red while moving requires immediate action. The vehicle-to-trailer connection is no longer reliable.
Full Icon Reference: Save This Card
| Icon Group | Common Examples | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Safety critical | Airbag, brake, steering, oil pressure, coolant overheat | Red |
| High-voltage system | Battery fault, overheat, low SOC, motor overheat | Red / Amber |
| Drive assistance | ELKA, ACC, BSD, AEB, LSS, TSR | Amber (fault) / Green (active) |
| Driving modes | EV, HEV, Sport, Eco, Off-road modes | Blue / Green |
| Lighting | Headlight fault, high beam, fog lights | Amber / Blue / Green |
| Towing & trailer | Towing mode (blue normal, red fault) | Blue / Red |
| Convenience | Smart key, OK charging, V2L discharge | Amber / Green |
Common mistakes Shark 6 owners make with warning lights
- Ignoring a red light. Red means stop. Continued driving risks damage or injury.
- Confusing ESC OFF with a fault. ESC OFF is steady when stability control is manually disabled.
- Driving with the emission fault light on. Damages the emission system over time.
- Ignoring TPMS warnings. A slow puncture under load damages tyres and reduces stability.
- Not checking the towing indicator before pulling away. Solid blue confirms connection.
- Refuelling only when SOC is also low. Plan ahead so one energy source is always available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a red warning light mean?
A serious fault. Pull over safely and contact a BYD authorised dealer.
What does an amber warning light mean?
Caution-level fault. Vehicle is usually drivable but service is needed soon.
What is the ELKA flashing icon?
ELKA is actively intervening in your steering during an emergency lane departure.
What does a solid red towing indicator mean?
Trailer cable fault or disconnection during driving. Pull over and check.
Why does the engine fault light come on briefly at startup?
A normal self-check. If it stays on after start, book a service.
The Shark 6 instrument cluster uses a clear three-colour code: red is stop, amber is service soon, green or blue is active. Learn the critical reds, watch the towing indicator before every tow, respect TPMS warnings, and never drive on an unresolved emission fault.
For more, see our V2L and on-board power explainer or browse our BYD Shark 6 accessories range.