Warning lights of the DS DS 4: what each light means

Oil pressure warning light on

Urgency: As soon as possibleRedSymbol: oil can (an oil can with a drop)

The red oil-can warning light means the engine is not getting the oil pressure it needs. The cause may be a low oil level, a failing oil pump or a blocked oil circuit. With low pressure, parts such as the turbo, the bearings or the timing drive can wear out within minutes.

What to do: Stop the car as soon as it is safe and switch the engine off. Check the level with the dipstick and do not drive on if the light stays on: call a recovery truck.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the DS DS 4

• Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation · 1.2 PureTech engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• Oil warning light: general guide

Overheating or temperature warning light

Urgency: As soon as possibleRedSymbol: thermometer over wavy lines (coolant)

The temperature needle climbs towards the red zone or the coolant warning light comes on. It usually points to a lack of coolant, a leak, or a failing thermostat or water pump. Driving on can warp the cylinder head or damage the gasket.

What to do: Stop as soon as you can and switch the engine off. Do not open the coolant reservoir cap while it is hot. If coolant is missing, do not set off again until you have found the leak.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the DS DS 4

• High severity: Fragile water pump and heat exchanger · 1.6 THP engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• Overheating: general guide

Electric parking brake warning

Urgency: Garage soonRedSymbol: letter P inside a circle in brackets, sometimes with an exclamation mark

Cars with an electric parking brake show a warning light or message when the caliper motor, its wiring or the control unit fails. The brake may not release or may not apply.

What to do: Do not rely on the handbrake if the warning appears: park on level ground and leave the car in gear. Have the system diagnosed.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the DS DS 4

• Medium severity: Electric parking brake fault · outside the engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• Parking brake warning: general guide

Engine fault warning light (check engine)

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: outline of an engine seen from the side, in yellow or orange

The orange engine-shaped warning light comes on when the ECU detects a fault affecting combustion or emissions. If it flashes, it usually points to misfires that can damage the catalytic converter.

What to do: If it stays on steadily, you can drive gently to a garage and ask for a fault code read-out. If it flashes or you notice a loss of power, slow down and get to a garage as soon as possible.

9 documented faults that trigger it in the DS DS 4

• Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation · 1.2 PureTech engine · I
• Critical severity: Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts · 1.5 BlueHDi engine · II
• Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012) · 1.6 THP engine · I
• High severity: Spark plug breakage on the 130 hp 1.2 PureTech turbo · 1.2 PureTech engine · I
• Medium severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions · 1.6 THP engine · I
• Medium severity: Jerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors) · 1.6 HDi engine · I

And 3 more faults on the linked pages.

• In the DS DS 4 I
• In the DS DS 4 II
• Engine warning light: general guide

"Pollution control system faulty" message

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: a text message on the dashboard ("anticontaminación defectuosa" or similar wording, in English "emissions system fault"), sometimes alongside an amber warning light

A common message on Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel cars from the Stellantis group. It appears when the ECU detects a fault in a component that controls emissions: the particulate filter, the EGR valve, the sensors, the AdBlue system or, on petrol engines, combustion problems.

What to do: It is not a specific fault but a generic warning. Have the car diagnosed with the right equipment to read the exact code before replacing any part.

2 documented faults that trigger it in the DS DS 4

• Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi) · 1.6 HDi engine · I
• Medium severity: Additive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and clogging · 1.6 HDi engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• Pollution control faulty: general guide

AdBlue system warning

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: AdBlue system warning in the instrument cluster, yellow or orange at first, usually accompanied by a text message and, later on, a countdown in kilometres

Diesels with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) use AdBlue to cut NOx emissions. A warning with a countdown ("engine will not restart in X km") indicates a low level or a fault in the AdBlue tank, pump, heater or injector. When the countdown reaches zero, the car will not start again.

What to do: If the tank is full and the warning persists, the problem lies with the system. Go to a garage before the countdown ends and keep your receipts in case the fault is covered by a manufacturer campaign.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the DS DS 4

• Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi) · 1.6 HDi engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• AdBlue warning: general guide

Particulate filter warning light (DPF)

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: particulate filter symbol on the dashboard, normally amber; its design varies by manufacturer

On modern diesels it means the particulate filter is clogged with soot and has not been able to regenerate. It is common in cars used mostly for short town journeys, although it can also be caused by a sensor or by an injection or EGR fault.

What to do: If the handbook allows it, a 20-minute drive on a motorway at a steady speed can complete the regeneration. If the light stays on or you lose power, go to a garage.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the DS DS 4

• Medium severity: Additive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and clogging · 1.6 HDi engine · I

• In the DS DS 4 I
• DPF warning light: general guide