Nicole

Every now and then fellow owners email me and ask for tranlations of warning lights that came on in their German Euro models. Why don't you guys look up what warnings are in the manual or in your instrument cluster, and post them here. This way, we'll have one thread that lists them all.

Here are some expressionis that might be helpful (not sure, if there are warnign lights for all of those):

HANDBREMSE = PARKING BRAKE
BREMSKREIS = BRAKE CIRCUIT [PRESSURE FAILURE]
BREMSFLÜSSIGKEIT = BRAKE FLUID [LEVEL]
BREMSBELAG = BRAKE PAD [WORN]
BREMSLICHT = BRAKE LIGHT [BULB OUT]
SCHLUSSLICHT = TAIL LIGHT [BULB OUT]
KÜHLFLÜSSIGKEIT = COOLANT FLUID [LOW]
KÜHLERTEMPERATUR = RADIATOR/COOLANT TEMPERATURE [HIGH]
ÖLDRUCK = OIL PRESSURE [LOW]
ÖLSTAND = OIL LEVEL [LOW]
ÖLTEMPERATUR = OIL TEMPERATURE [HIGH]

I don't know which German word they used for fuel reserve level (could be as simple as "RESERVE") and for the windshield wahser fluid level (there are multiple ways to describe this)

rixter

a great thanks for the translations Nicole

FlyingDog

Thanks for the translations. I think I figured out all of mine from the limited German I know. Just so you know, the oil lights say "OEL" not "ÖL".

soontobered84

Thank you greatly Nicole
John Curry

kary4th

Thanks for offering this, Nicole.

Here are some terms from my owners manual that I've been wondering about:

Kühlmittelstand
Krastoffanzeige
Krastoff
Lichtmaschinen (battery???)
Standlicht

Fahrzeugdaten
Eigentümer des Fahrzeugs
Pflegenachweis
Wartungsdienst
Bremsflüssigkeitswechsel Kühlflüssigkeitswechel

Parnelli Joneser

I use one of these. A free online translator

http://translation2.paralink.com/

Even though I learned German for three years and then lived there for for two, when it comes to technical amalgamations of terms made into one word, I think even Germans need help with them.

Normy

I've got the original German-language owners manual that came with my car. The ONE and ONLY thing that my PO can be commended for is the purchase of an '85 US owners manual; I learned the translations by looking at the two books and comparing positions of lights. One of the reasons I bought this car was the fascinating German warning lights.

Here's two more:

BEGRENZUNGSLICHT: driving lights

and though it isn't presented on the instrument cluster...

NEBELSUSCHLUCHTE: rear fog light

N!

Herman K

= brake fluid exchange/ replacement & coolant exchange/ replacement

CWO4Mann

Vielen danke liebe Nicole! Alles guete u. Gruesse!

Dave

Drewster67

Thank You Nicole.

Nicole

Be careful with the translation programs - they rarely know the technical terms and literal tarnslations can be misleading.

Kühlmittelstand = coolant level
Kraftstoffanzeige = fuel indicator
Kraftstoff = fuel
Lichtmaschine = altenator
Standlicht = parking light

Fahrzeugdaten = vehicle identification information
Eigentümer des Fahrzeugs = owner of the vehicle
Pflegenachweis = proof of maintenance
Wartungsdienst = scheduled maintenance

BEGRENZUNGSLICHT: parking light (same as "Standlicht")
NEBELSUSCHLUCHTE: rear fog light

OEL is the international spelling of ÖL - the latter is the commonly used one in Germany, the first is used when the Umlauts are not available, or to ease confusion.

Pfunde

you only miss one........Gurt anlegen ( my wife thought it ment : Have a "good" drive) = fasten seatbelt

bcdavis

Nicole

W. WASSER (WASCHWASSER) = window washer fluid

Yep, "Gurt Anlegen" means "fasten your seat belt" - a good thing to do in any car.

And if a German ever wishes you "Gute Fahrt", it does not mean "happy flatulence"...

Pfunde

In danish " something is moving" is called : I FART .........beat that