“Engine brake / retarder” warning light on the dashboard: meaning and what to do

What you can do yourself

Use it on long downhill grades so the brakes don’t overheat. Engage it carefully on slippery roads: the truck can skid.
If the symbol is on but there’s no braking effect, check the switch, the engine brake solenoid valve and its wiring.

The description comes from the AvtoElektrik PRO app.

Oleg’s tip: the colour of the symbol tells you how urgent it is

Red — stop and deal with the problem urgently: driving on is dangerous.
Yellow — needs checking to see what it is: don’t put off the diagnosis.
Green and blue — a system is simply working.
Exception — symbols of extra functions you switched on yourself: the rear fog light, ESP OFF by the button, heating, the differential lock. They can be yellow, but that’s not a fault — ignore them.

For example: a red oil pressure or overheating light — stop straight away and switch the engine off. A yellow Check Engine light with the engine running smoothly — drive on and get a diagnosis.

Need a mechanic’s help?

Couldn’t fix it yourself? Oleg, an auto electrician, does computer diagnostics and repairs: he comes out anywhere in Almaty or sees you at his workshop.

Truck auto electrician in Almaty Call: +7 701 121 11 10

Want to figure it out yourself?

Oleg’s free course “Car electrics for drivers”: fuses, the battery, dashboard lights — understand it and check it yourself.

Car electrics for drivers course →

Other lights of this colour

Who keeps this reference

The reference is kept by Oleg Dmitriev, an auto electrician from Almaty with 26 years of experience: computer diagnostics of cars and trucks, repair of control units (ECUs). Can’t find the cause? Message him.

Oleg’s auto electrician website WhatsApp +7 701 121 11 10

The “Engine brake / retarder” light on the dashboard