When you first start up your car, you’ll notice a whole array of letters and symbols that come alight in the display in your dashboard. Nestled next to the speedometer, the RPM meter, and gas and temperature gauges, these little lights are meant to let you know when something on your vehicle requires a little extra attention.
Many of these warning lights you may already be familiar with, like the dreaded check engine light. However some of them may come on so infrequently that you have no idea what they could possibly mean. That’s when you reach for the owner’s manual, only to realize you don’t have one. Then you came here to this post.
If you see one of these lights illuminate in the dash, don’t panic! They are meant to be gentle reminders. But also, do not ignore them. If you go too long without addressing the cause of these indicators you could find yourself broken down on the side of the road, or worse, actually risk putting you or your family at risk of physical harm.
It’s important to note that these lights are color coded. Green or blue lights simply indicate that a particular feature or system is activated and working. If you see an orange or yellow light, it just means that your vehicle is due for repair or service sometime in the near future. Red and/or flashing lights are urgent and need to be addressed right away. Many of those symbols are universal, so matter what kind of vehicle you drive, you can easily refer to this guide to find what their meaning is.
Check Engine Light
As stated, this light is one of the most dreaded by drivers. That’s because this little yellow light shaped like an engine tells you that something is wrong, but not what. As you’ll see, many of the other indicators that will be mentioned in this guide will let you know exactly what the problem is. However, the check engine light coming on can represent a myriad of different problems, including those with easy $10 fixes and those that will cost you more than $1000 and put your vehicle out of commission for a week.
Most of the time, illumination of the check engine light (or CEL) is no biggie. But just to be sure, don’t take your car out for any major road trips without getting the cause of this indicator checked out first.
Battery Light
Unlike some of the other dashboard warning lights that look like they could be Egyptian hieroglyphics, the battery light is not difficult to discern. It’s a rectangle, with a plus and minus sign on each end – like a real battery.
When you see this light you’ll likely conclude that something is wrong with the battery. However this is not always necessarily the case. Even though the symbol is of a battery, it represents the entire system. This includes things like the alternator, battery cable, or the car’s computer brain.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
This is a red indicator that looks alot like Aladdin’s magic lamp – you know, the one that the Genie lives inside. There are a multitude of reasons why your vehicle could be losing oil pressure. It may be due to worn out parts or components like the oil pump, or you may have a serious leak, or it might just be time to add a quart or two of motor oil.
Regardless of the underlying cause of low oil pressure, if you see this light you are going to want to get it checked out right away. It’s telling you there is an issue with circulating oil within the engine. Motor oil is like the lifeblood of your vehicle. Without it, it could die. Literally.
If your car is low on oil or you’re driving with a non-functioning oil pump, you could cause permanent damage to your vehicle and even cause it to become totaled. To avoid this, check your oil levels and change it regularly, and do not ignore this warning light.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Your car’s engine should be operating between 195-220 degrees fahrenheit for optimal performance. There are multiple systems in place that all work together to ensure that the engine stays within this temperature range while it’s running.
The engine temperature warning light looks something like a tiny sailboat out to sea. But don’t let this little cute caricature fool you, it’s indicating a serious issue. A number of things may cause your car to overheat, like a leak in the radiator, a faulty water pump or radiator fan, or low levels of engine coolant.
Whatever the cause of high engine temperatures, be very wary when you see this light, and watch the actual temperature gauge closely. Driving your car too hot for too long could seriously damage your engine, perhaps even irreparably.
Low Fuel Indicator
This is another one of the dash lights whose meaning is pretty easy to discern. It’s a yellow or red light that looks just like a gas pump! When this light comes on, it usually means that you are getting low on gas and should look for a place to fill up your tank soon. However, it can also be caused by your gas cap not being tightened all the way.
For obvious reasons, this is another indicator light that should not be ignored. If you’ve ever run out of gas on the side of the road you should know why.
Brake Warning Light
This light is usually used to let you know that your parking brake is still engaged. It usually presents as a red circle with either an exclamation point or a capital letter “P” inside. If you see this light, you’ll want to check your parking brake. Whether it’s a hand brake or a foot pedal, if the light is on the e-brake is not on, try engaging and then disengaging the brake to see if the light turns off. If that doesn’t do the trick, there might be something wrong with the car’s primary braking system. In that case, we recommend having your vehicle towed for repairs as it may not be entirely safe to drive.
If you have anti-lock brakes in your car, this system has its own special dash indicator light. It is denoted by the letters “ABS”. The anti-lock braking system helps your vehicle to stop safely in extra slick conditions like rain, snow, or ice. While having anti-lock brakes is not completely essential, if they are not working properly your vehicle’s stopping ability may be reduced. If you see the ABS light illuminated in the dashboard, you should get it checked out as soon as possible.
Airbag Warning Light
This is a light that might be easy to ignore, but should definitely be attended to. The airbag light is usually red and looks a bit like a person holding an exercise ball in their lap or someone blowing a giant bubble with their bubblegum. Alternatively, it may be indicated by the letters “SRS”.
If this light is on, it means there is something wrong with your airbag system. It could be easy to put off because after all, nobody thinks they are going to get into a crash. However, ignoring this important dash indicator could mean the difference between life and death in the event of an accident.
Tire Pressure Indicator
The tire pressure warning light is often one that you’ve seen before. It is usually yellow and demarcated by an explanation point inside a semi-circle, with hash marks on the bottom (meant to represent the tread on a tire). When you see this light, it’s trying to tell that one or all of your tires are filled to the recommended air pressure. Vehicles that have been recently manufactured usually have individual sensors for each tire, so they can tell you exactly which tire needs your attention. Most often your tires will be under-inflated, as they will lose pressure over time or due to extreme temperature changes. However, if you’ve just added air to your tires and you see this light, it could be that you’ve added too much.
If you are driving and this light suddenly becomes illuminated, you may want to pull over to make sure your tire isn’t completely or nearly flat. If it is, you will likely need a tow truck. However, in most instances you will be ok to drive to the next gas station to add a little air.
When inflating your tires, make sure to use a tire pressure gauge to make sure you are inflating your tires to the correct pressure. Every car will require a different tire pressure, and some manufacturers will recommend a different pressure for the front and back tires. You can usually find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle on the inside of the door jamb, or if not there, definitely in the owner’s manual.
Deciphering all the different lights on the inside of your dash can be the cause of a little anxiety if you aren’t already familiar with them. Not all of the lights that you might possibly see are listed in the guide, but we think we’ve covered the most important ones. Many times they are no big deal and are simply reminding you about some routine maintenance. At other times, they may represent an issue that is more serious. At all times, however, they are not to be ignored. These lights have sometimes been called dummy lights, that’s because you’re a dummy if you ignore them. If you need help with any of the dash indicator lights turning on in your car, call Inland Mobile Mechanic.