What Are Your Car Dashboard Lights Trying to Tell You

Your vehicle dashboard light plays an important role. These lights indicate an issue with your car that needs immediate action or checking. Dashboard lights are color-coded so you need know how urgently to act.

RED LIGHTS: Red warning light suggests that you should act quickly because the problem is serious, such as an overheating engine, low engine oil pressure or a braking problem. It requires immediate action and often related to safety crucial systems.

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ORANGE/YELLOW LIGHTS: This light comes up when the engine management system that runs the engine has detected a fault. It indicates a problem that needs to be serviced soon.

BATTERY LIGHT: As the symbol implies, the battery light often indicates that there’s a problem with the car’s battery. A useful indicator especially for cars that do not come with a standard voltmeter. This warning light could also indicate that there is a problem with the car’s electrical system, specifically, the alternator. The best thing to do when this battery light comes on is to check both the alternator and battery.

HOT OR COLD TEMPERATURE LIGHT: Not all cars come standard from the factory with a needle style temperature gauge nowadays. Instead, some manufacturers install a small temperature light on the gauge cluster to show drivers whether the water is hot, cold or just normal. If you just started the car in the morning, it will probably show the blue temperature symbol. This symbol tells the driver that the car is not in a proper operating temperature. The more serious issue would be the red temperature gauge, which indicates that the car is overheating. Stop the car and try to cool it down before driving again.

AIRBAG LIGHT: The airbag light is found on cars equipped with an airbag. As the name implies, there is likely a problem with your vehicle’s airbag system, be it the sensor, seatbelt. Take your car to a mechanic should you see this light constantly lit.

FUEL LIGHT: When you see a fuel light turns on, it literally means you’re running out of fuel. Even though some cars do have a reserve once the fuel light comes on, it doesn’t mean you should try going far without gassing up first so you won’t find yourself in a situation where the fuel has been exhausted and there’s no gas station nearby.

SEATBELT LIGHT: Much like the fuel light, the seatbelt light is self-explanatory. If you’re not wearing a seatbelt, this light will continue to blink and flash. It will also produce a sound in order to remind you to fasten your seatbelt.

PARKING BRAKE LIGHT: The parking brake light turns on when you engage the handbrake, footbrake. You shouldn’t drive with your parking brake engaged. If you do try to drive with it on, you will probably notice the decrease in the performance of the car.

OIL PRESSURE LIGHT: It is an indication that there is a problem with your engine, specifically, your engine oil lines. One of the most common reasons it turns on is that there is simply not enough oil in the system.

There are more lights and symbols on the dashboard, but all the aforementioned are the most common in all vehicles.