What Does That Warning Light Mean?
Many car owners dread any kind of sign that could potentially show a fault with their vehicle and even though they’re often displayed to warn you of an issue that could develop in the future, warning lights could cause you to panic.
In this article, we’ve shared the eight most-common types of dashboard light that could be displayed, as well as the process you need to follow if you spot one:
Battery change
One of the most common types of warning light is displayed when the battery of your car is running low. You’ll see this light when you first switch on the engine but if it doesn’t disappear within a few seconds, there could be a problem with the battery’s alternator or voltage regulator.
Engine warning light
You should also keep an eye out for the dashboard light that signals an issue with your engine.
Usually a serious warning, ignoring a ‘check engine’ light can significantly reduce the safety of a vehicle and could potentially lead to further damage if the problem isn’t immediately resolved.
Oil warnings
If you spot a flashing light with an oil symbol, your vehicle is trying to tell you that there’s a problem with the oil supply or tank. It usually is displayed when the temperature of the engine gets too high or the oil level gets too low.
Because leaving your car oil on low can cause serious issues through friction on your engine, it’s important to get this checked as soon as possible to prevent costly repairs.
Tyre pressure monitor
Your car tyres should always be well maintained to narrow your chances of being involved in an incident. For that reason, you should keep an eye on the tyre pressure monitor – the part of the car that measures the amount of air in your tyres.
If this warning light is displayed and there are no immediate signs of a puncture, slash or flat tyre, it’s usually safe to drive onwards cautiously. However, you should check the pressure of the car tyres as soon as possible and inflate them to the correct pressure, as per your manufacturers’ handbook.
Brake fluid
This warning light could be shown if your brake fluid level is running low and can have a major impact on your ability to stop a vehicle once it’s moving.
Because issues with your brakes are serious, you should immediately seek the advice of a car mechanic as soon as this light appears.
DPF
The Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) warning light that may be displayed on your dashboard means that there’s a possibility of your car releasing a toxic cloud of black smoke. This usually happens when the vehicle is only being used for short journeys at a low speed and the filter becomes clogged with soot.
Power steering
Wherever you’re driving to, you should always pull over immediately if your car shows the dashboard light that signals a problem with the steering. Suggesting damage to the steering system, this requires urgent attention as you may be at-risk on the motorway.
Airbag
Another serious warning light that you should look into immediately comes in the form of the airbag dashboard light. If this is lit up, it could mean that your airbag won’t inflate in the event of a crash, meaning that you could cause more damage to yourself.
As you can see, some warning lights are simply to warn of issues that could become dangerous, but it’s essential to check out any dashboard lights that could cause serious problems with your vehicle.
18 Feb 2022
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