You’re on the roads enjoying a drive, when suddenly, a dreaded light blinks on. You look around for help. What does the light mean, is it urgent, and do you have to pull over? Thoughts race through your mind, and you wish you had a sliver of knowledge on how to deal with such situations.
We understand, there are way too many dashboard warning lights and it is a tall task to commit each and every one to memory. But we’re here to make things a little simpler with the essential car dashboard warning lights that everyone should know.
Before we dive into the list, we should first take a look at the warning light colours, and what each of these mean. Depending on your car, the warning lights may light up blue, green, orange or red.
A red warning light generally points to a pressing issue which requires immediate attention. Yellow or orange lights indicate a fault in the system, and while you may continue driving the car for a bit, it should be sent to the service centre as soon as possible. Blue and Green lights are informational, and let you know when an action has been confirmed.
We’ll have a look at a couple of Dash Warning Lights and their severity, noting that not all car models use the same symbols.
Washer Fluid, Door open, Low Fuel
As a driver, you are likely to come across the following three signals. These are easily rectified by addressing the issue directly—
Washer fluid: The car is low on washer fluid. Replenish it as soon as you can
Door Open: One of the car’s doors are open, close it before heading off.
Low fuel: The car is running low on gas and should be topped up soon.
Check Engine Light
This warning requires more attention, and points to a problem in the car’s motor and emissions system. The potential issue could be either minor or major, ranging from something as small as an ill fitting gas cap to a more serious problem in the engine, so don’t ignore the warning, bring your car down to the workshop as soon as possible so your mechanic can perform a diagnostic test to identify the source of the problem.
Battery
The battery light comes on when there is an issue with your vehicles battery or charging system. With age, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge efficiently, and will need to be replaced. When the indicator flashes, bring your car into the workshop for a diagnostic check, as the light not only tells of an issue with the battery itself, but also potential problems with the vehicle’s wiring or other components.
Coolant Temperature
This comes on when the car is running hot, and is a warning that should be taken seriously. Temperatures rising above the normal can lead to engine damage, and in turn result in much larger problems and repair costs if ignored. The light comes on when coolant levels are low or when the thermostat, radiator fan or water pump are faulty. When this occurs, pull over and turn off the engine before checking the coolant level and components as well as look for leaks.
Transmission Temperature
This comes on when the pieces of the gearbox are reaching a critical point and can be caused when your car is working under demanding working conditions, such as heavy towing. Low transmission fluid levels or excessive wear can also trigger the warning lights, and it is frequently accompanied by the burning of transmission fluid. Pull over and let your transmission cool down. Then, send it to a workshop for repair.
Oil Pressure Warning
The indicator triggers when there is very low or no oil in the engine, and can simply indicate that the oil needs to be topped off, or can indicate a larger issue like worn down parts or a leak in the engine. When this happens, top up your engine oil and monitor if the indicator switches off. If not, bring it to the workshop for an inspection.
Tyre pressure monitoring system
The Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) indicates under or over inflated tyres, and this may be fixed by getting the tyres to the correct pressure rating. If you have done so and the light is still on, there is a possibility of a deeper problem with the monitoring system, and it would be best to get it checked.
Brake System
This commonly comes on when the driver pulls away with their parking brake engaged. On the other hand, a more serious issue with the braking system could be the root of the issue, and to rule out all other issues, drive to your nearest service centre as soon as you can to get an experienced mechanic to have a look at the system.
Traction control, Stability Control
Traction is a basic safety feature that prevents your vehicle from slipping all over the road. It turns on to send you a warning when your car is sliding, especially in bad weather or unsafe road conditions. Seeing this show up on your dashboard warns you that the car is slipping and sliding on surfaces.
Airbag warning
The Airbag warning frequently comes on when the vehicle starts. While this is normal, it should not stay illuminated while driving. If it does, this could indicate a problem with one of the vehicles airbags, and while this is relatively less urgent, airbags are an important safety feature in your car, and you should take your car into the workshop as soon as you can.
ABS Sensor Warning lights
Another important safety feature, the ABS warning light signals an issue with the anti-lock brake system. This is a key safety feature, and helps to stop a car’s wheels from locking up by releasing brakes fractionally. It would be best to bring your car into the workshop as soon as possible.
The number of lights on the dashboard can be intimidating, especially when one you’ve not seen before flashes on. Knowing what each one means, however, can save you the panic of trying to figure out what is wrong with your car while you are driving, and allow you to make informed decisions about what is best for your safety.
With newfound knowledge, we can be more confident on the roads. If you ever do encounter a warning in Singapore and need a quick and efficient workshop to diagnose and repair your car, AutoSprint is conveniently located on Leng Kee road, close to Redhill and Queenstown MRT stations. Give us a call at 6911 8338 and bring your car into the workshop for a repair.
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