Many of us ignore dashboard warning lights because we don’t see them or believe they are unimportant. But the truth is that neglecting dashboard warning lights is like driving without your eyes on the road.
To understand why your car is making an odd noise, you can look at the dashboard warning lights. Some of these lights are designed to alert you to problems in your car’s electrical system, like one that blinks whenever your car’s battery is too low. Like the “check engine” light, others warn you when something might be wrong with your vehicle’s performance. But most of them serve a function that may be more important than it appears at first glance.
Here is a list of the seven most critical dashboard warning lights that you should not ignore.
Battery light
Your battery lights up because you don’t charge it often enough to keep your car’s electrical system fully charged. This means that the alternator is not turning over fast enough for the engine and other electrical components inside your vehicle to operate correctly, which results in dim warning lights.
Your battery could be going bad if it has been disconnected from the car for more than six months or ever had a dead battery.
When the battery light appears, drive the car to a safe location until you can make it to a reliable automotive workshop.
Oil pressure light
The amount of oil in your car mainly depends on the type you use. If it reaches 0%, this light could be telling you to check with a mechanic or take precautions because something may have gone wrong inside your engine, transmission system, etc. It is common for these warning lights to occur when people forget to check the oil level and when there are grease stains or other leaks that need replacement.
Oil is used as a lubricant so that brakes and other components of your vehicle don’t wear out prematurely. Any inconsistencies in oil pressure may force the catalytic converter to turn off after idling for four seconds, and your engine could suffer severe damage if not checked.
Check Engine light
An experienced mechanic will tell you that this warning light usually means something serious has gone wrong in your car’s engine or transmission. Typically, this warning light remains on, and the check-engine indicator button will need to be turned off for a day to get it working normally again. In addition, this light may come on because of a clogged air filter, which could be easily fixed with an oil change.
If you ignore this warning light for too long, your car’s engine could seize up, and the transmission will not work as expected. When you see the check engine light on, you should have an emergency vehicle on standby so that it can come and pick you up so your car will be able to reach a genuine auto shop.
The light intensity does not indicate how much longer your engine will run, so don’t rely on this light as a time indicator.
Brake light
Your brakes occasionally become noisy to alert you if they have not been properly aligned. In addition to this, you might also notice a pulsating light on the dashboard when your brakes are not working properly, although this is normal and signals that brake pads need to be replaced.
If your vehicle’s brake light on the dashboard is blinking, make it a point to get it inspected by a professional mechanic without further delay.
Airbag warning light
Modern cars with airbags will have airbag dashboard indicators, but this usually is dim. It’s similar to the check engine light that signals trouble deep inside your car or dashboard components without any physical damage around you. A malfunction of the airbag system could cause an explosion if deployed in a crash.
If you see an airbag warning light or indicator coming on and you don’t know why take it to a certified mechanic for inspection.
Coolant warning light
The reason why the coolant warning light stays on is that you have a temperature gauge. Coolant plays a vital role in fluid flow and engine cooling as long as it’s not leaking, but if something malfunctions this indicator flashes before it comes to failure.
If you see a coolant warning light, have it checked by a professional mechanic to check engine condition or leak of your coolant system.
Tire pressure warning light
A tire pressure warning light alerts you that your tires are running low or under-inflated, which can cause overheating. The reason for this is the road’s temperature and bad weather conditions such as snow, ice or rain could reduce it further even though you checked each time to see whether it’s OK or not.
If you see a tire pressure warning light, you need to check your tire pressure or ask a mechanic for help. If it flashes at least three times before coming on again and stays so forever, something must be wrong with the system of your wheel altogether.
Warning lights should not be confused with hazards, warning signals for the driver to take corrective action, avoid a confrontation, or perform an unsafe action. Some brake and steering malfunction indicator systems do this by illuminating a combination of yellow or red symbols on the dashboard display, which represent “hazard warning lamps.” An example of such a lamp is the brake warning lamp for ABS systems.
We all know that it’s important to keep our cars in good shape, but many of us take it for granted. A car is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make, and it’s vital to protect your investment. The truth is that some of these warning lights are very important, and knowing what they mean can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. If you don’t know how to react when one of these lights pops up on your dashboard, we recommend that you reach out to us.