Every driver should be familiar with their vehicle’s warning lights for road safety. It has been shown to minimize the likelihood of death significantly. Additionally, knowing what the warning lights represent might save you much headache. Regrettably, dashboard lights are frequently overlooked. Stop that from happening to you!
The Car’s Way of Warning Us through the Use of Signs
Different cars have different varieties of dashboard warning lights. Usually, some warnings light up right after starting the car. These lights remain for a few seconds, and then they disappear. When the signal persists, it indicates a significant problem!
Usually, these signals appear in red, green, and yellow colors, depending on how alarming the situation is.
The car uses these dashboard lights to communicate that it needs supervision of some kind and should never be ignored.
While it is impossible to recall every warning sign, everyone should be familiar with the most critical ones. Understanding warning lights may help you better understand your vehicle, allowing you to manage and operate it more effectively.
Here are the biggies that every driver should know.
Warning Light for Oil Pressure
Never neglect this light because it is the most critical warning light of all. And yes, you guessed it right; it comes in red! It looks like a lamp with a drop of oil dropping from the nozzle.
Oil pressure is created because of the oil pump and the amount of oil in our engine. The oil pump is essential because it keeps the engine oil in motion. Hence, any leakage, too little or too much oil, or even a faulty pump triggers this signal.
Simply checking the oil level helps prevent problems. It also saves loads of repair costs. However, if the signal persists after adjusting the oil level, it indicates things are serious. In this case, you have no option but to take your vehicle to the mechanic.
If you’re concerned about the costs of repairing your car, consider looking into diagnosing and repairing it yourself by watching various DIY mechanic YouTube channels or a trusted website such as YouCanic. These experts can empower you with detailed instructions for all kinds of simple car repairs. Then you can become your own car mechanic at least for minor problems and overall maintenance. Of course, you will need a laptop and some tools.
Warning Light for the Brake System
This warning sign is typically red, but this time it includes an explanation (!). If it appears after you start the engine, do not proceed. If it appears while you’re driving, quickly pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle must be towed to a mechanic immediately.
Certain vehicles may also display the (P) symbol instead of the exclamation point (!). Therefore, what does the (P) symbol indicates? This indicates that you have not deactivated the parking brake. If you have, though, and the signal continues to display, pull over. Then, visit a local auto repair to resolve the problem.
Warning Light for Battery Charge
This warning light is also red and looks like an outlined battery with one positive sign and one negative sign (+-). This signal indicates issues with the car’s charging system and the battery. So yes, it is exactly what the sign shows.
However, apart from a faulty battery, the issue can also arise due to faulty wiring. And, if things are more serious, there could be an issue with the drive belt or alternator.
It could also reciprocate in the weak engine that is unwilling to ignite every time. In this scenario, it is essential to pay a visit to your garage with your car.
This problem could also easily be seen at night when you notice that your vehicle has dimmer than usual or even dying headlights. If it is just one headlight with an issue, it could simply mean that your bulb needs replacement. Learn more about which headlight is best for your car.
Warning for Engine Light
This signal usually comes in yellow or amber color. Hence, it’s moderately alarming, and you should have your engine checked as quickly as possible.
Engines are like the brains of our cars. If they go wrong, everything goes wrong.
This signal can arise because of any engine-related problems, which could be major or minor. But, of course, getting your engine checked won’t hurt, and it would surely save you from any breakdown hassle or accident that you may face if not checked.
Warning Light for Seat Belt
This is a pretty basic one. This dashboard light looks like a passenger marked in all red with an indication concerning the seatbelt.
The car won’t stop beeping until you or your passenger have fastened the seat belt. So yes, even though it is annoying, the constant beeping is needed to encourage everyone to buckle up.
Warning Lights for Door, Trunk, or Engine Lid
This one comes in red too. And, it doesn’t indicate any physical disruption in the car. It simply indicates when a door, trunk, or engine lid of your car is even remotely open.
You don’t want accidents to happen because of you or your recklessness. So, you better look for this signal before driving and take care of it before leaving the driveway.
Final Thoughts
Warning lights should never be ignored. Otherwise, time and money could easily be wasted. When an unknown warning light flashes, consult the internet or the car owner’s manual, which is often placed in the glove compartment.
Also, educate yourself on your particular model’s warning lights before anything happens so you can easily make an informed decision when the need arises.
The main message is that you should constantly be aware of your dashboard’s lights.
Drive consciously and be safe out there!
Sheldon White has been a freelance writer and ghostwriter for nearly ten years. He is also an automobile enthusiast, and his love for cars has spanned more than two decades, including driving, collecting, racing, and research. Sheldon enjoys exploring new cars and writing about how they may fit into your lifestyle.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
