5 Warning Lights On Your Car Dashboard & What They Mean
On your car dashboard, do you see a lot of flashy warning lights that show up briefly whenever you are starting your car? Those lights will only come on during driving situations indicating a problem or issue with your car that you should take note of.
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You may have noticed them but you may not know what they mean. Well, that’s what we’re here today to explore with this handy guide!
1. OIL PRESSURE
Photo Source: RAC
What it means: Indication that your engine’s oil pressure has fallen below normal levels.
What should you do: Pull over as soon as you see this light flashing, turn off your engine and immediately call your mechanic for assistance. If you continue to run the engine with very low oil, it’s bound to mean damage to your engine and possible overheating which leads to fire.
What causes it to come on: The oil pressure warning light does not only point to a specific problem, it could indicate a number of issues. Your car could be low on oil, but there can also be a damaged oil pump, for example. The best thing to do would be to get it checked out.
2. TYRE PRESSURE
Photo Source: RAC
What it means: Indication that one or more of your tyres are experiencing low pressure.
What should you do: Find out which one of your tyres is losing pressure and go to the nearest petrol station to refill it with air. Also remember to check for any possible nails or puncture damage to your tyres.
What causes it to come on: Your tyres are losing air pressure, which triggers the tyre pressure warning light to come on. If the light still comes on after refilling your tyres with air, it could mean that there’s a leak caused by a puncture.
3. ENGINE TEMPERATURE
Photo Source: RAC
What it means: Your engine is overheating! It could be caused by problems with your car’s radiator or cooling system.
What should you do: Pull over immediately and let the engine cool down. Top up the engine’s coolant, or water if coolant is not available for a temporary fix. Do so only after the car cools down and then Open the radiator cap very carefully after making sure your engine is cooled down. If you need to continue driving, you can turn up the heater and blower to transfer the heat from the engine for a short time.
What causes it to come on: Overheating is a serious problem that can be caused by a number of issues. The water or coolant level could be low, or there could be a leak in the cooling system, such as in the radiator. The radiator fan could also be faulty.
4. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT
Photo Source: RAC
What it means: Check to see if your handbrake is pulled up, BUT it could also mean a problem with your brake system as well.
What should you do: If your brakes is not pulled up, but the light still comes on, then it could indicate an issue with your brakes. If you see the light staying on, blinking intermittently, or feel a loss in brake pedal resistance, then pull over immediately!
What causes it to come on: A loss in brake fluid, worn brake pads, a leaking brake system or even a faulty ABS speed sensor are reasons why the brake light could be on. Or maybe you can double check if your handbrake is still pulled up.
5. AIRBAG INDICATOR
Photo Source: RAC
What it means: The indication that there is an issue with your airbags.
What should you do: Take your car to an authorised distributor workshop to have it checked out and rectified immediately. A faulty airbag is dangerous because airbags exert a lot of force, so it is possible to be hurt by one.
What causes it to come on: Your airbags might not activate correctly in the event of an accident. Because of this, you’ll need to get it fixed immediately, as faulty airbags could be potentially deadly.
So save yourself the trouble and get to know the warning lights. It may help you out in a sticky situation. Did you enjoy this post? Leave a comment below if you did!