Car Warning Lights: Your Car's Silent Alarm
As far as anyone who owns a car realizes the drastic change in feeling when they notice a light is on on the car dashboard. Those light up symbols on your dashboard can be quite tricky; they can represent simple issues that you can easily dismiss or severe problems that can compromise your safety and that of your vehicle.
Oh no, you don’t have to worry any more. In this article, we will discuss about what those warning lights imply and when you need to bring the car to the mechanic to fix it in order to dodge expensive repair bills, not to mention accidents.
This makes it very important, at least for the health of your vehicle, if not for your own safety, that you understand the basics of car language. This article will explore details about the various warning lights to make sure you change into a more conscious driver.
As such, if you wish to be ready to face any calamity related to these symbols, you must well go through all of the various ones listed above, the situations they act upon and the responsibility you need to adopt when something goes wrong. Well then, let’s discuss, I’ll even help get those car warning lights to make sense.
Car Warning Lights: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are a car driver you are well aware of how essential a role the dashboard plays in providing you with information regarding the performance of your car. Depending on the situation, there is always a unique signal that appears concerning particular problem or system.
Failure to pay attention to these warning lights results in loss of fuel economy and or other hazards as may be expected from the car. In this section, we are going to look at the various types of warning lights that you are likely to come across, what they indicate and what action you need to take in the event that you see such symbols.
1. Engine Check Light
Whenever this alert comes on, it means you need to pay attention to your motor. The “check engine” light can illuminate for a range of reasons – a loose gas cap to engine malfunction.
This light is significant because it means so many things, so it is vital to deploy a diagnostic tool to identify the problem.
2. Oil Pressure Warning Light
In case of appearance of this light, it is an indication that there is low oil pressure to your engine and may need repair.
This might be occasioned by low amount of oil or even a blocked oil filter, faulty oil pressure sensors, among others. You’d need to slow down for immediate safety halt at the nearest spot, end the trip and inspect your oil.
3. Brake Warning Light
If the brake light is on this implies that there is something wrong with your vehicle’s brake system.
This may be caused by low brake fluid or a faulty brake pad sensor or problems with the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). Thus, touching and brightness this light should slow down and immediately carry out maintenance work.
4. Airbag Warning Light
This mean light comes on when the airbag computer senses there is an issue with your car airbag system. This may range from a bad sensor or an improperly connected airbag module.
This one should be handled on the earliest instance as this may imply that your airbags may not deploy in a crash.
5. The symbol most commonly used is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light.
This light comes on when one or more of your tires is considerably underinflated. Prolonged use of a car with low tire pressure can result into steering problems, decreased gas mileage and worst of all explosion of the tire.
Ensure that your tires’ pressure is correct then ensure that the tires are properly filled with the right pressure.
6. Battery Warning Light
The case could be that the battery warning light will illuminate when there is a problem with the charging system of your car, which could lead to a dead battery, or other electrical mishaps.
They should be recommended to go to an expert for a battery and charging system check on their car.
7. Coolant Temperature Warning Light basically indicates whether the coolant temperature in your automobile is too high or too low.
If this light is on while driving it means that your engine is hot because of low coolant levels or a faulty cooling system.
This is the reason as to why the engine is recommended to be stopped when one has the time to pull over to the side of the road as the car cools, before you check the dipstick. Notice one of the coolant is having less, then one has to refill the coolant and fix where the coolant is coming out.
8. Check Gauge/Sensor
WARNING This light comes on when one of your vehicles’ instruments, for example, speedometer, fuel gauge or temperature gauge fails to work properly.
The above problem should be solved as soon as possible because incorrect measurements from the gauge will mean that people are driving under very wrong impressions.
9. Traction Control Light
This light indicates that your car’s traction control system has sensed that the vehicle has lost traction or is spinning a wheel. Some models may shut down the system and you would still be able to steer the car allowing you to remain in control.
In particular, however, if the light turns on when driving, it could indicate that there is something amiss with the traction control system.
10. Cruise Control Light
It illuminates when there is a problem in the operation of the cruise control of your vehicle.
If the cruise control unit cannot engage or disengage or if it keeps the vehicle cruising despite changes in traffic, it may be time to bring it to an auto repair shop.
When to Get an Emergency Maintenance
As much as some warning lights may be an easy fix, others are an indication that more serious problems are afoot that can cost you your life or reduce the lifespan of your car.
These are some of the warning lights that should be observed, and the vehicle, in circumstances when it requires it, should be taken for maintenance. Here are some situations where you should not hesitate to call a professional:
1. Engine Check Light: This check light can indicate all sorts of things small and large, ordinary wear and tear to major engine problems. If this light is ignored, it begins to reflect in the decrease in fuel consumption, unhealthy performance of the engine and even total failure of the engine.
2. Oil Pressure Warning Light: Extremely low may cause damages to the engine, which would require repair, and these may be expensive. This problem should be solved as soon as possible to prevent having to undergo more complex and costly procedures.
3. Brake Warning Light: Problems in your braking system can be very disastrous. Using low brake fluid or poorly functioning brakes will result in accidents and possible harm to you and other users on the road.
4. Airbag Warning Light: A bad airbag system will endanger your life in case of an accident it is therefore advisable that you fix it. To be on the safe side, however, you need to resolve this issue fast so your airbag system is operating as intended.
5. TPMS Light: Under inflation results in poor road handling and in the long run, it has adverse effects on tires. Solving it can assist you in reducing a chance of you losing control of your car and the lifespan of your tires can also be enhanced.
6. Battery Warning Light: A failing battery or an underperforming charging system will cause your car to break down and leave you stranded. It is good to address this problem before it worsens and causes a problem that requires replacement of the battery or other electrical parts in vehicles which are very expensive.
Conclusion
The lights are signals the car’s internal system sends out when it is due for servicing or if it has any problems. It is therefore useful to know precisely what each warning light means so that you can do as required and avoid such risk circumstances.
These problems might be easily fixed but if not fixed as early as possible will rob your car of its life, and you too from becoming safe on the roads. These are signs that should not be taken lightly – instead address them and makes sure your car stays in good condition.
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