Warning lights
Several dashboard lights illuminate when you start your car. This is a test to verify that the lights are still functioning. If you notice that certain lights are no longer working, you should have them repaired. If there is a real problem, it can’t be indicated by the warning lights.
Various warning lights can illuminate on the dashboard, and they can also appear in different colors. Below is an overview of the most common warning lights. They provide a warning if a problem has been detected with the car or any of its components.
Warning lights can have different colors. The most common colors, such as those used in traffic lights are green, amber, and red. A green traffic light allows you to proceed. An amber traffic light requires you to stop unless stopping is not reasonably possible. A red traffic light requires you to stop. This overview starts with the red warning lights. Some of these red lights require you to stop immediately at a safe location. You can read more about these below.
This indicates that the oil level is too low or too high. This can cause serious damage to your engine, as the oil is responsible for keeping it lubricated. If you see this warning light, stop in a safe place, check the oil level, and top up if necessary. If the light remains on, contact a mechanic or roadside assistance immediately and do not drive any further.
This light indicates a problem with the cooling system. This can cause the engine to overheat and sustain serious damage. Stop and check if there’s enough coolant in the reservoir. Top up if necessary. Caution: If the engine is overheated, wait a while for the coolant to cool before removing the cap, otherwise you could spray boiling coolant in your face.
The battery indicator light always comes on briefly when you start the engine but should then go out on its own.
If it stays on, there may be a problem with the battery, the alternator, the power cables, or a drive belt. Stop in a safe place and call roadside assistance for advice. It might still be possible to drive a little longer. In any case, you should visit your dealer to have the alternator checked. If you’re stubborn and continue driving, turn off all additional power consumers.
Stop immediately in a safe place if this light comes on. Check the brake fluid level and top up if necessary.
If you don’t have brake fluid with you, contact a garage or roadside assistance.
Continuing to drive with low brake fluid can lead to life-threatening situations.
This symbol indicates that the brake pads are worn. It’s time to schedule an appointment at the garage to have them replaced. If you wait too long to replace them, the brake discs will also wear out, resulting in an additional expense.
On some car brands, the symbol does not light up red, but yellow, as shown in the image next.
This warning light illuminates or comes on when the handbrake is engaged or activated, and the car is started.
Check if this is the case and ensure the handbrake is released.
Does the warning light remain on? This could be due to insufficient brake fluid, worn brake pads, or a problem with the ABS. Stop the car. Continuing to drive can be dangerous. Call a mechanic or roadside assistance to determine the cause of the problem.
This light illuminates or comes on when the electronic parking brake is engaged and the car is started. The electronic parking brake is engaged by pressing a button on the dashboard and only appears in cars with an automatic transmission.
Check if this is the case and make sure the parking brake is released.
If the ABS light is on, there could be several causes. A faulty ABS sensor or a malfunction in the ABS module may be present.
You can continue driving, but the ABS will no longer be working. Hard braking can cause the brakes to lock up. Visit your garage soon to have the cause investigated.
The ABS warning light is usually red. In some car brands, it’s yellow, as shown here.
If the power steering warning light on the dashboard comes on, it indicates that the power steering fluid is low or that there is a malfunction in the system.
The first thing you should do is check the fluid level and top it up if it’s low. If you find that you need to top up the power steering fluid regularly, take the car to a garage, as there may be a leak in one of the lines.
If this light is on, you can continue driving, but you’ll notice the steering is heavy, so be careful, as it will require more effort to steer the car. Many cars didn’t have power steering in the past. Steering, especially at low speeds and during intensive steering tasks like parking, was quite a strain. At least you’d have given your arms a bit of a workout :-).
The red steering lock light means it will be difficult to drive away because your car’s steering is locked. Starting the car is now impossible because the steering is locked. Unlock the steering wheel, and you can start the car.
If this light turns yellow, there is a malfunction in the electronic steering lock. Drive to a certified mechanic as soon as possible to have the system checked.
There may be a malfunction in the airbag system when this light comes on. Be very careful, as the airbags are currently not working, which could cause serious injury in a collision. Have it checked as soon as possible at a local garage.
When you deactivate the airbag, for example, with a child seat, it is normal for the airbag light to remain on.
Your practical exam at the CBR will NEVER proceed if this light is on!
This seatbelt indicator light comes on when someone in the car isn’t using their seatbelt. It may also come on when you place a heavy object on a seat. This is because the light illuminates at a certain weight. Light objects can be placed on the seat without triggering this warning.
The door-open warning light on a car indicates that a door is open. You can often see which door it is. For example, in newer cars, when the left rear door is open, you’ll see the left rear light turn red on the dashboard.
Stopping in a safe place to close the trunk is the solution when this warning light is on.
As with the previous light, the solution is quite simple. Just pull over in a safe place and close the hood properly.
If this light is on, there is likely an issue with the engine or the electronics that control fuel injection and ignition.
If the light is flashing, the problem could be very serious. Check the engine oil and coolant levels. If the light continues to flash, do not drive further and call a roadside assistance service.
Increasingly, cars are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, and since 2014, it has been mandatory on all new cars. If this warning light is on, one of the tires is under-inflated and may even be punctured. Park the car in a safe place and check the tires. The abbreviation for this system is TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System).
The tire pressure monitoring system consists of electronic sensors mounted in the wheels that continuously monitor the tire pressure. If the tire pressure in one of the tires is too high or too low, you will automatically receive a message on the dashboard that something is wrong.
This warning light comes on when your car’s fuel level is low. You should refuel as soon as possible. Driving until the fuel runs out can cause unnecessary damage to the engine.
If you fill up with the wrong fuel, for example, petrol instead of diesel, you must stop immediately and turn off the engine. Call roadside assistance, and they will drain all the fuel from the tank. It’s an expensive undertaking. In that case, make sure you fill up with the correct fuel.
You can tell which side of the car the fuel filler cap is on by the arrow. In the case of the photo, the opening is on the left side of the car.