Dashboard Warning Lights Meaning
What Dashboard Warning Lights Mean
Every car manufacturer uses lights and indicators to advise driver of incoming trouble with their vehicle operating systems. An array of sensors monitor your used car and alert you of failures to avoid damaging your car or dangerous driving situations.
(Warning lights indicate failure on vehicle safety systems and are part of Safety Certification Standards Ontario. Vehicle will need to be repaired in order to pass Safety Certification inspection).
Symbols used for trouble lights or warning lights are mostly identical throughout car manufacturers around the world. However, there are a few differences between car manufacturers. As an example, electronic stability program system is symbolized as VSC, ESP or DSC depending on car manufacturer.
Dashboard warning lights are divided by colors, from green to red specifying severity:
- Green warning lights are usually a remainder or information.
- Yellow warning lights point to a problem which requires immediate driver attention.
- Red warning lights alerts driver to a severe problem with their vehicle safety systems or drive-train, which in most cases requires an immediate stop to operation of the vehicle.
What is Check Engine Light
Check Engine Warning Light monitors biggest spectrum of car operating systems and is most common warning light triggered by minor or major faults. Engine Warning Light warning can be triggered from small insignificant things like an open fuel cap to major engine and transmission problems. Check engine light is most frequently triggered warning light on used cars.
Usually, a solid (not flashing) check engine light warning it is not a “pull over immediately” action. Check engine light is often triggered by small problems. Most can wait until you can get it checked by a mechanic.
More details on Check Engine Light.
Blinking Or Flashing Check Engine Light
Indicates a serious problem, usually misfires on one or more cylinders. It is not advisable to drive a car with blinking Check Engine light, damage to engine might occur in short period of time.
Do not drive anymore, pull over as soon as you can safely and tow your car to a mechanic. Try to restart the car and see if that helps. If problem persist then you should tow your car, do not drive.
(If you are also looking for a fast and easy solution to sell your car, more here on “How To Sell Your Car Fast” in Ontario)
Dashboard Warning Lights Explained
Instrument cluster warning lights will illuminate every time ignition in turned to ON position (engine off) to make sure all systems and warning lights are in working order.
1: Low Fuel Warning Light
Low fuel light is a warning to refuel your car. When Low Fuel Light illuminates car is using reserve fuel. Fuel reserve is more or less the same on all vehicles, about 7 liters.
Driving distance with fuel reserve is about 50-60km. However, it will ultimately depend on driving conditions, engine size and driving habits of driver.
2: Battery Trouble Warning light
Battery warning lights alerts driver when there is a problem with battery or battery charging system. Car computer does not monitor car battery voltage per se, but charging system voltage. Image below shows Red Battery light and Yellow engine light.
Battery trouble warning light is usually triggered by a failed alternator, serpentine belt or lose battery terminal connections. Details on: How To Test Your Car Battery.
3: Windshield Fluid Low Warning Light
Washer fluid low light indicates windshield fluid level is low and need refilling. Washer fluid reservoir takes about 4 liters. Keep your fluid reservoir filled at all times, especially during winter.
4: Engine Coolant level Warning Light
It illuminates when engine coolant has fallen below a minimum threshold level. There are several causes, a coolant leak, a broken coolant sensor or simply low coolant level which requires a refill.
Diagnose low coolant level warning light further as it might indicate serious problems. Cooling system malfunction can lead to engine overheating and serious engine damage.
Engine Temperature Warning Light.
Low pressure and Low Level Oil Lights
5: Low Engine Oil Level Warning Light
Oil Warning Light indicates your engine is low on oil. Add engine oil as soon as possible. Do this when you safely can, do not pull over immediately. Car can still be driven with Low Engine Oil Light for a reasonable period of time until you reach your destination or can add oil to your engine.
– Low Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
Car sensors monitor oil system pressure and will warn driver if engine oil pressure falls below minimum specifications. If you get an Oil Pressure warning light, pull over as soon as you safely can, do not drive anymore. Tow your car and have it professionally diagnosed and repaired.
Low Oil Pressure Warning light means your engine oil pressure is low. Low oil pressure can destroy an engine very quickly, even within few minutes of driving.
6: Light Bulb Failure Warning Light
Light bulb warning light indicates one of exterior light bulbs in your car has failed. Check operation of external lights, tail light, headlight, signal lights, side markers, etc.
Brake, ABS and Traction Warning Lights
7: ASR Warning Light (ESP or VSC)
Older cars used ASR symbol. Today’s equivalent is ESP– Electronic Stability Program or VSC – Vehicle Stability Control.
ESP or VSC warning light indicates there is a problem with your vehicle stability program system. You can still drive your car but VSC is a safety issue and should be checked as soon as possible.
8: ABS Warning Light
It indicates a problem has developed a problem with ABS system or ABS system is not working at all. Car will drive normally but ABS warning light is considered a safety issue and should be fixed as soon as possible.
Details on Why ABS System Fails.
9: Brake Pad Warning Light
Brake warning light is associated with worn brake pads below safety recommended specification. Brake pads on premium cars have sensors to monitor brake pads thickness.
When brake pads thickness falls below safety specifications, warning light will illuminate alerting driver their car will need a brake replacement soon.
10: Brake System Warning Light
Alerts of a brake system problem. Check your parking brake first. Either you are driving with parking brake engaged or there is a problem with braking system.
Low brake fluid as an example. Brakes are very important for driving safely, if you get this warning light have car checked by a mechanic immediately.
More on Braking System Failures.
Air Bag and SRS Warning Lights
11: SRS System Warning Light
SRS means Secondary Restraint System or commonly known as Airbags. SRS warning lights indicate there are faults with your used car Airbag System.
Seat belts on luxury cars have seat belts tensioner system which restrict body movement in an accident. Seat tensioner faults will trigger Airbag warning light too as both system are connected with each other.
SRS warning lights indicate there are faults with your used car Airbag System. Airbags might not deploy in case of collision.
Reasons Why Air Bag Light is on.
Traction Control ON/OFF Warning Light
Traction control can be disabled by driver if necessary. Different vehicle models and brands have different controls to disable it but usually there is a separate switch which can disable traction control.
Traction control light will be triggered as a warning if driver disables traction control system.
Vehicle Stability Control Trouble Warning Light
Vehicle Stability or Electronic stability system is a safety feature in modern vehicles. VSA or ESC or DSC works by modifying throttle control and ABS brakes to keep vehicle steady and prevent from sliding.
Stability Control is activated when sensors detect loss of control. Cruise control will intervene by cutting throttle and applying brakes on individual wheels to keep the vehicle on the road.
VSA or ESC warning light indicates stability control system is not operative and needs to be diagnosed and repaired.
12: Seat Belt Warning Light
Seat belt or Primary Restraint System is most important safety feature, essential fro safety of driver and passengers. Studies show countries with lowest seat belt use also have highest deaths and injures on road crashes and collisions. Seats belts are proven to reduce collision fatalities by over 50%.
Cars are equipped with driver and passenger seats occupancy sensors. If driver or occupants fails to wear seat belts while vehicle is in motion, seat bets warning light will be triggered as a remainder.
Seat belt system also has audible remainder. An audible alarm will sound accompanied with seat belt warning light.
13: Master Warning Light
Its a general warning, for example an open door or open fuel door.
Dashboard Warning Lights Meaning
14: Power Steering Warning Light
Power Steering warning light is an indicator of steering system fault on cars with electric power steering. Cars with traditional hydraulic power steering do not have this symbol.
Symbol above indicates there is a problem with electric power steering system. Turn off your car and restart it. If power steering warning light is still on, then it needs to be investigated further by a technician and repaired if necessary.
15: Cruise Control
Cruise control helps driver on long trips by controlling accelerator and throttle to keep a constant speed of vehicle.
Newer cruise control systems are Adaptive Cruise Controlled. Adaptive cruise control can autonomously keep a safe distance between vehicles.
(If you are looking for a fast and easy solution to sell your car, more here on “How To Sell Your Car Fast” in Ontario).
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