Having a warning light pop up on your car is always a nerve-wracking experience. There’s the initial worry of the light and not knowing what it means, plus the idea something might be wrong with your car.
In the post below, we’ll take away all of your worry and stress by giving you the most common dashboard warning lights and their meanings. Soon enough, when a warning light pops up, you’ll know exactly what to do.
Importance
The importance of warning lights needs no explanation. Some lights are more prominent than others, some might mean a simple change to your car. No matter how calm you might be about the warning light that’s popped up, you should never ignore it.
A warning light on your car can have many different reasons behind it, you might be low on fuel, or maybe your brakes need more fluid. Any warning signs your car gives you have been given to you for a reason.
Warning Lights
Now we’re onto the part of the post you’re all here for, the top 10 warning lights and what they mean! Some might be more important than others, but as we’ve already stressed, they should never be ignored.
Battery Warning Light
The battery warning light has a few different meanings behind it, but all reasons indicate your car needs to be taken to a garage. This light might mean your battery needs replacing, it might mean there’s a loose cable, or it might mean that the battery has started to corrode.
Getting this checked as soon as you see the light come on is a great idea, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of worry and time.
Brake Warning Light
This warning light is a lot less worrisome, especially when you’re in an idle position. The brake warning light might simply just mean your handbrake is applied, in which case, you can remove the handbrake when you’re ready and set off on your journey.
If this light is still on whilst you’re driving or the handbrake is no longer applied, then this might mean there’s a leak in your brakes. This needs to be checked ASAP since a leak can cause your brakes to fail.
Engine Warning Light
This light is less specific compared to other lights. The engine warning light can indicate problems ranging from a minor issue to a serious fault, and the only way you can detect the problem is to have a garage run a diagnostic check on your car.
Oil Pressure Light
The oil pressure warning light does what it says, indicating that the oil is low in your car. Generally, this light appears when there’s a drop in oil pressure in your car, so adding some oil to your engine and seeing if the light goes is a great way to fix this issue. Otherwise, pop your head into a garage to see if they can find the issue.
Temperature Warning Light
This is a very common warning light to see since it’ll turn on every time you start up your engine. After a few moments of the car being on, the warning light should disappear. If it stays on or comes on whilst you’re driving, this would mean your engine is overheating and it’s a good time to stop driving for a bit.
Low Fuel Light
This one is pretty self-explanatory and we’re sure you all know exactly what this means. If your fuel light comes on, it’s time to fill up your tank again. If you’ve just filled your tank up and it’s still showing, there might be a leak and it’s best to get this checked.
Tyre Pressure Sensor
Having the right amount of pressure in your tyres is vital for road safety, so if you see this light come on, it’s time to pump up your tyres! Head off to a petrol station or a garage and fill your tyres up so they meet the legal pressure requirements.
Seatbelt Warning Light
Your seatbelt warning light will normally show up if you’re driving and one of your passengers has decided not to put their seatbelt on. In most cars, especially modern ones, you’ll be able to see which seat hasn’t been fastened in. If their seatbelt is on, this might indicate a faulty seatbelt.
Glow Plug Warning Light (Diesel)
This light applies to diesel engines only, but if this light comes on, you’ll need to stop your car and not start it again until the light goes out. It means your glow plugs have become too hot in the engine. If this light flashes, you’ll need to head to a garage because a fault has been detected.
Door and Boot Warning Light
This is a super important warning light! If you see this light come on, it either means your doors or boot haven’t been shut properly, or there’s a fault in the workings of the doors or boot. If this is the case, it’s best to get it checked.
They’re the most common top 10 lights you’re likely to see on your cars’s dashboard. If you’re ever unsure, make sure you get your car checked over by a professional!
