It’s your worst fear: lights are popping up on your dashboard in your car and you don’t know what any of them mean! You’re not alone — many people don’t know what different dashboard warning lights mean.
Pullover to the side of the road and start reading. Our handy guide will help you understand these five dashboard warning lights that demand immediate attention and what to do about them.
1. The Check Engine Light
The check engine light is a little yellow outline of an engine on the dashboard of your car. Sometimes It will say “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon.”
The check engine light signals a variety of different issues. It’s like a general way for your car to let you know something is wrong.
This light can signal issues like a loose gas cap, a catalytic converter issue, or something that is impairing your engine function. If the light is flashing, pull over immediately and turn your engine off because something is happening to your engine that could cause serious damage.
The best way to turn off your check engine light is by repairing whatever issue caused it to turn on in the first place. Take your car to an auto center for maintenance as soon as possible.
2. The Airbag Warning Light
This light looks like a little person with a seatbelt over them and a circle in front of them. This light can be red or yellow. It can also be the words “Air Bag” lit up.
This warning light means an airbag may not work if you get into an accident. There could be a broken wire or loose sensor that would prevent the airbag from going off.
Take your car to a repair center immediately. They will repair or replace whatever is causing the light to go off and make your car safe for usage.
3. The Thermometer Light
This light can be red or yellow. It has a little thermometer symbol with two or three tick marks and waves around the bottom of it.
This light means your engine is overheating and you need to pull over and turn off your car immediately. Try to get your car to an auto center the same day to fix the problem before it gets worse.
4. The Brake Warning Light
The brake warning light is a red circle with an exclamation point and parenthesis around it. Sometimes it will say “Brake.”
This light means something is wrong with your brake’s physical components, or that you need more brake fluid. This is not an immediate issue, but you should have it looked at right away. If your brake fluid is leaking, it can cause a fire to start.
5. The Battery Light
The battery light is a rectangle with two bumps and plus/minus signs. This light means your car has a damaged battery, bad battery cables, or your battery is not maintaining energy.
Take your car to an auto center as soon as you see this light because your car battery can die within 15 minutes of this light coming on.
Turn Off Those Dashboard Warning Lights Today
No one likes having their dashboard warning lights on for long periods of time. Visiting an auto center can solve any problem that can be causing the lights to go off. Regular car maintenance can also help prevent these issues in the long run.
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