Have you ever had a warning light flash up on the dashboard and not know what it means? They are dashboard lights! You are not alone if this is the case as a study by Robins and Day found that just 21% of UK drivers could identify the basic warning lights and only 15% were confident that they could identify all of the basic warning lights unaided.
Dashboard lights are crucial indicators in a vehicle that provide important information about the status and any potential issues. These lights Are open and color-coded and alert the driver to specific conditions from minor notifications to urgent warnings.
The following article will explore the common dashboard lights and their meaning.
Reasons why Understanding Dashboard lights is important!
Understanding dashboard lights may seem like a poor investment time when you don’t know their importance! Check out the list below to ensure you are not making the mistake of risking your life:
Potentially Dangerous:
While most of the time these warning lights are not a cause for immediate concern, some could signal a serious and potentially dangerous problem that requires some kind of action.
This is why it is so important that motorists have a firm understanding of the warning lights and what they mean along with what action needs to be taken.
Reasons That People Ignore Warning Lights:
The study also found that many people were ignoring the warning lights until their service or MOT. 40% wait as they believe that the light will go off by itself, 24% admitted to just being lazy and 34% were afraid of the potential costs involved.
However, it is important to know that ignoring warning lights on the dashboard could prove to be costly and in more ways than one.
The Law:
Ignoring a warning light could result in requiring work on the car if the issue is not resolved. Not only this, but motorists have a legal obligation to attend to a dashboard light and failure to do this would mean that you are breaking the law, and ignoring this could invalidate your insurance.
Learning the Warning Lights:
Motorists should study their owner’s manual to learn about each warning light and what it means along with what action should be taken. In high-quality cars like the Peugeot 208, a traffic light system is used in most cars where a green (or sometimes white or blue) light is purely informational and indicates nothing is wrong, amber advises that you should look into the issue within a month and pay close attention to performance while red indicates that the issue should be dealt with immediately. Here are a few of the most important warning lights and what they mean:
- Brake Light Warning (new bulb)
- Brake Pad Warning (replacement pads)
- Oil Pressure Low (oil change)
- Fuel Filter Warning (replacement fuel filter)
- Service light (full service required)
- Suspension Dampers (replacement suspension system)
Many motorists appear to be driving around without knowing what their warning lights mean. Not only is this dangerous, but it is also illegal and could invalidate your insurance so it is certainly important to dig the owner’s manual out and to learn what each light means.
Examples of dashboard lights
Here are a few examples of dashboard lights and their meaning to help you in the future whenever you see them blink. Check out the following list to know more:
- CEL or Check Engine Light
This dashboard light blinks yellow or Orange and indicates potential issues with the engine, emission system, or other mechanical parts. This is one of the most common and important dashboard lights that you must not ignore.
It is also important to get your car checked by a mechanic as soon as you see this light go off.
- Battery warning light
This dashboard light speaks for itself. This indicates red on the dashboard lights and indicates a problem with the charging system. It typically means an issue with the alternator or the battery. If this dashboard light stays on your car could stop running due to charging issues.
- Oil pressure warning light
This one from the dashboard lights blinks Red 2 but has a different indication on the dashboard. The light indicates low oil pressure which can damage your engine.
Thus, you must be immediate attention. If the light blinks while you are on the way, pull over and check the oil levels immediately. If you do not know what to do then seek professional assistance.
- TPMS or tire pressure monitoring system
This one from the dashboard lights bling yellow and indicates low-tier pressure in one or multiple tires. Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for vehicle safety in fuel efficiency.
Always check the pressure in your tires before leaving or whenever taking your car for routine maintenance.
- ABS Light or Anti-lock Braking system
One of the most famous dashboard lights that you may have hurt frequently about is the ABS light blinking yellow. The blinking of this light indicates there is an issue with the antilog braking system.
Your vehicle may still have a functional break but the abs feature may not be working. This affects your ability to brake safely in certain conditions such as snow or heavy rain.
- Coolant temperature warning light
This warning light may bling blue or red depending on the car model. It usually indicates that the engine is overheating or the coolant is too cool (ironic. If you see this light blinking red pull over immediately to avoid engine damage and seek professional systems as soon as possible.
Do not ignore dashboard lights.
Understanding dashboard lights is crucial to maintain the safety and longevity of your vehicle. It is also important to avoid accidents or any other damage to your car.
If you’re new to owning a vehicle be sure to read the manual for a better understanding or look for online guides that can help you through it.
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