DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
Your vehicle’s dashboard has lots of lights that turn on when there is an issue with your car. If even one of these lights turns on while you are driving, it can be a cause for alarm. Because modern vehicles contain more technology and features than ever, there can be multiple reasons why a dashboard light turns on, making it difficult to troubleshoot. When it comes to auto diagnostics, it is important to have an expert on your side when one or more of your dashboard lights turns on.
WHAT DO ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD MEAN?
Here is a brief explanation of what each of your dashboard lights means:
Oil Pressure Light
This light means there is an issue with your car’s oil pressure system. There is either not enough oil in your vehicle or your oil pump is not circulating enough fluid to lubricate the surfaces inside your vehicle properly or there may be an electrical circuit issue to the warning light.
Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light signals that the pressure in one or more of your tires is either too high or too low. Driving with high-pressure or low-pressure tires can cause further damage to your vehicle, so it is important to get this issue resolved as soon as possible.
Engine Temperature Warning
If you see this light pop up, it means that your engine is overheated. This most likely has to do with your coolant (also called antifreeze), but it can happen for a variety of reasons. It is important to address this immediately and pull over ASAP to avoid further damage.
Traction Control Light
This indicates that your vehicle’s traction system control is activated. The traction control system uses your anti-lock brake system to determine if one wheel is spinning faster than another. If it detects that a wheel is slipping, it applies the brakes or backs off the throttle until it regains traction. This is most helpful if you are driving in rain or snow.
Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light
This light means that something is wrong with your vehicle’s anti-lock brake system. Anti-lock brakes keep your vehicle in contact with the road safely, so it is important to get this problem checked out as soon as possible.
Traction Control Malfunction
This light indicates that your vehicle’s traction control system might have a broken or damaged sensor, or some other malfunction.
Check Engine/Service Engine Soon Light
This light could mean a number of things, like a failed sensor, fuel mixture, or something esle.. If the light is steady, it is usually not a cause for immediate alarm (but you should bring your vehicle into an auto repair shop as soon as you can). If the light flashes, however, this indicates a very serious problem and you should stop driving immediately.
Battery Alert
This symbol indicates that there is an issue with your vehicle’s charging system. However, the issue may not be with the battery itself. It could indicate that you have a loose or damaged battery cable, or that your alternator belt is broken. If it is your battery, you will start to notice that your clock is fading, or your headlights are dimming. If you wait too long, your vehicle can completely stop running. This is what has happened when you see fellow drivers “jumping” each other’s cars.
Washer Fluid Indicator
This light means that you are low on washer fluid and should get a refill as soon as you can.
