If it’s been a long time since you studied theory for your driver’s licence, you may have forgotten what each of your car warning lights mean. I took the quiz at LeaseCar UK and found that I am not as familiar with my car as I thought! So I studied each warning light to provide an explanation for you. For a quick refresher, simply continue reading to discover what each of your car’s warning lights mean.
Do You Know Your Cars Warning Lights?
ABS light:
If your car’s ABS light turns on while you’re driving, it’s a sign that you may have issues with your anti-lock braking system. You may be surprised to learn that only 43% of respondents from a recent online survey, knew what their cars ABS light meant.
Red exclamation light:
If a red exclamation mark lights up on your car’s dashboard, it’s a sign that your brake system is not working properly and may need to be fixed.
Yellow exclamation light:
If you see a yellow exclamation mark light up, your tire pressure will need to be checked. It’s likely that one of your tires will need to be pumped up at your nearest gas station, in order to prevent being involved in an accident or stuck at the side of the road.
Red battery light:
If a red battery light is lit up on your dashboard, your car’s battery may need to be recharged or replaced. Most car batteries have a lifespan of 5 or more years. If your battery is over 5 years old, you might want to think about replacing it to save money in the long run.
Yellow engine shaped light:
If a yellow engine shaped light turns on, make sure to check your engine. As an example, your yellow engine light may be lit up because your engine needs more oil or water. Or you may have more serious problems with your engine, which a mechanic may have to deal with.
Red thermometer light:
If a red thermometer shaped light which also features a few squiggly lines lights up, it’s a clear sign that your engine may need more coolant. If it is overheating, you should stop driving immediately as this can be very unsafe.
Yellow window wiper light:
If you see a yellow window wiper light, you are running low on washer fluid. Even in the non-winter months, you will want to keep your washer fluid full as dirt and debris can also cause poor visibility on your windshield.
Red airbag warning:
As you may have guessed if your red airbag warning light is lit up, you’ll need to visit your mechanic as there may be a serious issue with your airbags. Which may malfunction at a dangerous moment.
Door opening warning light:
The door opening warning light features the silhouette of a car with two open doors. If you see this sign light up, make sure that all of your doors are closed properly.
A red steering wheel with a red exclamation mark:
If a light which features a red steering wheel with a red exclamation mark pops up, your car is experiencing a power steering failure and you should pull off the road immediately.
Yellow fuel light:
This might be the car warning light everyone is most familiar with. This light means you need to refuel your car asap. No one likes to be stuck at the side of the road due to running out of gas!
Yellow car with squiggly skid marks:
This warning light is a warning that your car’s traction control system is currently encountering issues.
In conclusion:
Hopefully after reading the valuable information which is listed above, you now have a clear idea of what each of your car’s warning lights mean. I was not as familiar with some of these warning lights and now that I have taken a deeper look into them, I feel much safer knowing what my car is trying to tell me. It could save me time, money and my safety!
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