“Penny, your check engine light is on”
Anyone a fan of the big bang theory? Penny’s engine light is on for pretty much the whole series of the show – honestly I am surprised she didn’t end up with a lot more troubles with her car. Cars are designed in a way that they can tell you when something isn’t right. The car dashboard lights can tell you a lot about how your car is running. The car warning lights will light up when there is something wrong or that needs to be checked.
With so many different warning lights that may show up, it can be hard to know which is which. Luckily for you, we have put together a cheat sheet for your car dashboard lights and what they mean.
Engine Warning Light
This is one of the easiest of the lights to recognise. It is shaped as a little engine and will light up when there is an issue to do with the engine. There are a number of reasons that the engine light may light up including lack of power, trouble from misfire or other faults to the engine. If this light comes on, act on it as soon as you notice and call a mechanic to take a look. You could be up for a lot of money and hassle if you continue to drive with it on for too long.
Tyre Pressure Warning Light
Ensuring your tyres are at the correct pressure and not causing issues is very important. If there are troubles with your tyres than you are at risk of not only damage to your car but also injury if you have an accident.
The tyre pressure warning light comes up on the dashboard when you need to check your tyres. It is symbolised by a letter “U” with an exclamation mark inside of it.
If you see this come up, try to get off the road as soon as possible and check the tyres.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Not only do you have the engine light to look out for, but you also have the temperature light. When the engine becomes too hot and needs to cool down you will see a warning light that looks like a letter “E” come up above little waves.
Seatbelt Warning Light
This light is not one that you need to run to the mechanic about. It is simply that someone in the car is not wearing their seatbelt. Although this doesn’t mean that there is a fault in your car, it is still an important light. Making sure everyone has their belts on before driving will save lives!
Break Warning Light
For those who forget to take the handbrake off – you will know this one well. This car warning light will also light up if you are low on brake fluid. It will flash if either of these are the case.
If the light stays on continually, then it is time to pull over and wait for someone to come out and check the car out. Do not keep driving with the brake light on because it can be very dangerous.
Airbag Warning Light
The airbag is one of the greatest creations when it comes to cars and it is important that they are working correctly. If your airbag light is on, make sure you get it checked out asap. The warning light being on can indicate an issue with your airbags that can result in sudden inflation or them not working in the event of a crash.
Coolant Warning Light
This light may come up a lot more during the warmer months when you are running the air conditioner in the car. The coolant warning light refers to the coolant water level being low. If this light comes on it is time to fill up your coolant to keep the car from running out and overheating.
What do you do if these lights start lighting up in your car? It is time to book into a “car mechanic near me” and get them looked into. The longer you wait, the more dangerous it can become. It may be a quick easy (inexpensive) fix if you get it looked at right away. Wait a while? You could be up for a pretty hefty bill.