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Your vehicle features an abundance of handy warning lights that will let you know if it’s operating correctly or needs some extra attention. Many of the lights on the dashboard simply alert you to things that are functioning properly. For example, the traction control light illuminates when your car is properly utilizing its traction and stability control features. However, many lights are designed to highlight potentially more serious problems. If you see the following lights illuminated in your vehicle, you should take prompt action to make sure you’re staying safe on the road.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light, shaped like the silhouette of an engine, can be one of the most serious warning lights on your dashboard. Even if your car seems fine, you should investigate the cause of this warning because it may give you just enough heads up to avoid disaster by detecting a problem before you can.
In many cases, the check engine light will illuminate for a minor issue, such as a loose wire or faulty sensor, but you should never take a chance. If this light is accompanied by any kind of strange behavior from your car, pull over and call for a tow truck immediately.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
The engine temperature warning light is an extremely important indicator. This light looks like a thermometer suspended above wavy lines. In some vehicles, the light features the word “TEMP.” This light comes on when your engine is running at dangerously hot temperatures. If you don’t address the issue, this could permanently damage your engine, leading to an extremely costly repair.
The engine temperature warning light may come on due to a broken radiator, faulty water pump, low coolant levels, broken fan, or other problems. When you see this light, you should quickly pull over and turn off your car to allow the engine to cool down. Don’t pop the hood immediately as the steam from the engine can burn you. Call for a tow and have a mechanic look at your car right away.
Engine Oil Warning Light
Shaped like an old-fashioned oil can, the engine oil warning light lets you know that there’s something wrong with the oil pressure system. You may have a broken oil pump, a low oil level, or an oil leak. If you continue to drive your car in this state, your engine can suffer serious or even irreparable damage. Pull over immediately to investigate the problem. You may be able to resolve the engine oil warning light by topping off the oil in your car. If this causes the light to go off, you can typically make it to your nearest mechanic. Even if the light turns off, you should still investigate the underlying cause of the alert to make sure you’re not steadily losing oil or dealing with another ongoing problem.
Battery Charge Warning Light
The battery warning light looks like a car battery, complete with positive and negative symbols. This light will alert you to an aging battery that’s about to die. The light can also clue you into issues with the alternator, wiring, or other electrical components that are inhibiting the battery’s ability to charge properly. You should investigate the cause of this warning light promptly or you may find yourself stuck without enough battery to get to your next destination.
Brake Warning Light
The brake warning light looks like a circle within parentheses with an exclamation point in the center. This indicates that either your parking brake is engaged or there’s a problem with your brake system. Begin by checking to make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. You can also try topping off the brake fluid.
If these actions don’t resolve the issue, you shouldn’t drive your vehicle until you can get it checked out. Driving without functioning brakes is extremely dangerous. If this light comes on while you’re already on the road, pull over immediately.
Tire Pressure Warning Lights
The tire pressure warning light features a circle that’s open on the top with an exclamation point in the center and slight treads on the bottom. This light means that your tires are either over- or under-inflated. In newer vehicles, you may have an infotainment system that will tell you the exact pressure of each tire so you can diagnose the problem quickly.
Though this light doesn’t necessitate a trip to the mechanic, it’s still something that you should address. If your tires aren’t inflated properly, they’re at a greater risk of blowing out. Adjust the tire pressure to the recommended level as soon as possible so you can safely hit the road once again.
Transmission Temperature Warning
The transmission temperature light shows a thermometer inside a circle that looks like a gear. This indicates an overheated transmission, which could be the result of worn transmission parts, heavy towing, low transmission fluid, or other issues. You should check your coolant levels first to see if topping off this fluid will resolve your issue, at least temporarily. If the light stays illuminated, you shouldn’t drive your vehicle until you can have it checked out by a mechanic. Continuing to operate your vehicle at extreme temperatures will cause severe damage to essential components.
Lamp Out Light
If one of the headlights or taillights in your car has burned out, this warning light will illuminate. This feature alerts you to the need for a quick fix. Though one light may seem like a minor issue, you should replace the bulb immediately. Having proper lights on your vehicle will make your car more visible to others on the road so you can travel safely. You’re also at risk of getting pulled over and receiving a ticket when this light is illuminated. Keep a spare bulb on hand so you can fix this problem quickly and easily.
Schedule an appointment with our service center at Keith Pierson Toyota in Jacksonville, Florida to diagnose any issue with your warning lights. We’ll help you discover what’s going on and quickly come up with a plan to get you back on the road.
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