Have you seen a warning light appear on the dashboard of your car which you didn’t understand? Need help keeping track of all the different symbols and warning lights that can appear when driving?
Modern day cars are capable of relaying all kinds of different information via the dashboard, including when certain functions are turned on or when an important component has failed.
It’s important to know what all of these different symbols on your dashboard mean when they appear, as they probably mean repair work and other possible precautions are necessary. Here’s our guide to the most important dashboard symbols and warning lights to look out for.
Important Warning Lights
Power steering warning light
Also known as the EPAS light, this warning light, if illuminated, means that there could be something wrong with the car’s steering.
If the steering fails, this warning light may not be the only indicator as the steering itself could become heavy, meaning a lot more effort is need to change the direction of the car. Such a problem is especially annoying at low speeds, but at high speeds a steering failure could prove very dangerous. Therefore it’s always worth getting in touch with a service garage if this warning light appears.
Diesel particulate filter warning light
The majority of modern diesel-run cars have a feature called a particulate filter. This is meant to remove harmful soot from the gases emitting from the exhaust.
If this particular warning light appears, it means the filter has gone faulty. Every time you press on the gas pedal, the engine will get damaged and toxins (usually in form of a black cloud of smoke) will be produced from the exhaust.
Tyre pressure monitor warning light
Tyre pressure monitoring systems are commonplace on modern cars and are capable of detecting any abnormal tyre pressures, caused by punctures for example. When this warning light appears, check as soon as it’s convenient that the pressure levels of your car’s tyres are at a suitable level.
Brake system warning light
If this warning light appears then that means a fault with your brake has been detected. This is something you should get checked urgently. The warning light could be signalling either low brake fluid level or the fact the brake pads have worn excessively.
Alternatively the warning light may appear if the anti-lock braking system is faulty. Whichever is the case, you should get your car over to a repair garage as soon as possible.
Engine/ECU warning Light
If the engine warning light appears it means there’s a fault with the engine (or engine control unit) and this could be accompanied by some symptoms such as a noticeable lack of power. While the warning light may appear because of simply a sensor failure, it could more serious so get your engine checked by a trained mechanic before long-term damage to the engine can occur.
Airbag warning light
If this light appears then that means either the airbag possibly won’t deploy during a crash or, arguable worse, it could go off at some time unexpectedly. The latter issue can mean an expensive repair job, as well as risking the driver’s and other passengers’ health.
Coolant warning light
If you see the coolant warning light appear on your dashboard, then it likely mean the coolant level is running low. You can check the current coolant amount by opening up your bonnet and inspecting the coolant tank itself.
Oil warning light
This can appear if either the oil temperature is too high, there is a low level of engine oil in your car or the oil pressure is too low. Oil is used to lubricate your engine and keep it running effectively, so any of these three problems are major and can lead to significant damage. It’s vital therefore to see a professional mechanic if this light emerges.
Battery charge warning light
The battery charge warning light will usually show up on your dashboard when you first turn your car on. If it doesn’t go away after a few seconds though, or reappears later on whilst driving, then that could mean there’s an issue with your car’s electrical system.
This light could indicate a faulty battery, a faulty alternator or damaged cabling around the engine bay. If the alternator isn’t working, then the car’s battery is not being charged and your vehicle will come to a halt at some stage.
Bulb failure warning light
This particular warning light indicates that one or several of the bulbs in your car has gone faulty. The best way to address this issue is to contact a trained motor electrician.