As a driver, how can you ensure you understand all the warning lights on your dashboard?

Answer 1

Oil pressure warning light
This light should illuminate when the ignition is switched on and should extinguish as soon as the engine starts
Battery charge warning light
This light should illuminate when the ignition is switched on and should extinguish as soon as the engine starts.
Brake system warning light
This light will remain illuminated when the handbrake is engaged. Illumination after releasing the handbrake may indicate low brake fluid level.
Engine warning light
Illuminates when the ignition is switched on. It should extinguish as soon as the engine starts.
If it illuminates with the engine running, it indicates a malfunction with the engine management system. Have this checked as soon as possible.
If it flashes when driving, reduce the vehicle speed immediately until the light illuminates constantly. If it continues to flash, avoid heavy acceleration and high engine speed, stop the vehicle and have it checked immediately.

Brake system and ABS warning lights
If both warning lights illuminate at the same time when driving, stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Reduce vehicle speed gradually and immediately move the vehicle to a safe location. Use the brakes with great care. Do not step on the brake pedal abruptly. Seek assistance.

you will find these in every car manual ......

Answer 2

Actually all of the people are correct you should read the owner's manual to become more acquainted with your car, but also keep in mind that car's today have sensors for every little thing and not all the warnings are as drastic as they may seem. If a light comes on and you don't know what it's for than take it to a mechanic and get it checked out. It could just be a glitch in the system.Cars today have computers in them and as everyone knows computers do tend to act up from time to time so just to be safe side let a certified mechanic run a check on it and if it's not important they'll just reset it.

Answer 3

welcome my friend to "Dashlights 101" that light could be the prelude to several things it is a warning that something has failed or on the brink of failing moslty in your vaccum an pollution equipment such as ex: oxygen sensors, EGR Valves, also could be like my car it will warn you when a quart low on oil , bad batterys , each car manufacturer uses mostly the same basic warnings but some have more advanced warning systems that could cost you lots a $$$$ if left unattended so when this light comes on take it to a mechanic that has a "CODE READER" an have him plug into your cars computer an figure out which part is causeing the problem wah - lah ! you can have this code reading done at major parts chain stores an it's free an you can find out the severity of the problem an have it repaired if it is a major essential to the cars operateing correctly an safely ...Class Dismissed !

Answer 4

Read the manual and if one comes on stop and check the manual if it is not obvious.
HOWEVER I hire cars and there is never any instruction book and never any help. ALL CARS ARE DIFFERENT and sometimes I cannot even start the car and have to go and get help from the hire desk. Also the control switches are different and finding the lights and wipers are a nightmare. Even gear boxes are so individual now. I still do not know how to drive most semi automatics correctly as they are all different. And as for air con systems and radios don't get me going on those.

So who cares what the lights mean on a hire car. If it blows up then you get another one!!

Answer 5

Well, you generally have two types of lights, those that are warning, and those that just require attention. The best thing to do would just be to read the owners manual, as this will list all the lights and give a description of it. As well as tell you where it is. Generally, all warning lights will be red, and all the attention lights will be orange.

Answer 6

Read the drivers' handbook, or if you don't have one ask a dealer. In (very) general terms, an orange light is a warning, whereas a red light means there's a SERIOUS problem, stop now!
Green & blue lights are related to the lighting system or indicators.

Answer 7

Isn't it plain obvious that you should learn how a machine works, before you start using it? Most of the warning lights in a car make sense anyway, it's easy enough to spot what they mean. If you don't know it, there should be a copy of the manual in the glove compartment. Just get off the road and put your alarm lights on (the outside ones that is) if required, then have a proper gander.

Answer 8

Read the handbook that came with the car is the obvious answer...having said that I read mine (as most men do) about 3 years ago and last month a most strange light came on and I had no idea at all what it was and had to get the handbook out and look it up.....Oh for the good old days when you only had two and it was either red or amber, how did we manage to drive at all then?

Answer 9

You can try reading the manual of the car before hand, which you should do anyway.

Its amazing the amount of people who dont understand what the warning signs mean and 10 minutes to read the cars manual would clear it all up and save on a lot of costly repairs or even those who think that car manuals are unimportant.

I drive a jaguar and it has 6 seperate fuse boards... i'm glad i've always had the manual to hand.

I once heard of a car sold by a cowboy trailer who actually removed all of the dash warning bulbs so they didn't flash up... takes all sorts.

Answer 10

the warnning lights are all hooked u to sencors to give us a warning that somethings wrong many times people bring it some where and get the codes cleared from the computer in there car the there cars stop working and they have no idea why i read about that all the time on here