Most cars with traction or stability control allow you to turn these functions off. Stop the car and call a tow truck as soon as you safely can. Low oil pressure can cause serious damage to your engine, … https://cars.usnews.com › cars-trucks › dashboard-lights-meaning A flashing yellow indicator light means the headlight leveling or AFS is defective. 1. Whether you drive a Chevrolet car or truck, you may have a dashboard warning light appear. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. The app features dashboard warning lights and alert symbols from all cars brands and models, with an explanation of the problem. If certain indicators were to remain illuminated while your engine is running, however, they could be alerting you to a serious condition. If you see this sign don't freak out. We've put together this guide on 10 of the most common car warning lights. It's best to take your car to a shop in this case, as ABS is one of the most important safety enhancements in cars since the seatbelt was invented. This means one of two things has happened here: Either you turned the function off because you wanted to do some sporty driving (turn it back on, you're not Lewis Hamilton) or the feature has failed altogether. Here is what the different colors mean. If the wheel sensor is faulty, the ABS light will also come on. There are two types of headlights—low beam and high beam. Just like your computer at home, doing a simple reset may fix the issue and the light … These lights may simply be indicating a vehicle control setting, e.g., Front Fog Lamps On. Emergency vehicle lighting is one or more visual warning lights fitted to a vehicle for use when the driver wishes to convey to other road users the urgency of their journey, to provide additional warning of a hazard when stationary, or in the case of law enforcement as a means of signalling another driver to stop for interaction with an officer. As a result, it's best if you get this checked out right away. So, you can both prevent malfunctions that may occur in your vehicle and protect your safety. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic. Red may also indicate an important reminder. Car’s headlight symbols can be confusing if you don't know what those mysterious icons mean. half-a-dozen different settings to choose from, Find out the best Nissan cars to buy pre-owned. You can probably still drive the car safely for the time being, but something will require your attention soon. That can lead to major mechanical problems—the engine could seize and leave you stranded. A common problem with some systems is the tendency to "strobe," or make the lights flicker. The warning lights on car dashboard are designed to inform you in advance if there is a problem with your vehicle. This light can mean a number of things. Check your car’s dashboard lighting as it is essential to identify your car’s potential problem, safety issues or immediate failure points. This illuminates a … Either way, if you see the check engine light on your dash, something's gone wrong and you shouldn't put off a trip to the shop. The colour of the illuminated symbol signifies how serious the problem is. If you see a little thermometer pop up in your dash, that means your car is probably overheating. The light could be a minor issue, such as a faulty gas cap, or it could mean something more serious, such as a misfiring engine. Unless you're really handy, you should leave a fix like this to a mechanic you trust. Green and blue warning lights … The car’s battery light coming on generally means that there is something preventing your car’s electric system from the battery charged and thus, the car is running on battery power only. Engine Temperature Warning Light Indicator light means the engine temperature has exceeded normal limits. There are a number of things that could have happened, but the best thing to do is stop the car and wait a good long while for the engine to cool down by itself. However, the ECO light isn’t used as a warning indicator as the check engine light is similarly focused on emissions. The sooner you can fix it, the better. On most cars, this light will go away on its own after you've topped the tires off. The ABS light can also come on when you have worn out brake pads or the ABS pump is malfunctioning.. You can sometimes fix faulty wheel sensors and the ABS rings by cleaning out the sensor to get rid of dirt particles. The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. Green or Blue Warning Light. Instead, find a safe place to stop and inspect your tires. What do they all mean? 2. It's federally mandated (as it should be), and sometimes you'll see an airbag warning light in your dash. Automotive electrical systems have grown more complex over the years, but the basic principles behind them are similar. Modern cars come with tire pressure monitoring systems and the little exclamation point inside of a half-circle merely means one or more of your tires have low pressure. See more articles from The News Wheel. Activating them wasn’t any harder than simply flipping a switch. Modern cars are filled with electronics and packed with sensors to monitor how your vehicle is behaving. If you've seen what looks like a gravy boat light pop up in your dash it means there's a problem with your engine oil pressure. Oil Pressure Light. These lights allow the driver to see the roadway in the dark, while also signaling to other motorists that a car is present. That means eventually you'll drain the battery and you'll likely need a jumpstart to get you going again. Car dashboard warning lights - what do they mean? It can be anything from a spark plug fault to the failure of something major such as the intake manifold or low compression. Fast forward to today: When you go to turn the headlights on a car today, you’re met with half-a-dozen different settings to choose from, all featuring different symbols that vaguely resemble light bulbs. All cars have airbags these days. The fog light symbol looks a lot like the one used for the regular headlights, albeit with a squiggly line in front of it instead of three lines that look like beams. Either you’re running low on oil or your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid to … What follows is easily the most complete list available of symbols and warnings that may appear in and on your car’s dashboard or instrument cluster. Car lights include: Headlights. If this light is on while your car's engine is on, then it's typically a sign that the battery charging system isn't working. A loose fuel cap is one of the most common reasons why the check engine light turns on. 15 Common Warning Lights on Your Car’s Dashboard. But, most of the vehicle’s dashboard, these car warning lights will represent the same meaning, displaying almost the same icons right there. This old fashioned oil can image indicates that there is an issue with your car’s oil pressure system. It's likely that if you stop too hard with this light on, then your car's brakes may lock up, which could make it a struggle to come to a full stop. Next, grab a rag, pop the hood, and use the rag to lift the lid of the coolant reservoir and check the coolant level. A guide to understanding a cars dashboard warning lights. If you know what the car warning lights mean, you can take precautions in advance to prevent accidents in your vehicle. There are sensors and warning lights in new cars that alert you to tire pressure levels and the washer fluid level. Despite seeing a new tell-tale or warning light on your instrument panel, unless it is red it is likely the car is still running fine and while there may be a problem to attend to, proceed with confidence and patience. Shopping with Sense: What are the best pre-owned Ford models? The ECO light will illuminate to let the driver know that some of the cylinders have been disabled. A solid yellow warning light means bulb failure is occurring. Few things are scarier than driving down the road only to see one of your warning lights is on. Approaching police lights warn civilians to move out of the way and to avoid police activity scenes. Attend to it! Due to the nature of diesel engines, they require some extra help when first starting up at a cold temperature. If so, select your model of Chevrolet to find out what those dash lights mean, with each symbol explained. If they look a bit low, carefully make your way to the nearest gas station to fill them with air. We define the most common headlamp symbols. As a rule of thumb: Red warning lights need immediate action. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Lucky for you, your car's proverbial brain will figure out an impending problem before you do and send you a warning more often than not. Light 'em Up: A Guide to Common Dashboard Warning Lights. What it means: If your car is running on diesel, this is the glow plug indicator. Red indicates a potentially serious problem or safety issue. Feel like you’re playing a bad game of Pictionary with your car, trying to decipher what the foreign symbol that suddenly appeared on the dashboard means? Read our guide to car dashboard warning lights and understand what they mean. © 2021 MotorTrend | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC. Nissan Altima Dashboard Warning Lights and Meanings By Product Expert | Posted in Nissan Altima, Service & Sales, Tips & Tricks on Tuesday, April 5th, 2016 at 8:16 pm. Officers also use these lights while their cars are parked for police incidents that are in progress for example, a vehicle traffic stop or domestic disturbance at a residence. Vehicle warning lights in all makes and models generally follow a similar rule in terms of symbol colour. If not, we've got you covered. Traction control systems are a part of a vehicle's ant-lock brake system and are intended to prevent the loss of traction between the wheels and the roadway. It’s important to know what car dashboard warning lights mean because you might be able to avoid a car breakdown or full-on failure. This is completely normal and is ideal for keeping your gas tank full. Yellow/amber/orange mean something needs to be serviced or repaired soon. What it means: This warning light means that there is low oil pressure in your car’s engine. Learn how and when to check your car's exterior and brake lights by watching this video. The lights on your car's dashboard light up when something's wrong. If you notice this warning light on your car, you should turn off your car’s engine as fast as possible. A buzzer sounds and the warning light flashes to indicate that the master warning system has detected a malfunction. In the old days, car headlights had two settings: on or off. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to the  Terms of Use. Click a link to learn more about each one. It is fair to assume something is eventually going to break or stop working no matter what sort of car you buy, and no matter how reliable it is rumored to be. Car Dashboard Warning Lights: Symbols and their Meanings The dashboard is full of symbols, which may differ slightly in different cars. It’s not always clear what a dashboard warning light means. Color is King! Flashing lights atop speeding patrol cars mean that officers are heading to emergency calls. The glow plug is a heating element that is activated during startup when the … Download this app if you want to know what different warning lights and symbols, mean and if there is anything you can do yourself to avoid a trip to the repair shop. When the ABS light comes on, the first thing you should do is find a safe place to stop the vehicle, shut it off, and then start it up again. When something goes wrong with your car or if a feature you should know about gets activated, a signal funnels through the electrical system and into the dashboard. The "TRAC off" alert light found on some vehicles is a visual aid that indicates the vehicle's traction control feature is not currently engaged. In the event that you see an exclamation mark with a circle around it in your dash, that means something is wrong with your brakes. We'll start with a dash light that isn't technically a warning light. Each bright color is different and defines a certain situation. There may be a problem with brake components or the hydraulic fluid may need a top-off. Let’s clear up any confusion and explain what all your car’s headlight symbols mean. 1. Amber, orange or other colour lights often mean something needs checking by a garage. Don’t panic! Your information will be collected and used in accordance with our  Privacy Policy. It’s normal to see some of these lights briefly while you start your engine. The alternator or generator will power the car while recharging the battery at the same time. Driving without a fully functioning brake system is dangerous (not to mention totally nuts) and should be fixed as soon as possible. The check engine light means that one of the many sensors monitoring your car has noticed a problem with the engine. Check coolant level, fan operation, radiator cap, coolant leaks. Basically, if you see the battery light on in your car when it is running, you shouldn’t expect to be able to drive it for very long. The Best on a Budget: Find out the best Nissan cars to buy pre-owned. If you see a little red battery on your dash, then that means you're currently powering your car on the battery alone. But if they stay lit up while you’re driving, then you'll need to look into it. In that case, you're going to have to take your car somewhere to get the problem diagnosed. The wheel sensors send information to the ABS and this will help you to steer the car during bad weather. This will make the computer recheck all of the sensors for any abnormalities. . If your car is so hot the engine, coolant reservoir, or coolant tank is "smoking," then you might want to call a tow service. Cars have been able to monitor their engine's oil pressure for years now. It's safest to let the computer think about traction for you, so find a way to get it back on ASAP. Although it is related to the braking system, the ABS warning light does not signal a failure of the physical brakes. But do you know what all those little icons on the dashboard mean? Like many things, cars are not perfect. If you see what looks like the rear view of an old sedan followed by some squiggly lines on the road behind it, then that means your stability control system is either partially or fully off. If the symbol lights momentarily it may mean that the ignition switch is locked and will need the proper transponder-equipped key to re-start. means that one of the many sensors monitoring your car has noticed a problem with the engine. Instead, this signals an issue with the anti-lock brake system. It can indicate a problem with any number of items, including the sensors that detect crashes and deploy airbags in the event of an accident have failed. When the engine isn't on, the alternator isn't actively charging the battery. For example, in most cars, the tire pressure sign, the low fuel sign, and the engine check sign are all yellow or orange. The following are warning lights and indicators found in vehicles built by Chevrolet. Not all cars come equipped with fog lights, though, so it's possible you'll never see this dashboard light during the course of vehicle ownership. Allow you to a mechanic you trust this sign do n't freak out, select your model Chevrolet... 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