Modern cars are filled with sensors to monitor every detail of how your vehicle is performing. Knowing what your vehicle dashboard warning lights mean is important as you may be able to avoid a breakdown or more serious failure.
The car warning lights on your dashboard generally follow a ‘traffic light’ colour system:
The car warning lights on your dashboard follow a traffic light colour system:
Green/Blue: The system is working correctly or is currently in use.
Amber: Something is not working correctly – take extra care and check it out as soon as possible.
Red: Serious or potentially dangerous problem – stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so.
Common Warning Lights:
Brake Warning Light
What does this mean?
- This light may indicate that the brake fluid level is low.
- If the ABS warning light is also illuminated the braking system may have malfunctioned and your brakes are not working properly.
Can I still drive?
- The brakes are one of the most important safety features, so act immediately.
- Pull over and stop when it’s safe to do so – keep your speed low and avoid braking suddenly.
Engine Management Light
What does this mean?
- The engine is not working properly; you may also notice a lack of power or stuttering.
- This light could indicate minor issues like a broken electrical sensor or a more serious mechanical issue.
Can I still drive?
- Get it checked as soon as you can, as continuing to drive can pose a further risk of potentially irreparable damage to your engine.
Airbag Warning Light
What does this mean?
- The airbag safety system is not working correctly. This could be the airbag system itself, the front passenger occupant classification system, or the seat belt pre-tensioner system.
Can I still drive?
- Get it checked immediately.
- If the airbag system is not working correctly, it may not go off in a crash – or in some cases, may deploy unexpectedly.
Power Steering Warning Light
What does this mean?
- For electrically powered systems, it can be as simple to fix as rebooting a computer.
- Find a safe place to stop, then try turning your vehicle off and on again.
- If the light stays on you should take your vehicle to get checked as soon as possible.
Can I still drive?
- If the power steering system fails, you will notice it is significantly harder to manoeuvre and you should take extra care – get it checked as soon as possible.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
What does this mean?
- This light will come on when the engine is overheating. This could mean that coolant levels are running low, possibly due to a leak in the system, or it could be a sign of a larger problem, like a head gasket failure.
Can I still drive?
- Stop immediately and turn off the engine. Look for any oil leaks, check the levels and top up if necessary.
- If the levels are fine, then the pump may be faulty. In this case call for recovery, to avoid potential engine damage.
Oil Warning Light
What does this mean?
- The temperature is either too hot or the level or pressure is too low – This could lead to expensive or even irreparable engine damage.
Can I still drive?
- If red, stop immediately – overheating engines can suffer irreparable damage.
- Check the coolant level and top up if required. If the light remains on, get your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) Warning Light
What does this mean?
- ABS is an important safety feature that uses electronics to detect and prevent wheel lock-up allowing the vehicle to maintain control when braking in low-grip situations such as icy roads.
Can I still drive?
- If this light is on by itself, you should still have normal braking – but keep your distance, take extra care, and get it checked as soon as possible.
- If the brake warning light is also on, this could indicate that the brake system has failed.
Electronic Stability Problem (ESP) Warning Light
What does this mean?
- Also called Electronic Stability Control (ESC), this warning light indicates a problem with the traction control system.
- If flashing this means the system is intervening – for example, if you’re driving on a slippery road.
Can I still drive?
- If the light has the word ‘OFF’ – The system has been deactivated – you may have accidentally turned it off.
- Stop and restart the vehicle. If the light remains on, get it checked.
Low Tyre Pressure Warning Light
What does this mean?
- Modern vehicles are fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems that alert you when the pressure falls below a set value.
Can I still drive?
- Take extra care and top up with air at the next opportunity, and check the tyre for any damage.
- Reduce your speed and try to avoid braking suddenly or making any violent steering manoeuvres.
Test Your Knowledge!
