Consider your car as an extension of your being. With the time you spend with it on a daily basis, it’s probably not impossible to look at things that way. Like your body, your car has certain indicators that probes you when something is wrong. This could be from the presence of a noise or the most obvious way – through the most common dashboard warning lights.
Here’s a list of the most common dashboard warning lights that you need to watch out for:
Seatbelt Warning light
You will probably see this dashboard warning light most often. When the seatbelt warning light is on, it is a reminder for you to practice safe driving by buckling up. The light will only go out once you put your seatbelt back on, so you better do so. If you have a non-functional seatbelt, do have it fixed immediately. Nothing beats safety.
Door Ajar Warning light
When you leave your car door open, or not close it tightly enough, be prepared to see this dashboard warning light come off. For some models, this even comes with a beeping sound that you would surely not be able to ignore. The door ajar warning is another common dashboard warning light that you should not ignore. Your safety depends highly on this too. Always make it a point to close doors properly and lock them as soon as you enter the car.
Battery Warning
You would see this light up in your dashboard when you need to replace your battery. If in case you just recently changed your battery, the battery warning could come out due to two reasons. One, your battery points are dirty and needs some cleaning. Or worse, your car’s charging system is faulty.
Check Engine Indicator
The check engine indicator may be due to a number of things. Such as a busted oxygen or air flow sensor, damaged catalytic converter, loose or damaged fuel cap, even a worn out spark plug. If you see this light with a downward pointing arrow, it means that there’s not enough power in your engine for your car to run properly.
Brake Warning Light
This if you ask me may be the most serious among dashboard warning lights. Not to ignore the rest, but this, if ignored, could really cause you and your family harm. The reason for this light to show is if your braking system is damaged or has a problem. Do not wait any longer to have this checked by your trusted auto shop.
Coolant Temperature Warning
This light is triggered by an overheating engine. This could easily get fixed by adding some engine coolant. Or, checking the radiator cap to see if it’s secure. If this does not do the trick, I suggest you have your car checked by a professional. The coolant temperature warning light can mean serious business such as a damaged cooling system.
Transmission Temperature Warning
If your transmission overheats, this light will warn you of it. Check your transmission fluid and engine coolant levels, if it is low, replenish them. While you’re at it, check for abnormalities in your transmission fluid line reservoir. To be extra sure, visit your trusted mechanic as soon as you can.
Oil Pressure Warning
Engine oil needs to pump properly to lubricate moving parts like pistons and valves. If there is a decrease in engine oil pressure in your car, this light will definitely come on. Check your engine oil level if it has really gone low. Furthermore, have it checked by an expert to see what damage the sudden loss of oil pressure has done to your car.
Aside from the seatbelt and door ajar dashboard warning lights, do remember that the rest discussed in this article may be serious. So I suggest you visit the best auto mechanic to take a look at your car. Remember that your car is an extension of you in so many ways. If you would not let anything happen to you, I hope you could extend the same attitude to your car. If you can’t look at it like that, just consider the safety issues that may arise if you leave these things to chance.
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