Warning Lights A general rule when it comes to warning lights is:
Red Warning Lights Red warning lights are either an indicator of an immediate safety issue or an issue that could cause severe damage to the vehicle.
Typical red warning lights include…
Brake Light - Which may indicate a serious problems with the brake system.
Oil Level or Pressure Light - Low oil level or pressure could cause severe damage to the engine.
Battery Light - This light usually means there is a problem with your charging system. If you see this light come on, it is best to shut down all unnecessary functions (radio, fan, heat, ac, GPS) and get the vehicle to a safe place, where it can be left or towed.
Airbag Light - Indicates an issue with the airbag system and could mean the airbags are not working.
High-Temperature Light - Overheating a car can cause severe damage to the engine and the transmission.
Yellow or Amber Warning Lights Yellow or Amber warning lights are there to let you know there is an issue, but it is not an immediateconcern.
Typical Yellow or Amber warning lights include…
Maintenance Required Light - This is just a reminder that the vehicle is due for service.
ABS Warning Light - This light indicates a problem with the Anti Lock Brake System, but typically will not affect the everyday braking ability of the car. Anti Lock Brakes are designed to help the braking ability of the car in slippery conditions.
Low Tire Light - This light will usually come on when one or more of the tires have lost a few pounds of air pressure. It's important to check your tire pressure if this light comes on. Ignoring low tires can damage the tire, and in some cases can damage the vehicle.
Check Engine Light - This light can come on for a million reasons. Typically, if the light comes on, but you don't feel the car is behaving any differently than normal, it's safe to say there may be an issue with the emission control systems in the vehicle, which shouldn't cause any damage or jeopardize your safety.
Flashing Check Engine Light - Even though the light is Amber in color, the fact that it is flashing means it should not be ignored. Typically if you see a flashing Check Engine Light you will notice that the vehicle is running rough. The light flashes to let you know that something serious is happening.
Low Fuel Light - This light usually means that you forgot to get gas, 3 mornings in a row, and now you are stuck in gridlock traffic with no exit in sight… and your cell phone is dead.