Car 101: dashboard symbols part 1: the basics

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

In Part 1 of this week's Car 101 we take a look at the basic (and, let's be honest, pretty obvious) warning lights on your car's dash.

You know all those lights that come on when you fire your car up? The ones you ignore and when they go out again you never think about them?

Do you know what they are? Or what to do if one comes on or flashes at you insistently while you are driving?

Over the next few days we are going to take a look at what the more common ones are and what to do if the serious ones come on, flash or don't go away.

First up: the obvious ones.

* How long will my car go with the fuel light on?

* Can I save money by just filling up with the cheapest petrol at the pump?**

These are the ones you will almost certainly know - at least, you really should know them. There is nothing too mystifying here, but if you are a learner driver, this may help.

Do note, however, that this is by no means an exhaustive list and the symbols can and do differ between manufacturers and even different models from the same manufacturer.

Windscreen washer fluid - time to refill.

What it means: your windscreen washer fluid is low.

What you should do: fill it up. Most cars have the reservoir under the bonnet, but some have a separate somewhere in the boot for the rear wipers.

What it means: you are low on fuel.

Battery - a pretty vital part of the car.

What you should do: fill up. Or run out. The choice is yours.

What it means: your car is due for a scheduled service.

Headlights/high beam - don't dazzle other drivers.

What you should do: book a service. Different cars have different ways of showing this, with more modern cars flashing up a message, rather than a simple light.

What it means: there is a fault with your battery or the voltage is low.

What you should do: get the battery - and wider electrical system - checked by a mechanic or auto electrician. The light usually means the battery isn't charging, which could even mean a broken alternator belt or something similar.

What it means: you haven't got your seatbelt on. Or it could just mean you have something heavy on the passenger's seat as well…

What you should do: put your seatbelt on, idiot.

What it means: your lights are on/on high beam. Different cars use slight variations of the lights on and high beam symbols, but there is generally one unifying element - the headlights on light is green and the high beam on light is blue.

What you should do: depends how dark it is…

What it means: on most occasions if this light is on, it means you have the handbrake on, but if it stays on after the handbrake is released, it could mean a fault.

What you should do: make sure you have released the handbrake all the way, as if the lever is up even a little bit the light may still show. If the light stays on, get it checked by a mechanic.