Car 101: Dashboard symbols - the important ones

Thursday, 23 August 2018

In Part 2 of this week's Car 101 we take a look at the more important warning lights on your car's dash and what you should do if they light up.

Today in the second part of our Car 101 series on arcane dash lights (you can read part 1 here) we take a look at the more important ones and what you should do if they come on or flash at you while you are driving.

These ones all require immediate attention and you should generally stop the car straight away if one comes on.

Remember 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.

If something alarming flashes at you from the dashboard and you don't know what it is, then check with your mechanic.

**READ MORE

Engine temperature warning - things are getting hot. Pull over.

* Car 101: dashboard symbols part 1: the basics

Oil pressure warning - stop the engine if this comes on.

* Car 101: what all those letters and numbers on the side of a tyre mean

Brake warning - maybe just the handbrake, maybe not.

* What's the correct way to use my fog lights?**

What it means: your engine's coolant system is overheating.

What you should do: because modern cars quite often have just a light and no temperature gauge, by the time the light comes on you should pull over as soon as safely possible and stop the engine to let it cool down.

Stability/traction control - if this stays on, get it checked.

What it means: your engine has lost oil pressure.

ABS warning - a problem with the anti-lock system.

What you should do: it could just mean you are low on oil, or it could mean your engine has spilled its oily guts all over the road. Or anything in between. Either way, pull over to a safe place and turn the engine off straight away if this one comes on.

What it means: as covered in Part 1, this light most likely it means you have left the handbrake on, but if it stays on after the handbrake is released, it could mean a fault.

What you should do: first off, check the hand brake is all the way off. If the light stays on, then get it checked. Don't procrastinate when your brakes are involved.

What it means: your car has a fault in one or more of the airbags.

What you should do: get it checked sight away. The current faulty Takata airbag issue has highlighted just how dangerous a faulty airbag can be, so don't ignore it!

What it means: there is a fault in your engine.

What you should do: it could be a minor issue, but it could be a big one. If your car is running badly or making alarming noises, then obviously stop as soon as safely possible (even if the light isn't on!). If not, you should be okay to drive it further, but it may be a risk. This one is better to take seriously, so stop the car and get it checked straight away though.

What it means: if it is flashing while you are driving - the system is doing what it is supposed to do. If it stays on - there is a fault with the system.

What you should do: if the light stays on, get it checked right away, the traction and stability systems can also affect other systems in a modern car, so you can't just rely on your superior skill if they are malfunctioning.

What it means: there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.

What you should do: your dazzling skill won't help here either. ABS sensors are monitored by a wide range of other systems in your car, so get it checked out straight away.