Dashboard Warning Lights, What are they? What do they mean? Should I be worried?
There are over a 150 types of warning lights that can come up on any dashboard, obviously car and feature dependent. I will not be going through all of the warning lights in this article, however i will highlight the ones that i believe are critical and common on almost all the cars in our beautiful country.
Dashboard warning lights can be categorised into information warning lights and “immediate attention required” warning light. The information warning lights are typically YELLOW/AMBER and these might just be information or something you may need to monitor and take care of soon, while the “immediate attention required” warning lights are RED (red for danger).
When these RED warning lights appear, they usually already had previously produced symptoms, such as losing power and some are asymptomatic but when they come up, you should do something about it immediately.
While on lockdown, I thought I would share some knowledge around warning lights and their meaning.
The “Immediate Attention Required” or IAR warning lights
 | This is the Throttle Control Warning Light. The throttle control system increases or decreases the power output of your car’s engine. The warning light should come on when you start the car. If it stays on or comes on while you’re driving, it indicates a potential problem and needs to be checked. You should pull over and have your car towed. It is not safe to drive. |
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   | This light comes on when the car is overheating. We recommend that you do not drive the car. The common reasons for the car to overheat are: • Low coolant • Cooling System Leak • Thermostat is stuck closed |
   | The check engine light comes on when the engine management system has detected faults in the engine or transmission. The problem can be as simple as a loose gas cap or as complex as internal engine damage. |
 | This light usually comes on when either the engine oil level is low (engine oil is leaking) or the oil pressure in the engine is low. If the light is blinking, there might be an internal engine damage. We recommend that you do not drive the car with this light on to prevent any further damage to the engine. |
 | The light indicates that the car has a problem with the power steering system. The common reasons are: • Power steering fluid is low • Power steering fluid is leaking • Steering angle sensor is defective • Power steering pump is defective |
  | The brake warning light indicates that there is something wrong with the brake system. If the light illuminates and stays on, it’s either telling you that your emergency brake is still on or that your car is losing brake pressure. It may indicate your brakes are at risk of not working due to the possibility of low brake fluid level or a leak. It’s best to safely pull over and get your brake system checked |
Information warning lights
 | This is the High Beam Indicator Light. It lets you know that your headlights are turned on to high beam. Only use the high beams in the absence of an oncoming traffic. |
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   | This light turns on when an oil change or scheduled maintenance is due. Please check the mileage in your car and the maintenance schedule. If a scheduled service is due, please book that service or else, you may book an Oil Change. |
 | The tire pressure warning light comes on when: • Tire pressure is too low or high • Tire pressure sensor is bad If the tire pressure is too low or high, add or remove air accordingly. You may need to reset the tire pressure light as per the owner’s manual. If this does not solve the problem, the tire pressure sensor is bad. |
 | This light is known as “Washer fluid reminder light”. It comes on when the washer fluid is low in your car. Washer fluid is used for cleaning the windscreen. You can top off the fluid yourself or have your mechanic top it off during your next service. |
 | This is an indicator light, not a warning light. The light will automatically come on to remind you the cruise control system is on. Cruise control helps you remain in constant speed without continuously having to accelerate. However, if your cruise control light is blinking, there is a problem with your cruise control system and it will most likely stop working. |
 | This light is known as “Low Brake Pad Warning Light”. It comes on when the brake pads are low. We recommend that you book an appointment for brake pads replacement for both front and rear. Mechanic will only replace the pads that are worn out. |
How To Explain The Warning Lights Over The Phone
With over 150 plus warning lights, it is no wonder one can never know what each and every one of those lights mean. To help you in your journey of trying to explain the warning light to a friend, colleague or a Car Care Click agent, our friend has prepared a simple glossary. See below and enjoy. P.S A customer described an engine light as a submarine lol. We think that is accurate. Hope this has helped you in one way or another and if not you can Book A Diagnostic Inspection with Us and We will Gladly come to your rescue.
