List of Car Warning Lights
Ever noticed a light blinking on your car’s dashboard and wondered what it means? That’s usually a warning light telling you there’s either a small fault or a major issue with the vehicle. These lights shouldn’t be ignored, but it’s just as important to know what each one stands for.
Modern cars are smart enough to alert you not only to current problems but also to issues that could come up later. So, when a light appears, don’t brush it aside; figure out why it’s there and take action. In this blog, we’ve listed the common car warning lights and the reasons they may show up. Take a careful look so you understand what each signal means.
- Engine Light
The engine light shows up as a tiny engine-shaped symbol on the dashboard. People usually call it the ‘Check Engine Light’, and it’s normally yellow or orange.
There are a few reasons why it comes on. It could just be a loose fuel cap. It could also mean there’s a fault in the exhaust, the fuel injection, the ignition, or some other part of the engine.
If the light stays on without blinking, it doesn’t mean the engine is about to fail, but it is a warning. You should still get it checked soon so you don’t risk damage later.
If the light keeps blinking, that’s a more serious problem. In that case, head straight to a service centre or the nearest garage. Don’t drive fast and don’t keep changing gears too often; both will put more load on the engine.
- Battery Light
The battery light is another car warning light you shouldn’t ignore. It shows up as a small battery symbol with ‘+’ and ‘–’ signs.
This light appears in both fuel cars and electric vehicles. In an EV, a yellow battery symbol (similar to the one on your phone) will blink when the charge is low. That’s your cue to recharge right away. Don’t drive long distances in this condition; head to a charging station and plug in as soon as you can.
In petrol or diesel cars, the yellow battery symbol with the ‘+’ and ‘–’ signs means something different. It could point to a defect in the voltage regulator, a wiring fault, or a problem with the alternator. If this light comes on, don’t keep driving, because the car could stop suddenly if the battery drains out. Take it to a mechanic or service centre and have it checked without delay.
- Engine Overheating Light
Is the car warning light on your digital instrument cluster shaped like a thermometer bulb? That’s the engine overheating light, which means the engine in your car has become too hot. The most common reasons for this symbol appearing include:
- lack of coolant or low coolant level
- damage to the water pump
- a defective radiator fan
Engines are designed to work only within a certain temperature range. When the heat goes up beyond that, the parts inside can melt, or the engine itself can be damaged permanently. If this happens, you could be looking at a repair or even a full replacement, both of which are extremely costly.
As soon as you see this light, stop the car right away and let it cool down. While waiting, open the bonnet and check the coolant level. If it’s low, you can add some water, but only as a temporary fix until you reach a garage. Once you get there, replace the water with a proper, high-quality liquid coolant.
If the coolant level is fine, then the best thing to do is wait until the engine cools down naturally. In this situation, it’s always better to park your vehicle in a safe spot or at the nearest garage before driving it any further.
Also Read: Top 13 Must-Have Accessories For Your Car
- Oil Pressure Light
The warning light that looks like an oil can with a drop falling from it is the oil pressure light. Oil is what keeps all the engine parts moving smoothly, so the engine doesn’t break down. When oil pressure drops, the engine can suffer serious damage very quickly.
The oil pressure light is there to signal exactly that: a drop in oil pressure. It can also turn on when the engine oil level is low. Another reason is a faulty oil pump that isn’t working as it should. Sometimes impurities in the oil filter cause it to clog, and that too can make this car warning light appear.
If you see this light on your instrument cluster, stop the car immediately. Use the dipstick to check the oil level. If you have oil with you, top it up in the correct place. But if the level looks fine, then the problem is elsewhere, and you need an expert mechanic to check it. The mechanic will tell you whether the issue can be fixed on the spot or if the car needs to be towed to a nearby garage.
- Low Tyre Pressure Light
The low tyre pressure light shows up when the air pressure in one, a few, or all of your tyres drops. You can recognise it easily, it looks like a horseshoe with an exclamation mark inside.
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System uses sensors to pick up low pressure. Driving with less air in the tyres is unsafe, cuts down fuel efficiency, and in the worst case can even cause a burst.
If this light comes on your infotainment screen, slow the car down right away. Head to the nearest petrol pump or garage and check the air in all the tyres. The pressure should normally be between 30 and 35 PSI. Top up any tyre that isn’t at the right level. If you can’t get to a pump or garage, use your spare tyre instead.
- Fuel Light
A fuel light blinks where the fuel level in your car is insufficient. It appears as a tiny symbol of a petrol pump.
When this car warning light appears, your car usually runs up to 50 km more. However, this distance varies for different car models and variants. So, whenever this light appears on the instrument cluster of your car, visit the nearest petrol pump to replenish the fuel tank.
Running your car without any fuel is not recommended. It may damage the fuel pump that requires fuel to cool itself. Ideally, your car must be filled with at least 25 to 30% of its fuel tank capacity.
- Parking Brake Light
The parking brake light shows up as a circle with a ‘P’ inside it. In some cars, the circle has an exclamation mark instead. Both symbols mean the same thing: that the handbrake or electronic parking brake is on.
This light should turn off by itself when you release the brake. If it doesn’t, then there’s an issue in the system.
If you drive with the brakes still on, the brake pads can get damaged or wear out fast. The system can also overheat. If the light stays on even after you disengage the brake, get the brake pads checked immediately.
Sometimes the light points to low brake fluid or another problem. Since the brakes are the most important safety part of the car, this car warning light is not one you should ignore.
- Fog Lamp Light
A fog lamp light is one of those harmless car warning lights appearing on your dashboard. It appears as a wavy line or downward pointing beams of yellow or green colour.
Fog lamps are only needed during fog, rains, mist, and similar weather conditions. So, if this light appears when there is no requirement of fog lamps, you can switch them off.
- Transmission Temperature Light
The transmission temperature light appears on the dashboard in the shape of a gear with a thermometer symbol inside it. This light is a warning that the transmission system of your vehicle has become overheated.
As soon as you see this car warning light, stop your vehicle immediately. The light usually comes on in the following conditions:
- when your vehicle is carrying more than the recommended load
- when you have been driving for a long time without a break
- when your vehicle is climbing a steep slope
- when the transmission fluid becomes overheated and is no longer able to lubricate the gears properly
These types of issues are seen more often in automatic cars. Ignoring the transmission temperature light can result in major or even permanent damage to the transmission system. The best thing to do is halt your vehicle and allow it to cool down for a while. If you know how, you can also check the transmission fluid level during this time.
- ABS Light
ABS, or Anti-lock Braking System, stops the wheels from locking up when you slam the brakes suddenly. The ABS light shows up as the letters ‘ABS’ inside a circle on your dashboard.
If this light comes on, it means something is wrong with the ABS. Your normal brakes will still work, but you lose the extra safety that ABS gives you.
When you see this light, take the car to a garage or repair centre right away. Drive slowly on the way, since you don’t really need ABS at low speeds. But don’t delay the fix, especially if you drive on wet or slippery roads, you need ABS working.
Summary
Each car warning light is linked to a feature in your car. We hope you now understand the importance of these warning lights. Knowing what they mean and what to do when they appear is critical for keeping your car safe. It is just as important for your own safety too. Pay attention to these warnings and take the right precautions to avoid serious damage or costly repairs.
FAQs
Q. How do car warning lights work?
Whenever you start a car, all the systems start checking everything. If some or any of the lights don’t turn off after this inspection, it means that there is a fault in your car that must be rectified immediately.
Q. Can I drive with a warning light on?
Yellow, orange, or amber colour lights indicate that you need not stop your car immediately. Yet, you need to fix the issue on priority to prevent any major issue. Whenever a red car warning light appears, it means that you must stop your car immediately and get the required help.
Q. Which are the emergency car warning lights?
Low engine oil pressure, check engine light, and tyre pressure warning lights are among the most crucial or emergency car warning lights.
