A light on the dash can mean anything from a loose fuel cap to something that needs you to pull over now. Knowing the difference keeps you and the car safe. The colour is your first clue.
Modern cars put a light on the dash for almost everything. Most of the time it is nothing urgent. The trouble is telling the ones that matter from the ones that can wait. The system is colour-coded, and once you know what each colour means, you can make a quick decision about whether to keep driving or pull over.
Red lights are for things that need your attention now. A red oil light, a red temperature light, or a red brake light means pull over safely and turn the engine off. Amber lights mean something is not right but the car is usually safe to drive to a workshop. Get it checked soon, but do not panic.
The engine management light, often an outline of an engine, can be amber or red. An amber engine light usually means the engine management system has detected a fault. The car will often still drive, but it may run rough or use more fuel. Book a diagnostics check. A flashing amber engine light is more serious. It usually means a misfire that can damage the catalytic converter. Do not drive it hard, and get it looked at straight away.
The oil light is the one you do not ignore. It looks like an oil can. If it comes on while you are driving, the engine has lost oil pressure. That means the moving parts inside are not getting the lubrication they need. Pull over and turn the engine off as soon as it is safe. Driving with the oil light on can destroy the engine in minutes. Check the oil level, and if it is low, top it up. If the light stays on with the correct oil level, have the car towed.
The temperature gauge or light tells you the engine is running hot. If the gauge climbs into the red or the light comes on, pull over. An overheating engine can warp the cylinder head and blow the head gasket. Turn the engine off, let it cool, and check the coolant level. Do not remove the coolant cap while the engine is hot. The system is pressurised and the coolant will scald you. If the coolant is low and you can see a leak, have the car towed to us for a cooling system check.
A battery light means the charging system is not working. The car is running on battery power alone, and it will stop when the battery goes flat. You may have a few minutes or half an hour. Turn off anything that draws power, the air conditioning, the radio, the heated seats, and drive to a workshop or a safe place to stop. It is usually a failed alternator or a loose drive belt. We can check the charging system and replace the alternator or battery if needed.
A red brake light can mean the handbrake is on, the brake fluid is low, or there is a fault in the system. If the handbrake is off and the light stays on, check the brake fluid level. If it is low, there may be a leak. Do not drive. If the pedal feels different at the same time, read our guide on signs your brakes need attention and have the car inspected before you drive it again.
The ABS light, usually the letters ABS in a circle, means the anti-lock braking system has a fault. Your brakes still work, but the anti-lock function may not. You can drive carefully to a workshop. The stability control light often comes on with the ABS light, because the two systems share sensors. A wheel speed sensor is the common cause, and we can diagnose it with a scan.
Many modern cars have a tyre pressure monitoring system that lights up when a tyre is low. If the light comes on, check the pressures at the next service station. If one tyre is much lower than the others, there may be a slow puncture. The light can also come on after a tyre change if the sensors need resetting. We can check the pressures and reset the system when we service the car.
If any red light comes on while you are driving, pull over safely and turn the engine off. Call for advice or a tow. The cost of a tow is always less than the cost of a destroyed engine. If you are near Moorabbin, call us and we will tell you whether it is safe to drive or whether to have it brought in.
If a warning light has come on and you are not sure what it means, call 0481 797 861 or send us your details. We will tell you whether it is safe to drive or whether to have the car brought in.
Our Moorabbin workshop is open to talk through your service or repair and give you a quote before any work starts.
