What do my dashboard warning lights mean?

When you start your car, the instrument panel lights up like a Christmas tree with several different colour lights.

Most disappear as the engine starts, and many are familiar, like the seat belt reminder, lights on, door ajar, high-beam, indicators, gear selection and park brake warning lights.

But what about the others? Do you really want to discover what they indicate when it’s too late?

Of course detailed information is contained in your Owner’s Manual. But, as an overview, we take a look at several of the most important warning lights you need to understand.

Usually yellow and shaped like an engine, the Check Engine light illuminates if a fault in the engine, electrical or emission system is detected.

If the light appears while driving, find a safe place to stop, switch the engine off, and let it cool down for at least 10 minutes before restarting it.

If the light goes out, continue your journey; but be sure to get the engine checked-out at your earliest convenience. If, however the light remains illuminated, we suggest consulting your Owner’s Manual on the next steps to take.

The Oil Warning light – which is typically shaped like an oil can – usually illuminates red, and can have a number of different meanings. Depending on the vehicle the Oil Warning light can indicate the oil level is low, oil pressure is too low or too high, or the oil temperature is too hot. In any case an oil warning light should not be treated lightly.

Any of the issues above can cause immediate and expensive damage. If the light illuminates when driving our advice is to stop as soon as it’s safe to do so and allow the engine to cool down for at least 10 minutes.

Then, check whether the oil level meets manufacturer’s guidelines (instructions are in the Owner’s Manual), and if it appears to be OK – and the Oil Warning light remains extinguished – continue cautiously to your nearest service department or mechanic. If after restarting the engine the Oil Warning light stays on we advise terminating your journey and calling for roadside assistance.

As well as being cooled and lubricated by oil, your engine is also cooled by a mix or water and coolant. Let’s call it radiator fluid. To cool the engine efficiently, the radiator fluid needs to operate in a specific range.

In many modern cars, a thermometer symbol is displayed in blue (if the engine is too cold) or red (if the engine is too hot) when the operating conditions fall outside of this range. In the case of the blue thermometer symbol, drive normally until the light extinguishes.

In the case of the red thermometer symbol we recommend pulling over as soon as it is safe to do so and allow the engine to cool for at least 10 minutes. After this time check your radiator fluid level meets manufacturer’s guidelines (instructions are in the Owner’s Manual), and amend as necessary. If after restarting the engine the red Temperature Warning light stays on we advise terminating your journey and calling for roadside assistance.

A red illuminated circle gripped by two small crescents can indicate a failure in the braking system. Like many of the warning lights we’ve detailed thus far, however, it is also one that can have multiple meanings, depending on your vehicle.

If the light fails to extinguish after start-up, or comes on when driving, it can mean your park brake is still engaged, that there is an issue with your anti-lock braking system, or that there is an issue with the brake system as a whole.

It may be something as relatively minor as low brake fluid, which can be topped up in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines (instructions are in the Owner’s Manual), but it can also mean the brakes are not working.

We recommend stopping as soon as it is safe to do so and consulting your Owner’s Manual. If you’re at all unsure, or the brake pedal feels in anyway different, we advise terminating your journey and calling for roadside assistance.

As the final point of contact between your car and the road, your tyres are of critical importance. As well as being in good operating order, and having a safe level of tread remaining, your tyre’s air pressure is also of vital significance.

In many new cars tyres are monitored continuously by a wireless pressure indicator. In the event the tyre pressure falls below a pre-set level, a yellow warning light resembling a flat tyre will appear on the instrument panel. If the light appears, we recommend pulling over and visually checking the tyre looks intact.

If it appears to be OK, wait for the tyres to cool before checking the tyre pressure and inflating the tyre. The recommend pressure is usually marked on your vehicle’s tyre placard (check Owner’s Manual for location).

After inflating the tyre up it’s important to reset the tyre pressure monitoring system before continuing on your journey. If the tyre fails to hold air pressure once more, the tyre may have a slow leak or puncture, or be in need of replacement. In this instance we recommend visiting a tyre service centre at your earliest convenience.