You have probably been in a situation when an indicator starts lighting on your car dashboard and you have no idea what it means. Don’t worry sister, you are not the only one!
As a woman that takes care of her car on her own, you should know more about car indicators. But let’s be honest, we never pay attention to them until the time something in the car gets broken. If you want to avoid this situation better learn more about the warning indicators and what to do according to each of them.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
One of the most important warning symbols is the oil pressure light. It shows that there is an issue with your car oil’s pressure system. You might be curious about what the issue could be. There are two options: 1) you’re running low on oil or 2) your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid and it can cause damage to your engine.
- What to do?
If you are driving and see this symbol on your dashboard, pull over as soon as you can. Turn off the car Before you start to do whatever. Then look around the engine bay for obvious oil leaks. What you have to do next is to check the oil level.
There are 3 possible situations. If the oil level is low add oil, but be sure the quality of the liquid is good. The second situation is when there is enough oil but the engine is running noise. This might be a sign of an issue with the oil pump. If the oil level is okay and the engine is running smoothly, the problem is in the oil pressure sensors.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
This symbol usually shows a low antifreeze liquid. This leads to engine overheating. When the antifreeze liquid is low the engine can’t cool and the vehicle starts to overheat.
- What to do?
First thing you can do to try to increase the overheating turn off the A/C and turn the heater on to redistribute heat. Most of the time this will not give a result. Then you have to pull over and turn off the vehicle. Wait 15 minutes for the car to cool down and never pop the hood before this time ends.
If you have antifreeze, you can add it to your engine. If you don’t better call a road assistance service.
Tire Pressure Warning Light
As you can imagine this symbol shows a problem with your tire pressure or the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). There are two different situations that are possible. 1) If the symbol is solid, it shows that the pressure in one or more of your tires is too low or too high. 2) If the TPMS symbol flashes for 60-90 seconds then something is wrong with your TPMS sensors.
- What to do?
You have to stop the car as soon as possible. The next step is taking care to inflate or deflate your tires to the correct pressure. The recommended tire pressure is 30 or 32 PSI.
Traction Control Light
This yellow light shows that your traction control system is on. This system uses the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to determine if one wheel is spinning faster than the others. This is most helpful when you drive through the snow because it helps the car to regain reactions. You can continue driving, but be careful about slippery conditions.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Warning Light
The ABS system pulses the brakes to prevent your wheels from locking up when you brake hard. The indicator of ABS is yellow and if the light is illuminated, it means that there is a problem with the braking system.
- What to do?
As you can imagine this is one of the most important safety features. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything on your own. Our advice is to have a mechanic diagnose the issue as soon as possible.
Check Engine Light
This symbol can appear for many reasons. Some of them like those triggered by an open, lose, or cracked gas cap are less harmful. But sometimes the yellow indicator warns of a serious issue such as low oil pressure or overheating.
- What to do?
If this indicator appears in a yellow color, you can continue driving. If the check engine light is red and/or flashing you have to pull over and turn off the car as soon as possible. Don’t ignore this problem and better contact road services.
Battery Alert Light
This red indicator shows an issue in the vehicle’s charging system. Usually, the problem includes a loose or damaged battery cable or a bad alternator. It’s very possible the car won’t start after this indicator shows up.
- What to do?
If this situation happened in the middle of nowhere, you better call road assistance services.
My name is Rebecca McCarthy and I am an American girl with British heritage residing in the beautiful city of Nashville, Tennessee. I have always had a keen interest in cars, particularly brand new ones that showcase the latest technology and design features. I am also passionate about travelling and experiencing new cultures, as well as enjoying hot summer days with friends and family.
