Car dashboard warning lights – what do they mean?

New vehicles are jam-packed with electronics and sensors that track how your vehicle is driving.

It’s crucial to understand what the warning lights on your car’s dashboard represent since you might be able to avoid a breakdown or complete failure.

So, here’s what the various yellow and red warning lights on your dashboard indicate, why they illuminate, how serious the situation is, and what you should do if you see them.

The warning lights on your dashboard are color-coded according to a traffic light system:

  • Green: the system is working properly or is currently in use;
  • Yellow: something isn’t working properly; use additional caution and investigate as soon as feasible;
  • Red: there’s a major, perhaps dangerous problem; stop driving as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Signs and Meanings

Brake Warning Light
Engine Management Light
Airbag Warning Light
Power Steering Warning Light
Exhaust Particulate Filter Warning Light
DPF Warning Light
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Coolant Level Warning Light
Engine Oil Warning Light
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
Battery Warning Light
ABS Brake Warning Light
Electronic Stability Problem Light
Brake Pad Warning Light

Brake Warning Light

The braking system warning light is also known as the parking brake warning light or the brake fluid warning light.

It’s possible that the brake fluid level is low if this red light stays on after you completely release the parking brake or come on while driving. This is one for the pros until you learn how to check your brake fluid levels yourself.

If the ABS warning light illuminates as well, it means the braking system has failed and your brakes may not perform properly. The Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) warning light may also appear in this situation.

Is It Safe To Drive With My Brake Warning Light Illuminated?

You should not take the chance. Because your car’s brakes are one of its most vital safety elements, it’s critical to respond quickly if you notice this red warning light.

Pullover and come to a complete stop as soon as it is safe to do so; keep your speed low and prevent abrupt braking. This will be a job for the specialists until you know how to check your brake fluid levels yourself, so get yourself to a garage.

If you have a breakdown protection policy, don’t chance driving if your brakes aren’t working properly. Instead, contact for recovery.

Engine Management Light

Engine Management Light is also known as the ECU warning light or the check engine light.

When the engine management light comes on, it’s usually accompanied by telltale symptoms that the engine isn’t running properly, such as a loss of power or stuttering when you press the accelerator.

This light can indicate a variety of problems, ranging from minor problems like a damaged electrical sensor to major mechanical problems like a problem with your emission control system or catalytic converter.

Is There A Limit To How Long I Can Drive With My Check Engine Light On?

If your check engine light comes on, get it checked as quickly as possible, because continuing to drive risks inflicting more, potentially irreversible damage to your engine. For further information, go visit Suzuki Fort Motors Multan or call their helpline.

Airbag Warning Light

The supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light is also known as the SRS warning light.

When this light turns red, at least one component of the airbag safety system is malfunctioning: either the airbag system itself, the front passenger occupant classification system (that senses the front passenger’s weight and position in order to successfully activate the airbag), or the seat belt pretension system (that also stiffens the belt in the case of a crash).

Is It Safe For Me To Drive With My Airbag Light On?

If the airbag system is malfunctioning, it may not deploy in the event of a collision, or it may activate suddenly and cause a collision. In any case, your car’s airbag system is a critical safety component, so if this light comes on, have it looked out right away.

Power Steering Warning Light

The EPS or EPAS warning light is also known as the EPS or EPAS warning light.

This alert indicates that the power steering is malfunctioning.

This issue could be as easy to fix as restarting a computer for electric-powered devices. Stop in a safe location and try to turn the car off and on after 30 seconds. If the light continues to illuminate, you should have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.

Is it safe for me to drive with my EPS light on?

You can, but if the power steering system fails, you’ll notice that the car is harder to handle, and you should drive with caution — driving at high motorway speeds without power steering support could be deadly.

Diesel Particulate Filter Warning Light

The DPF (exhaust particulate filter) warning light is also termed the DPF warning light.

If you have a diesel, one of these lights will illuminate if there is an issue with the exhaust particulate filter, which reduces emissions by removing hazardous soot from exhaust fumes. It could be a sign that the filter is clogged with soot.

Is It Safe To Drive With The DPF Light On?

Driving with a clogged filter can cause more serious damage to your car than just producing a cloud of deadly black smoke every time you hit the throttle. You should take it to a garage as soon as possible to get it checked, as these filters can be costly to repair. 

Engine Temperature Warning Light  

The coolant temperature warning light is also termed the coolant temperature warning light.

When the engine overheats, this light will illuminate. This could indicate that coolant levels are low, possibly due to a system leak, or it could indicate a greater issue, such as a head gasket failure.

Is It Safe To Drive With My Engine Overheating Indicator Illuminated?

If this light is red, you should pull over immediately because your engine may become so hot that it effectively welds itself together, inflicting irreversible damage.

Stop and wait till the engine is cooled before checking the coolant tank gauge on the side of the bonnet and topping up if needed. Check your engine coolant with our guide.

Look behind the hood to check if there are any noticeable leaks while you’re there. You should be fine to continue your travel if you can’t see any and the light goes out after topping up. If the light comes back on after you’ve topped it up, you should have it looked out to determine what’s causing it.

An overheated engine might also shut down. If you have breakdown insurance, you should call for assistance rather than risk it.

Read Also: Suzuki Fort Motors Home Service

Coolant Levels Warning Light

To keep your engine from heating, coolant fluid absorbs heat from the engine and disperses it through the radiator. When coolant levels are low, this yellow warning light will illuminate to alert you to top them up.

Is It Safe To Drive If My Coolant Level Light Is On?

Avoid long trips without enough coolant: if you don’t stop and top up as quickly as possible, you risk inflicting major harm to your vehicle. Before topping up, let the engine cool down.

If this light turns on frequently, have your automobile serviced to ensure there isn’t a leak. 

Oil Warning Light

Also called as the low oil pressure or low engine oil light.

When the oil temperature rises too high or the oil level or pressure falls too low, the oil warning light illuminates. It’s critical to intervene swiftly if the oil isn’t efficiently lubricating the engine, as this could result in costly or even irreversible engine damage.

Is It Safe To Drive With My Low Engine Oil Light Illuminated?

When this light illuminates, you should come to a complete stop and turn off the engine as quickly as feasible. Look under the car for any visible oil leaks, then check the oil levels and top up if needed.

If the oil levels are normal, the oil pump may be malfunctioning. In this instance, if you have breakdown coverage, call for assistance, as driving any farther could destroy the engine.

Look behind the hood to check if there are any noticeable leaks while you’re there. You should be fine to continue your travel if you can’t see any and the light goes out after topping up. If the light comes back on after topping up, take it to a mechanic to have the underlying problem diagnosed.

Low Tire Pressure Warning Light

Many Luxury car vehicles now have tire-pressure monitoring devices that alert the driver if the pressure drops. This could occur over time or as a result of a puncture.

Is It Safe To Drive With My Tire Pressure Light Illuminated?

Yes, however, you should drive cautiously and strive to top up with air as soon as possible. Low tire pressure can lead to dangerous driving situations, therefore lowering your speed and avoiding abrupt braking or aggressive steering maneuvers.

You can check your tire pressure with an air compressor at most gas stations and garages. Fill the tires with air according to the manufacturer’s recommendations in your instruction manual.

Battery Warning Light

The battery charge light is also known as the battery charging system light.

This indicator warns that the battery is not charging if it comes on while you’re driving. This could be the result of an issue with your car’s electrical system, which could be caused by a malfunctioning alternator, a defective battery, a poor electrical connection, or broken cabling, among other things.

Is It Possible To Drive With The Battery Charging System Light Turned On?

Your car will continue to drive normally until the battery is depleted, at which point nothing in the vehicle will function – therefore get to a garage as soon as possible before you run out of charge!

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light

ABS is a critical safety function that comes into action when you need to make a quick stop or when driving in challenging conditions like ice roads.

Is It Possible To Drive With My ABS Light Illuminated?

If the ABS light turns on by itself, you should still be able to brake normally without assistance, so continue on your way – but keep a safe distance, be extra cautious, and have it examined as soon as possible.

If the brake warning light turns on, it could mean the brake system is malfunctioning, and you should pull over immediately and contact for help if you have failure coverage.

Electronic Stability Problem (ESP) Warning Light

This warning light, also known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), signifies a traction control issue. If it’s flashing, it implies the ESP system is kicking in – for instance, you’re driving on a slick road, and the light remains illuminated, the ESP system is malfunctioning.

If the system has been deactivated, the ESP light will illuminate with the word ‘OFF,’ which means you may have accidentally switched it off.

Is It Safe To Drive With ESP Warning Light

Stop and restart the engine to see if this is the case. If the light stays on after restarting, take it to a Suzuki dealer to have it looked at because the ESP system is a critical safety function.

Brake Pad Warning Light

This indicator, often known as the brake pad wear warning light, indicates that a sensor has identified that your brake pads are too weak or thin.

Is It Safe For Me To Drive With My Brake Pad Light On?

This warning light should illuminate before your brake pads become extremely thin, giving you plenty of time to replace them. However, you should replace them as soon as possible since if they fully wear out, it could be exceedingly harmful.

Conclusion:

Before driving down the road or embarking on a long journey, it is critical to have a thorough understanding of all signs. If you continue to have problems, you can take your vehicle to Suzuki Fort Motor Garage and have it inspected by professionals.