Whether you plan on having a staycation this summer or driving abroad, if you are out on a car journey and a warning light appears on the dashboard it can be alarming, especially if you don’t know what that warning means. With this in mind, the breakdown cover experts at NerdWallet have compiled a list of car warning lights to look out for and what they mean.
Orange warning lights - Signify that something isn’t working correctly and the car needs to be serviced as soon as possible.
Red warning lights - Indicate a more serious issue that could be dangerous and you should stop driving when it is safe to do so.
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Brake pad warning light
This warning will appear on your dashboard in orange or red if the sensors in the car have detected that the brake pads on your car are becoming too thin and need replacing.
Brake warning light
This warning sign could indicate that your brake fluid level is too low and could be a result of a leak.
The light could also indicate that there’s a problem with the sensors or that the ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) could be broken.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) warning light
The ABS warning light indicates that there is a problem with the car’s anti-lock brake system, which helps with assisted braking in weather conditions like snow and ice.
If the ABS light is on, you should still be able to complete your journey to the nearest garage using your unassisted braking system, but it’s important to take extra care when driving there. However, if the ABS warning light and brake warning light are both illuminated, this could mean that the entire brake system is broken.
Engine management light
The engine management light can indicate a number of issues with your vehicle or could simply be an issue with the electrical sensor.
This light can appear due to minor problems such as a loose oil dipstick to larger problems with the oxygen sensor, a blocked diesel particulate filter, an ignition fault or issues with the catalytic converter.
Engine temperature warning light
The engine temperature warning light usually appears if the car’s coolant levels are running low, there’s a leak in the system or there’s a problem with the car's head gasket.
A flashing red warning light can indicate that your engine is overheating and can lead to serious damage and your engine cutting out.
Electronic stability problem (ESP) warning light
The ESP system improves stability when driving on problematic surfaces and, if the warning light is flashing, it means that the system is in use.
However, if the warning light stays continuously on and isn’t flashing, this could be an issue with the sensor and it’s important to take it to the nearest garage to be checked over.
Airbag warning light
If the airbag warning light is red, this indicates that the system isn’t working properly.
The problem could lie with the seat belt pretensioner system, which locks the seat belt in place with any sudden movements, or it could be the airbag itself.
If this warning light is appearing on your dashboard it is crucial that you get it checked out as soon as possible, as a fault with the airbag could lead to it failing to release in a crash or deploying accidentally.
Power steering warning light
The power steering warning light illuminates if there is a problem with the car’s power steering. If your car has a hydraulic power steering system, it’s likely that a leak has led to a low fluid level.
Failure in your power steering will make the car harder to manoeuvre and you will have less control when driving, so it’s important to take it to your closest garage to be looked at by a mechanic.
DPF warning light
The DPF light on diesel cars will appear if there is an issue with the diesel particulate filter. This filter works by capturing and storing soot from the exhaust to reduce the car's emissions, and the warning light could indicate that the filter is blocked or there is a faulty temperature or pressure sensor.
Thick smoke coming from your exhaust is another signifier that your filter is blocked, so it’s recommended that you take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as you can.
Coolant levels warning light
The yellow warning light appears if your coolant levels are running too low, and it will remain on until you top your coolant up.
As coolant helps regulate your engine during extreme temperatures, it’s not a good idea to drive around too much with your coolant warning light on as this could cause unnecessary damage to your engine.
Oil warning light
The oil warning light can turn on for a variety of reasons, including the oil level or pressure being too low, a faulty oil pump, or the oil temperature being too high.
In order to determine where the problem is coming from, pull over when it is safe to do so, switch your engine off, and wait for it to cool. Check for any cracks or leaks in the tank and, if it seems fine, check your oil levels and top them up if needed. If the light stays on, you should take your car to a garage.
Low tyre pressure warning light
The low tyre pressure warning light will illuminate to alert you that your tyre pressure is too low and your tyres could be unsafe for driving.
Not having enough air in your car tyres can make driving unsafe, so it’s important to carefully drive to the nearest petrol station to top them up to a safe level.
Battery warning light
The battery warning light appears to alert you that the car battery is low or not charging, or it could be the result of a corroded battery cable.
If the battery isn’t charging, once the battery runs out, your car will cut out and not restart, so it’s essential that you drive your car to the nearest garage. If your car has already run out of power, you can try to jump-start it with jump leads or alternatively ring your breakdown cover provider.
Further information from Nerdwallet can be found here.
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