Car Dashboard Warning Lights - what do they mean?

Modern cars are filled with electronics and packed with sensors to monitor both how your vehicle is
behaving and to make our motoring life easier.

But when something does go wrong, it can be a difficult task trying to work out exactly what that warning
light flashing away on your dashboard is trying to tell you.

It’s important to know what the car dashboard warning lights actually mean, though, not least because
they can pre-empt a car breakdown or full-on failure, potentially saving you from an expensive repair bill
and meaning you stay safer on the road.

Here are the most important warning lights you should pay attention to:

Brake system / brake fluid warning light

Your vehicle’s brakes are arguably the most important feature on your car, so if there’s a
warning light flashing on your dash highlighting there’s something wrong with the braking
system, it’s best to get it checked out right away.
It could be signaling a low brake fluid level, that your brake pads are worn or that there’s
a fault with the ABS anti-lock braking system. Either way, book your car in to a reputable
garage to have the potential issue looked over, and if necessary, repaired.

Engine warning light

If your engine warning light is illuminated, often it’ll be accompanied by some unusual
symptoms – these could include a lack of power, as the car has gone into ‘safe’ mode to
protect itself; an intermittent stuttering as you press the accelerator, caused by a misfire;
or another fault which could alter the normal response from the engine.
Sometimes this can be down to something as small as a faulty electrical sensor, although
sometimes it can be a larger mechanical issue. If your car’s engine warning light is
showing, get a professional mechanic to look over it straight away, as driving around any
longer could cause further, and potentially irreparable damage.

Airbag warning light

The invention of the airbag was a major step forward in vehicle occupant safety, so if
your car’s isn’t working properly, get it seen to.
A faulty airbag potentially won’t go off in a crash, meaning you and your passengers
won’t be as well protected from any potential injuries. The other possibility is that your
vehicle’s airbag could deploy when you least expect it, giving you a nasty shock – or
even actually causing- an injury – and an expensive fix to put right.
Coolant warning light

Without any coolant, your car’s engine would get so hot it’d effectively ‘weld’ itself
together. If you see the coolant light show up on your dashboard, it could mean coolant
levels are running low, so check the gauge on the side of the coolant tank under the
bonnet and top up if necessary.
In conjunction with a temperature gauge reading well into the red, it could mean your
engine is overheating. This is either the sign of a larger problem – like a head gasket
failure – or symptomatic of something less major, like a leak in the system somewhere,
meaning you’re engine has run low on coolant and got too hot. Get it seen to as soon as
possible to avoid a potentially expensive repair bill.
 Oil warning light

Just like your car’s water or coolant warning light, you might see an oil warning light flash
up if oil temperature gets too high, the level is low or oil pressure too low. It’s the latter
two you want to avoid at all costs.
Oil is what lubricates your engine, with the oil pump used to spray the fluid to all corners
of your engine. If temperatures get too high, or even worse, level is low or oil pressure
drops, the effectiveness of the lubrication can be reduced or lost all together.
The result? Expensive engine damage, so if you see this warning sign, stop and phone a
professional right away.

Battery charge warning light

You should see your battery charge warning light when you first turn your car on, but if it
doesn’t go out a few seconds after the engine starts, there could be a problem with your
car’s electrical system.
This could be to do with a faulty alternator, faulty battery, a bad connection or damaged
cabling somewhere in the engine bay. If your car isn’t charging its battery when moving
(the job of the alternator), then you could eventually run out of electrical power and grind
to a halt.
At worst, the light could be on due to an alternator drive belt braking. Other systems also
use this belt – such as the engine coolant pump, or power steering – so the effects of a
failure here could be compounded.

Warning light woes

It’s not a game of connect four or warning light bingo – if your car’s dashboard is lit up like a Christmas
tree, or even if there’s one, small blinking light on there, it’s important to get it checked out.

It could be something as minor as a faulty sensor or a broken wire, but it could be something more serious
that, if left unchecked, will cause lasting and expensive damage to your vehicle.

Regular servicing and maintenance can help protect your vehicle from firing off a fault, so keep a close
eye on your car and its warning lights to save you money and avoid those expensive garage bills.

Source: http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/car-dashboard-warning-lights-meaning