Besides seat belts and air bags, your car comes equipped with its own set of warning lights and gauges to alert you of possibly looming problems. But sometimes trying to decipher what all these symbols actually mean can be like learning a second language. Luckily, Jeremy Wolfson of Benchmark Auto Service in Minnesota is fluent in this language, and explains here what all of the lights and gauges look like as well as what they mean.
Oil Pressure
What it looks like: An oil can with a drop of oil dripping from the spout. This light is usually an orange color in most cars.
What it means: The oil pressure in your engine has dropped below a critical amount, Wolfson explains. Usually it means that less than a few pounds of pressure are in the engine. If this light comes on while you’re driving, he recommends pulling over to a safe area as soon as possible and shutting off your car. It’s dangerous for your car to be operating with a low amount of oil pressure and you risk severely damaging your engine.
Temperature
What it looks like: This is not a light; instead, it is a gauge on your car that is always present. Usually it is circle shaped, with various temperatures marked out in increments. It also has a needle which points to the current temperature of your car.
What it means: This indicates the temperature of the antifreeze or coolant you have in your car. In most cases, says Wolfson, this should be below 220 degrees. If the needle ever enters the red area, your car is overheating, and you should pull over immediately to let your car cool before attempting to drive home or to your mechanic.
Battery
What it looks like: A rectangular, Lego-shaped block with a plus and minus sign inside.
What it means: This light will go on when your car’s alternator is no longer charging the battery. If this comes on while you are driving, try to pull over as soon as possible since you have no idea how long your battery will stay charged for before it dies out. More commonly, though, this happens when you try to start your car because either you need a new battery, or it is drained because an interior light or your headlights were left on overnight. A quick fix is to find someone to help you jump your car and instantly charge your battery. If the problem persists, however, it is probably something more serious that should be looked at by a professional.
Brake Lights
What it looks like: The words “BRAKE” will appear in light up in red on your console when there is a problem.
What it means: This could simply mean that you didn’t take your emergency brake off before you started driving, says Wolfson. But, this light also indicates a problem with the pressure in your brake system. One great thing about breaks, he says, is that they are designed as two independent systems. So essentially, if one of your lines ruptures, then the other brake line will still work. This light is your warning that half of your brake lines are not functioning properly. While this doesn’t mean that your car won’t be able to stop at all, it will still be significantly affected. And, since you are talking about such an important part of your vehicle, you don’t want it doing only half of its job.
Check Engine
What it looks like: This sign’s appearance varies depending on your car. Some cars just have the outline of an engine light up. Other cars have that same symbol with the words “CHECK” or “CHECK ENGINE” written inside, above or below the symbol, and other makes have the words “SERVICE ENGINE SOON” that will light up when a malfunction is detected.
What it means: Surprisingly, your check engine light coming on is probably the light that should cause the least amount of panic. This symbol, Wolfson says, is part of a government standardized system known as the On Board Diagnostic System II (OBDII). The light will come on if any one of the dozens of systems in your car detects a malfunction. It can come for something as simple as having a loose gas cap or serious as an engine misfire. While he says the light coming on is not a dire emergency, you should always get it checked out as soon as possible because there are literally hundreds of reasons why it could have come on.
