What Does the Light On My Dashboard Mean?

When you’re driving along Waco roads, you have a lot to pay attention to. Modern safety features can help you see your blind spots or see what’s behind you as you pull out of a parking spot. Another high-tech convenience comes from the dashboard warning lights on your vehicle. They light up when your vehicle first starts to test them.

At some point, you’ve probably asked yourself, “What does the light on my dashboard mean?” There are so many of them! Each light has a different meaning, and each has a purpose. Some remind you of a service you need to take care of. Others are a warning of a problem.

There are many dashboard warning lights to know about beyond the typical check engine, battery charge, and oil pressure warning lights. Discover everything you need to know about what these dashboard warning lights mean with our list.

Dashboard Warning Lights & Their Meanings

Look over several dashboard warning lights and what they mean if they appear as you’re driving in Aransas Pass.

Engine Warning Lights

• Coolant Temperature Warning: This dashboard warning light looks like a thermometer. It will appear if your car is overheating, your coolant levels are off, your fan isn’t working properly, or the coolant leaks out of your radiator or coolant reservoir.
• Service Vehicle: Usually, this light comes on when an electrical issue occurs. This might be different from the Check Engine Light.
• Reduced Power Warning: If you see this, bring your vehicle in for service ASAP. It usually indicates a malfunction that needs to be diagnosed.
• Cruise Control: When you use cruise control above 40 or 50 mph, this light will stay illuminated as long as the system is on. If you hit the brake pedal, the cruise control should deactivate.

Brake System Dashboard Warning Lights

• Brake System: This dashboard warning light means there is an issue with your brakes, such as the brake fluid being too low or a problem with the antilock braking system (ABS). Bring your vehicle in for service ASAP if you ever see this light.
• Traction Control or ESP: This light means your vehicle’s computer has engaged the electronic stability system as the system tries to shift engine power from one set of wheels to the other to regain traction.

Safety & Informative Dashboard Warning Lights

• Security Alert: If your ignition switch is locked or a door is left ajar, this light will indicate either the tech malfunction or tell you that there is a door open, like the tailgate or a passenger door.
• Fog Lamp or High-Beam Lamp: This reminds you when you have your brights on or fog lamps on to help you see better at night. The dashboard light may look like a downward-facing headlight with three small beams of light coming from it, sometimes colored blue or white.
• Airbag Fault: Normally, this light appears once the car has been started. It indicates a fault in the airbag system. You’ll need to bring your vehicle in for repair ASAP. If the airbag light comes on and then goes off, your vehicle is testing the system when you start the ignition.
• Washer Fluid Reminder: This simply means your washer fluid is low and needs to be replaced.

Tires Dashboard Warning Lights

• Tire Pressure Warning Light: The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has detected that one or more of your tires have lost pressure. You should look at your tires as soon as possible. If there is a slow leak or a flat, try to fix it yourself or have a mechanic look it over.

Auto Service & Repair in TN, TX, KS, & MS

Have more questions about dashboard warning lights? Is there one light that’s glowing brightly and won’t go away? Bring your vehicle to one of our service centers, contact us, or call . We’ll have you back on Hutchinson roads in no time!