Common Dashboard Warning Lights and What They Mean

The more you understand your car, the better you can take care of it. Every driver in Albuquerque should have a basic familiarity with their car’s dashboard warning lights in case they ever illuminate. Our service technicians at Auto Solution always recommend reading your car’s owner’s manual for this information, but if you need a quick refresher, here’s a guide on the most common dashboard warning lights.

Engine light

The “check engine” light is the most serious symbol that may appear on your car’s dashboard because it communicates that something is wrong with the basic mechanical systems. This icon is an umbrella that may be triggered by a variety of issues. While some of those causes may be minor, they can also be very grave, like a catalytic converter failure or lack of oxygen. Because of this ambiguity, it’s important that you let a mechanic diagnose it instead of trying to decipher it yourself.

Battery light

If this symbol appears, that means something is wrong with the battery underneath your car’s hood. In some cases, the problem is obvious — like a dead battery. In other situations, the battery may seem fine and the car still runs as it should. Don’t assume that this is a false alarm; the system may have identified an issue with the wiring or electrical system that could become dangerous if untreated.

Temperature light

When you see a thermometer appear on the dashboard, the car’s mechanical systems are running hotter than they should be — which is especially dangerous here in Albuquerque in the summer. Typically, this is the result of insufficient coolant but could also stem from an issue with pumping the coolant around or with the radiator itself.

Oil light

A low engine oil pressure may be the result of an oil leak or broken components. The engine relies on oil to lubricate and clean it, so don’t ignore this warning that the motor is lacking oil. The solution may be as simple as adding more oil to the reservoir; but, if there’s a leak, the problem may be more serious than that.

Tire light

Many new cars have an advanced tire pressure monitoring system that will tell you which tire is low and what its current level is. The traditional way for many years has been this symbol, which pops up whenever a tire is under- or over-inflated. If your car doesn’t come with a precise diagnostic system, you’ll have to check the air pressure manually and see which tire is the culprit. If this symbol reappears later, that’s a sign of a leak.

Brake light

The most common reason you’ll see this symbol appear is that you have the parking brake engaged and have started driving your car. Check that first before panicking! If the icon is still present, something is wrong with the brake system. It could be a sensor, but it could also be a functional problem that would impede the proper application of the brakes when you need them to stop.

Washer fluid light

If you use the wipers to clean off the dust and grime from your car’s windshield frequently, you’re going to run out of washer fluid eventually. When the reservoir reaches a low level, you’ll need to refill it by pouring more fluid into the tank. This is an easy fix and can be performed by most drivers.

If any of these symbols appear on your car’s dashboard while you’re driving in New Mexico, bring your vehicle to Auto Solution immediately. Our service department can diagnose the issue and fix it right away so you’re back on the road safely.