Car Dashboard Warning Lights Guide

The master warning light is a red triangle with an exclamation point inside. This indicator light is often used to alert you to any number of issues in your vehicle. It is typically accompanied by other warning lights and indicates that a warning system has been triggered. Potential issues indicated by this light could be a faulty oxygen sensor, a low battery charge, or a brake failure.

The engine temperature warning light looks like a thermometer with water waves under it. Your engine has a variety of features that help it stay cool. If the engine temperature light turns on, that means your engine is over the recommended maximum temperature. This could indicate an issue with your coolant system or radiator function. An overheated engine can damage your vehicle and create unsafe driving conditions.

The battery charge light is a red car battery with plus and minus signs on it. When the battery charge light turns on in your car, your vehicle’s charging system is not working properly. When the charging system fails, your car cannot operate at peak performance and may fail to start at all. A battery charge light indicates a need for a battery and, or alternator inspection.

The oil pressure warning light looks like a dripping oil can. You'll likely see the oil pressure warning light turn on when there’s an oil leak or drop in oil pressure. Driving with low oil levels can cause friction to damage parts of your engine. If you have an oil leak, the risk of fire or combustion dramatically increases the longer you wait to fix it. When you see the oil pressure warning light, it’s time to take your vehicle in for an oil change or fluid flush.

The brake warning light is a circle with an exclamation point inside it surrounded by parentheses. You’ll commonly see the brake warning light turn on when you park your car and engage the handbrake. However, if you see this indicator when you are driving, it’s a sign that something has gone wrong in your brake system. You could lose hydraulic pressure or have low fluid levels in the master cylinder, which controls the entire brake system of your vehicle.

The power steering light is a red steering wheel with an exclamation point beside it. If there’s an issue with the power steering system, your vehicle will indicate the problem with this warning light. If your power steering is disabled, you have a greater risk of losing control of your car while driving. Your vehicle can lose power steering for a variety of reasons, such as a drop in fluid levels or damage to the steering pump, and getting it restored as soon as possible is vital for maintaining your safety on the road.

The service vehicle light is a yellow car outline with a wrench over it. Much like the master warning light, the service vehicle light will turn on when your vehicle notices a faulty condition. Faulty conditions could include issues with the traction control system, electronic suspension systems, chassis problems , and problems with the anti-lock brake system or brake hydraulics.

The tire pressure light looks like a flat tire with an exclamation point inside it. The tire pressure light will turn on whenever your vehicle’s tires dip below the recommended PSI level. Driving with low tire pressure not only damages your wheels and rims, but it also makes it more difficult to maneuver your car properly.