What It Means: Also known as the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) symbol, this image signals an issue with your tire pressure or the TPMS. Read: How Long Can You Go Without an Oil Change? 2. In any case, it’s important to bring your vehicle in ASAP to let a mechanic take a look and address whatever is causing the low oil/low oil pressure. If the oil level is okay and the engine is running smoothly, your oil pressure sensor may be malfunctioning. If it has enough oil but the engine is running noisy, it might an issue with the oil pump. If the oil level is low, then the light may go off when you add oil. What To Do: Poor engine lubrication can cause major engine damage, so this is an important warning to pay attention to! Pull over as soon as it is safe, turn off the vehicle, and check the oil! Look around the engine bay for obvious oil leaks, and then pull out the oil dipstick to check the fluid level. (NOTE: Some car dashboards will display the word “OIL” instead of this symbol.) Either you’re running low on oil or your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid to properly lubricate the surfaces inside your engine. What It Means: This old-fashioned oil can symbol indicates that there is an issue with your car’s oil pressure system. Transmission Temperature Warning Light 1. Automatic Shift Lock or Engine Start Indicator Lightġ8. Engine Warning Light (Check Engine Light)ġ0. 18 Common Warning Lights on Your Car’s Dashboardħ. As long as the lights turn off within a few seconds, everything is operating normally. Many of these dashboard lights will illuminate briefly when you turn on your vehicle and performs a system check. If in doubt, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual!Ģ. Every car is different, so the symbols on your dashboard may vary slightly from the ones on our list. Your vehicle will likely stop working or become damaged if you continue to drive.Īs you read through this list, here are two things to keep in mind:ġ. If a red mechanical light appears, pull over as soon as possible and figure out what’s going on. These warnings are less urgent than if you have a red and/or flashing light.Ī red light means that you should take action immediately! Some red dashboard lights are safety warnings (like a seat belt reminder) and others are mechanical (like the engine overheating). Orange/yellow warning lights generally signify that your vehicle needs to be serviced or repaired soon. When it comes to dashboard lights, colors matter! Green or blue lights simply let you know that a system is on or operating. Some have to do with vehicle features (like lights and cruise control) or safety (like blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warnings) or mechanical issues (like low tire pressure and engine temperature warnings). Not every symbol that appears on your dashboard is a warning light. However, it’s important to know exactly what these warning lights mean in case you need to pull over and call for help.

Some symbols on your car’s dashboard are easier to figure out than others. You start to wonder what could be wrong with your car. We’ve all been there: You’re driving along, enjoying the views, and all of a sudden you hear a beep-you look down, and a symbol has appeared on your dashboard.

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