Shine a light on: Dashboard warnings

Singapore — Dashboard lights are often regarded as a nuisance, but if there’s anything we’ve learnt from our experiences, it’s that you should never take safety for granted.

Back in the good old days of motoring, you would have to be mechanically-sympathetic to know if anything was wrong with your car. Nowadays, cars are so complex they can almost drive themselves, and they can also tell you if something is out of whack.

The first sign of that is a dashboard light coming on. But there are literally hundreds of them, and they differ from brand to brand.

A survey conducted in January this year in the United Kingdom showed that 63 per cent of the 1,000 motorists surveyed didn’t know what the brake warning light symbol meant, with 17.4 per cent thinking it simply meant topping up the engine oil.

So how do you know if that light spells impending doom — or if it’s just time for a tune-up? Here’s a general introduction to dashboard lights.

Colour coordination

Dashboard lights are like traffic lights. Green means good, or functioning normally. For example, the indicator for front fog-lights is usually green. Yellow means something needs attention or servicing soon, like brake pads. Red means take heed now.

So, if an oil-level indication light is yellow, it could indicate you need an oil top-up. The same icon in red likely indicates a major fault, like an oil leak. The most major warning symbols in red will also have an audio cue.

Next, check what type of icon is lit. Read your owner’s manual to find out what gremlins have been unleashed.

A warning light could signal something as serious as mechanical failure, or as minor as a sensor malfunction. To be safe, it’s best to stop driving as soon as you can and get professional help. If you have to keep moving, it’s best to use common sense.

For something major like an engine check light or brake system malfunction, it’s best to play safe, but a headlight warning or low washer fluid indicator is a relatively minor concern.

These are some of the major dashboard warning lights to take note of.

Engine

The dreaded engine warning light could reflect any number of serious issues — or not — but if it’s lit in red, then it’s best to find a safe place to stop and break out the warning triangle, too. If it turns out to be minor, the only thing you’ve lost is time, and many official dealers provide complimentary breakdown service in addition to warranty coverage.

Charging

This symbol doesn’t necessarily mean your battery is on the fritz — it could be the charging system, too. If the alternator (the device that produces electricity from the engine’s movement) is okay, you can still drive to the nearest workshop. If it isn’t, better to stop and get help at once.

Seatbelts

Seems simple enough, but we’ve witnessed the lack of seatbelt wearing amongst otherwise sensible adults to know that this is still an issue. Most cars don’t have rear belt indicators, so make sure you remind your passengers to belt up.

Brakes

This could mean anything from brake pad mis-alignment to a leak in the brake circuit. If the pedal feels at all mushy or soft when you apply the brakes, stop immediately.

ABS

This comes into play under more extreme circumstances, so if this lights up, you can continue to drive with extreme caution. Again, keep speed low and always be prepared to stop.

Airbag

These devices save you in case of a crash and as the Takata scandal showed (improperly manufactured airbags led to the recall of millions of vehicles due to the risk of Takata-made airbags rupturing; sending debris inside the vehicle), airbag failure is a real danger.

If your car is affected by an airbag recall and this lights up, get out at once. If you have a child seat installed in the front passenger seat and you’ve manually deactivated the airbag, it should light up in yellow. Some cars also have a function where a sub-adult weight in the passenger seat will deactivate the airbag.