According to a recent survey by LeaseCarUK, it would appear that the majority of people in the UK don’t know what most car warning lights mean. This includes the ‘anti-lock braking system warning’ light, which was mistaken by 54% of 1,000 respondents as the ‘auto-bake system’, and the ‘brake system warning light’ which 2% of respondents thought meant their seatbelt needed securing.
Based on the above results the nation needs to brush up on their car warning light knowledge. Here we will explain what the most common car warning lights are and more importantly, what they mean!
Engine Management Light
Occasionally this is mistaken for a radiator fault or low oil but we can confirm this dashboard warning light is the check engine light or is also known as the ECU warning light. Before this light appears, you may find your vehicle starts to lag, make strange noises or stutters when pressing the accelerator.
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
This light indicates either an issue with the coolant such as the coolant is running low or it can be a sign of a bigger issue such as a head gasket failure. When this light appears it is best to stop immediately and give the engine time to cool down before taking the car to be checked by a professional.
Wiper Fluid Low
This is one of the most common lights to show up on your dashboard as it simply alerts the driver when their washer fluid is running low. When the light appears you will usually have time to get to your destination and refill.
Airbag Warning Light
You may also see this light being referred to as the SRS warning light, which stands for a supplemental restraint system. This light alerts the driver of an issue with one or more of the airbag’s safety features. It is best to get this checked by a professional to ensure the safety of not only the driver but also the passengers.
Power Steering Warning Light
This light has many names including the EPAS and EPS, all of which refer to a light that indicates problems with power steering. Fixing the issue could be as simple as turning the car off and back on again after 30 seconds, but if the light is still there, it may be more series.
Although all drivers have to learn about warning lights during their theory test once you are out of the test center and on the road, the knowledge has a tendency to disappear but it is important, so we should all spend a little time familiarising ourselves with what’s on our dashboard.