Hello, I'm Chris. A modern car has many sensors monitoring how your car is behaving. If there's
something wrong then normally the first you'll know about it will be a warning light on the
dashboard. There are so many different warning lights and indicators. If you ignore an important
warning light then you could put your safety at risk or end up with an expensive car repair bill.
You can find certain dashboard lights in all cars and some are more specific for the make
and model. I'll be showing dashboard lights in a Ford Fiesta and Ford Puma but a lot of cars are
similar. Using the owner's manual for reference, I'll explain what each dashboard light means
but always check your owner's manual in case there are any differences.
When you start the car, you will see some warning lights come on. But don't worry,
this is normal. It's just a routine check to show that they're all functioning. If certain
warning lights stay on after five seconds of starting the car, then there is a problem.
Generally, red lights mean that there's a serious problem and you should stop your car as soon as
it's safe to. If it's critical, then it might also flash. Once you've stopped in a safe place,
it's time to check your car manual to find out if it's safe to carry on driving. Amber or yellow
lights generally mean that something requires attention when possible or needs servicing.
Green and blue lights confirm activation, such as your main beam headlights are on.
In this Ford Fiesta, further information is sometimes displayed on this screen.
So let's have a look at what each of the different lights mean.
If this one illuminates then it means you have a malfunction with your anti-lock braking system.
The car manual says that you'll continue to have the normal braking system unless
the brake system warning light is also illuminated. Get it checked when possible.
When you're stationary and your ignition or engine is on you'll see this light, which means
the parking brake is on. If you see this light when driving then check that the parking brake
isn't still on. If it isn't, then it indicates low brake fluid or a brake system malfunction.
Get your car checked immediately. Driving with this warning light on is dangerous.
This will be illuminated when you have cruise control on.
These are your left or right direction or indicators or the hazard warning lights.
They flash when turned on. If the indicators stay
on or flash faster than normal then check for a burnt-out bulb.
You will see this light if the bonnet, boot or any door hasn't been closed properly.
There's a malfunction if this stays on after starting the engine or when driving.
It's important to stop your car as soon as it's safe to and switch off your engine.
The car manual says to check your coolant level but don't resume your journey if it illuminates
despite having the correct coolant level. Have your car checked by a mechanic immediately.
Engine oil warning light. If this comes on when the engine is running or whilst you're driving
then there's a malfunction. Stop your car as soon as it's safe to do so and switch off your engine.
The car manual says to check your oil level but don't carry on driving if
the oil level is correct and this light is still on. Unfortunately, it's time to call a mechanic.
If either of these lights are on when the engine is running then there's a malfunction.
Your car will continue to run but it may have limited power.
If it flashes when you're driving then slow down as soon as it's safe to.
If it continues to flash then avoid heavy acceleration or deceleration.
Have your car checked immediately. If both lights are on together then stop your car as
soon as it's safe. The car manual says to switch the ignition off and try to restart the engine.
If the engine restarts then have your car checked immediately.
If the engine doesn't start, then you'll have to call for assistance.
If this doesn't go off or flashes once you've started your car, then get it checked.
This illuminates when the front fog lights are on.
You will see this light when the outside temperature is 4 degrees or below.
If this light is on then wait until it goes off before starting the car.
This illuminates when you have the dipped beam headlights or the side and tail lights on.
When you switch the main beam headlights on you will see this blue light on the dashboard.
It will flash when you use the headlight flasher.
If you see this light when driving then there's a malfunction. The manual recommends switching
off unnecessary electrical equipment and have your car checked immediately.
This light warns you that you have low fuel and to refuel as soon as possible.
If you have your rear fog lights on then this will be illuminated.
If you haven't got your seatbelt on then you will
see this light and it will make a sound to remind you.
This informs you that changing to a higher or lower gear may give better performance,
help to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It won't come on during periods
of high acceleration, braking or if the clutch is pressed down. In this
Ford Fiesta, you will see it in the central information display or here in a Ford Puma.
This flashes when the stability control is operating.
If this light stays on continuously while driving then there's a malfunction. If there is
a malfunction then the system switches off and you should have your car checked as soon as possible.
This light illuminates if you've switched off the stability control.
This light will come on when the engine has automatically stopped.
It flashes to let you know when the engine needs to restart.
This will be illuminated with a strike-through when the system isn't available.
You will see this light if one or more tyres are significantly under-inflated.
Stop your car as soon as it's safe to do so, check your tyres and inflate them to
the correct pressure. This light illuminates if you've switched off the traction control.
Here are some more warning lights and indicators that some other cars have.
Adaptive cruise control indicator. It illuminates white when the system is in
standby mode. When you set the adaptive cruise speed, it illuminates green.
Automatic high beam control. It illuminates when the system is ready to assist.
Cross-traffic alert indicator. When the system detects an approaching vehicle a tone sounds and
arrows appear in the information display to show which side the approaching vehicle is coming from.
Lane keeping alert indicator. It will be illuminated when you switch the system on.
Blind spot information system indicator. If the system detects a vehicle an alert
indicator illuminates in the exterior mirror on the side the approaching vehicle is coming from.
If you turn the direction indicator on for that side of your vehicle, the alert indicator flashes.
Change engine oil indicator. It displays when the engine oil life is becoming depleted. Change the
engine oil as soon as possible. Lane keeping aid warning light. You'll see this when the
system activates. Blind spot information system and cross traffic alert warning light. If the
system detects a fault an indicator illuminates and a message appears in the information display.
You should have your vehicle checked as soon as possible. Change engine oil now indicators. If
both indicators display, the engine oil life is seriously depleted. Engine torque reduces to 70%
to further indicate the serious risk of engine damage. Have the engine oil changed immediately.
Pre-collision assist warning light. If your vehicle rapidly approaches another vehicle,
it will illuminate. It could illuminate red if the distance to the vehicle ahead is small.
This one illuminates when the mild hybrid system is charging the battery.
This illuminates when the battery is assisting the powertrain in driving the vehicle.
When the battery is providing a large amount of energy to the
powertrain to support a higher rate of acceleration you'll see this illuminated.
This is displayed when the mild hybrid system cannot provide energy to the powertrain.
Eco mode indicator. You'll see this when the drive mode is selected.
Normal mode indicator. It's illuminated when the drive mode is selected.
Slippery mode indicator. You'll see this when the drive mode is selected.
Trail mode indicator. It illuminates when the drive mode is selected.
Sport mode indicator. You'll see this when the drive mode is selected.
If you're unsure when to drive in bus lanes then watch this video next. Well that's the end of our
video on the dashboard warning lights. A lot of cars have similar lights but just make sure that
you check your car manual as there might be some differences. Thanks a lot for watching and don't
forget to subscribe for our latest videos. In the meantime, stay safe on the road and bye for now!