Ask the Mechanic: The Dashboard Light People Ignore the Most

By Dave Neer, with Nikki Burkhamer, Staff Writer

Q: What dashboard light do people ignore the most?

A: I cannot tell you how many times I have crawled into my vehicle and turned on the ignition only to find a few red lights glaring at me from my dashboard. (Don’t tell Dave and Katie!)

At any rate, this week we will learn about all of the reasons not to do that! So, if this is you, too, get ready to pick up a phone to schedule your car’s tune-up.

Every week someone walks into our shop and says something like, "My car has a warning light on, but it's been driving just fine."

Sometimes that's true. Sometimes it's an expensive sentence.

Most dashboard warning lights are your vehicle's way of asking for attention before a small problem turns into a big one. The trick is knowing which lights mean, "Schedule an appointment soon," and which ones mean, "Pull over right now."

Let's start with the one everybody worries about: the Check Engine Light.

Believe it or not, a check engine light doesn't always mean you need to stop driving immediately. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, or it could be a failing sensor, an ignition problem or an emissions issue.

The important thing is to have it checked before a minor problem snowballs into a major repair.

And if that light is flashing instead of staying on steadily, that's a different story. A flashing check engine light usually means the engine is misfiring badly enough to damage the catalytic converter. That's one of those times when you should stop driving and have the vehicle towed if possible.

Now let's talk about the warning light that worries me the most: the oil pressure warning light.

I can't tell you how many engines we've seen destroyed because someone thought the oil light just meant they were due for an oil change.

It doesn't.

If the oil pressure warning light comes on while you're driving, it means the engine may not be getting the oil pressure it needs to protect itself. Without proper oil pressure, metal parts begin rubbing against each other. It doesn't take long before an engine that might have needed a simple repair suddenly needs to be replaced.

When that light comes on, the correct response isn't, "I think I can make it home."

It's, "I need to shut this off."

Another warning that deserves immediate attention is the engine temperature warning light. If your engine is overheating, every mile you continue driving increases the chance

of serious engine damage. Pull over safely, shut the engine off, and let it cool. Never remove the radiator cap while the engine is hot.

Other warning lights, like the tire pressure light, ABS light, or traction control light, usually don't require you to stop immediately, but they shouldn't be ignored either. They're letting you know something needs attention before it becomes a larger problem.

Here's a simple rule of thumb:

Yellow or amber warning lights generally mean, "Have this checked soon."

Red warning lights generally mean, "Stop as soon as it's safe and figure out what's going on."

Your owner's manual has a section that explains every warning light on your dashboard. It may not be the most exciting book you've ever read, but it's worth knowing where it is. Better yet, if a warning light comes on and you're unsure what it means, give your repair shop a call. We'd much rather answer a quick question than help you price an engine replacement.

Remember, your vehicle can't speak—but it does have a way of asking for help. Those little lights on the dashboard are its language. Paying attention to them can save you thousands of dollars and a whole lot of frustration.

Until next week, drive safely... and if your dashboard starts looking like a Christmas tree in July, don't just turn up the radio and hope for the best.

~*~

Here’s where you get the information to call Katie to book your appointment for that tune-up! Call (937) 887-0029 or visit https://www.solomonsgarage.com/.

Email your questions for our Ask the Mechanic column to: [email protected].