WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE YOUR CAR'S WARNING LIGHTS


5/4/2022 - 9:00 AM

Over the years, cars and trucks have come equipped with a variety of safety technologies to enhance driving safety. These safety technologies typically also come with warning lights that will flash on your dashboard to let you know if and when something is wrong.

DO I REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE WARNING LIGHTS?



YES! As a car or truck owner, it is your responsibility to take these warnings seriously. Not only do these warnings serve as a way of alerting you of potential issues with particular vehicle components, but they can also save you from ending up broken down on the side of the road and also save you the trouble of dealing with much more serious and costly repairs down the road.

IGNORING THE WARNINGS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED PERFORMANCE



As humans, an injury can hamper the performance of completing mundane, day-to-day activities and your vehicle is no different! If you ignore your warning lights and certain components begin to malfunction, it can lead to reduced performance for your vehicle. A broken sensor could send the wrong signals to your vehicle's ECU (Engine Control Unit) which might throw off the performance and maybe even force it into limp mode where the engine protects itself from large loads and stresses.

To better help you stay on top of your vehicle's performance, here are the main vehicle warning lights to look out for:

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT



This is probably the MOST IMPORTANT light of them all! The check engine light can be anything from a loose gas cap to something much more serious. If this light is ignored, it could lead to a much more costly repair or even irreparable damage. This could mean there are engine problems, emissions issues or even a faulty oxygen sensor. If the check engine light comes on, you want to have it checked out right away!

OIL PRESSURE LIGHT



The oil pressure light can come on when there is an engine problem, a sensor problem or simply just a low oil level. If you ever see this light come on, you need to have it checked out right away. Just like the check engine light, ignoring this warning can lead to serious damage and more costly repairs.

ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT



Any time you see this warning, you should pull over immediately and turn off your engine. This warning light is a serious sign of engine overheating and keeping the engine running could lead to irreparable damage.

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT



If the tire pressure light comes on, it means there is an imbalance in tire pressure. One or more tires might have too much or too little air pressure in them and it may not be adequate according to what the vehicle's manufacturer suggests. This is typically a very easy fix as you can add or remove air pressure using an air pump or by visiting your local gas or service station. However, in some cases it could mean the tire pressure sensor has gone bad and needs to be fixed.

BRAKE LIGHTS



Your brakes should always be in perfect working condition as they can save your life. If the brake light or the Anti-Braking System light comes on, there is likely an issue with your brakes. If your brakes are not working properly, your vehicle could skid or even not stop at all. When this warning light comes on, it is best to get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible.

AIRBAG LIGHT



While your brakes can save your life by helping you to avoid an accident, your airbags can save your life when an accident does occur. If you see the airbag light come on, it means there is a problem with one or more of the airbags in the system. So if you are in a collision, one of the airbags may not deploy. Needless to say, it is of the utmost importance to get this warning light checked out right away!

In addition to the warning lights mentioned above, there are many other lights that can come up on your vehicle's dashboard. Below is a fairly comprehensive listing of many of the others.



All of these vehicle warning lights can be checked out and serviced for you here at our MONICATTI AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER! Give us a call at 1-844-463-6722 or fill out our ONLINE CONTACT FORM to schedule an appointment TODAY!