As of: February 21, 2024, 7:26 a.m
By: Nils Jauss
Comments
Press
Split
Most of the time they only light up when you start - but what should you do if a car warning light starts to light up while you're driving?
At certain signals you should no longer drive.
Overall, indicator lights in the car can be divided into yellow and red lights.
Red means danger: quick action is required.
Yellow warning lights indicate less threatening defects.
However, in both cases you should read the operating instructions for the vehicle in question to find out what to do.
There is danger when there is red: Drivers should not continue driving when these symbols appear
In general, it can be said that red warning lights always mean danger and quick action is necessary.
Continuing to drive could result in serious damage to the vehicle or injury to vehicle occupants.
One of the most important lights is the red battery.
This symbol indicates a defect in the vehicle's 12V electronics.
The engine should not be switched off and the car should be taken directly to the nearest workshop.
However, when driving to the workshop, special attention should be paid to the temperature of the engine.
Vehicles with electric power steering represent a special case. If this is defective, you should not continue driving.
However, there is often a separate indicator light for this case.
Prevent engine damage - these indicator lights help to identify important defects
If the Red Oil Can lights up, action should be taken immediately.
If a zigzag line with the letters MIN lights up under the oil can, the oil level should be checked as quickly as possible.
If the line is missing, the engine oil pressure is certainly too low.
It must be stopped immediately and the oil refilled.
In most cases, a visit to the workshop is then necessary.
If the red thermometer in the water lights up, the engine has overheated and there is also a risk of engine damage.
In this case, the vehicle should be stopped immediately to allow the engine to cool down.
Overheating is usually caused by too little cooling water, so this should be refilled.
Tap water can also be used as a makeshift, but the antifreeze content of the water is reduced.
To prevent the engine from overheating, the coolant level should be checked regularly.
My news
Motorcycle with a yellow scarf on the side of the road: what does that mean? read
1 hour ago
Traffic tickets in supermarket parking lots can be expensive
Middle lane sneakers have to pay: Anyone who blocks the middle lane of the motorway is committing an administrative offense
“Coal burned”: Dortmund tuner JP Kraemer talks about the loss in value of his Porsche Taycanlesen
Ola Källenius questions the end of combustion engines from 2035: “Maybe there was a bit too much optimism” read
Dark clouds over e-mobility: Car dealers with pessimistic forecast for 2024read
Save lives: Which of the indicator lights in the car indicate safety defects
A less complicated symbol is the red person wearing a seatbelt.
This light indicates that not all passengers are wearing seatbelts.
The light can also be triggered by a heavy object on a seat.
In general, heavy objects should be stored in the footwell, where they can cause less damage.
Another safety-relevant indicator light is the red exclamation mark.
For example, it can indicate brake failure.
This comes either from a lack of brake fluid or from worn brakes.
In this case, we strongly advise against continuing your journey.
However, the exclamation mark can also “just” indicate that the handbrake is on, but in this case there is often a separate light with a red P.
Yellow lights in the car – definitely worth paying attention to, but usually less dangerous
In general, it can be said that yellow warning lights do not indicate a direct danger, but they are no less important because they are responsible for the safety of the vehicle.
An example of such a light is the yellow car with serpentine lines.
This indicates that the ESP – i.e. the Electronic Stability Program – is activated.
If this flashes while driving, the speed should be reduced.
If the light does not go out after starting the vehicle, the ESP is deactivated or defective.
The yellow engine light or the yellow exclamation mark in the flat tire also indicate a defect.
The engine block may indicate a defective lambda sensor or a bitten cable.
The exclamation mark in the flat tire indicates that something is wrong with the tire pressure.
This should then be checked as quickly as possible and refilled if necessary.
More specific lights in the car: information about fuel, airbags, etc.
On the dashboard there are also more specific lights such as the passenger airbag, which indicates that it is deactivated, or the headlight with vertical waves in front of it, which indicates that the rear fog light is active.
The yellow trailer hitch and the yellow A in a circular arrow also focus on individual problems, for example a fault with the fold-out trailer hitch or a fault with the automatic start-stop system
The yellow gas pump and the yellow circle with dashed lines around it are more important.
The gas pump indicates a low fuel level in the tank and the circle indicates worn brake pads.
Electric car special symbols – what’s different?
Electric cars generally have similar symbols to conventional vehicles, but there are some exceptions.
One of these cases is the yellow triple battery.
This symbol indicates that the battery is low and it is advisable to go to a charging station.
The same applies to the yellow turtle, which indicates low performance of the motor, which is often related to a severely discharged battery.
If the turtle is seen, you should find a place to park and charge so that you don't end up standing in the middle of the road.
If a red exclamation mark appears above a red car in the cockpit of the electric car, you should stop immediately and the vehicle should be checked, as this light indicates a fault in the vehicle's high-voltage system.
When a charging station lights up, it means that the vehicle is being charged.
Doubts about the indicator lights in the car?
Operating instructions provide information
In general, if in doubt, the operating instructions can provide information about how to behave in individual situations and explain the meaning of the individual indicator lights in the car.
This should therefore always be carried with you.