Most dashboard warning lights follow a simple colour code: red means stop and check now, amber (orange or yellow) means book in soon, and green or blue just tells you a system is on. Symbols vary between makes, so your owner's manual has the final word, but the common ones below cover most cars we see in Albany.
What do the colours mean?
- Red: a safety or engine-damage risk. Pull over somewhere safe, turn the engine off and find out what it is before you carry on.
- Amber: the car has noticed a fault. It is usually still drivable, but book it in soon. Faults rarely improve with age, unlike some cheeses.
- Green or blue: information only. Headlights on, high beam on, cruise control on. Nothing to fix.
A light that flashes on for a second at start-up and goes out is normal: the car is checking itself. It's the ones that stay on, or come on while you're driving, that matter.
Which warning lights mean stop now?
Oil pressure light (red oil can). Oil pressure is low, which means the engine may not be getting enough oil. Stop driving. Pull over safely, switch off, and check the oil level once the engine has had a few minutes to settle. Then call us before you go any further. This is the one light not to drive home on.
Temperature light (red thermometer). The engine is running hot. Pull over, switch off and let it cool. Do not open the radiator cap while it is hot: the coolant is under pressure. Call us and we'll tell you the best way to get it here.
Brake warning light (red circle with an exclamation mark). It can simply mean the handbrake is still on. If the handbrake is off and the light stays on, the brake fluid may be low or there may be a fault in the brake system. Don't keep driving on it. Call us. More on brakes in our brakes section.
Battery or charging light (red battery). The car is not charging properly. Usually that's the battery, the alternator or a drive belt. The car is running on what's left in the battery, so head straight to us or home and switch off what you don't need, like the fan and chargers. Our article on the signs of a dying car battery explains battery versus charging faults.
Which lights can wait a day or two?
Check engine light (amber engine outline). The engine computer has logged a fault. It can be small, like a loose fuel cap or a tired sensor, or something that needs fixing soon. Steady: book in soon. Flashing: ease off and get it looked at straight away, because a flashing light usually means a misfire that can damage other parts. We've written a whole article on driving with the engine light on.
ABS light (amber "ABS"). Your normal brakes still work, but the anti-lock system may not. Drive gently, leave more room, and book in.
Tyre pressure light (amber horseshoe with an exclamation mark). One or more tyres is low. Check the pressures at the next servo. If one keeps dropping, it may be a puncture. Usually a cold night. Sometimes a nail.
Airbag light (amber or red seated figure with a circle). There's a fault in the airbag system, so the airbags may not go off in a crash. Get it checked soon. An airbag light that stays on can also fail a WOF.
Service or spanner light. A reminder that a service is due, not a fault. Book a service when it suits. The reminder is usually reset after the service.
How do you find out what a warning light means on your car?
Start with the owner's manual: the warning light pages are usually near the front. Plenty of Japanese imports have no English manual, so if that's you, ring us and describe the light.
A fault light comes with a stored fault code. The code tells you which system is unhappy, not always which part has failed. Our $89 diagnostic reads the codes, then a mechanic finds the actual cause. The $89 is credited against the repair if we do it, and the repair price is agreed with you before work starts. Or tap the light on our warning light guide for a quick answer.
Bring it to Midas Albany
Family owned at 3C Saturn Place, Albany, since 2004. MTA Assured, price agreed before any work starts.
If a red light has come on, call Robin on 09 415 6595 now and we'll tell you whether to drive in. For an amber light, Book online or Request a callback and we'll ring you.
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm and Sat 8am-12pm.
FAQ
Is a flashing warning light worse than a steady one?
Usually, yes. A flashing check engine light often means a misfire. Ease off and get it looked at straight away rather than at the end of the week.
Will a warning light turn off by itself?
Sometimes, if the fault was brief. The code usually stays stored, and the problem often comes back.
Do you charge to look at a warning light?
Our diagnostic is $89, credited against the repair if we do it. Ring first: it might be something you can check yourself, like a loose fuel cap.
Written by the Midas Albany team.