Your car is performing flawlessly then all of a sudden a warning light appears on the dashboard. On today’s sophisticated cars, there are literally dozens of warning and check engine lights, each with its own purpose and origin. Five warning light signs on a car dashboard are universal, albeit they will always differ depending on the automaker.
Three general colors can be used to categorize warning lights. The majority of these five warning lights are red, but it’s crucial to understand how much attention each one calls for based on its hue and whether it’s solid or flickering.
Red. big red lights that signal a potentially dangerous problem that needs to be fixed immediately away by a repair. Red may also signal the engagement of specific systems, such as the parking brake or airbag, or serve as a reminder for planned maintenance that comes on when a particular mileage is reached.
Yellow/Orange. A yellow or orange light, such as the check engine light, typically indicates a part that requires maintenance or replacement outside of routine maintenance. A flashing yellow light indicates that this component requires immediate inspection.
Green/Blue.
The driver is often alerted to an active system, such as the headlights or air conditioning, by softer green or blue dash lights.
When any of these five dashboard warning lights illuminate, they should be taken very seriously.
In This Article...
What does the Lexus master caution light mean?
primary alerting device
a triangle-and-exclamation-point warning light, along with a buzzing sound. This suggests that a systemic issue has been discovered. ABS alert sign This warning signal suggests that your ABS or braking assist system may be malfunctioning.
What does the Lexus’ orange light signify?
The light shows that the engine’s oil pressure is low or unusual. It’s crucial to adhere to the message’s instructions, which may ask for you to halt right away in a secure location (if so, call roadside assistance or Luxury Motorworksbefore driving farther).
What do the dashboard lights on the car mean?
There are many different colors for dashboard warning lights and indicators. Red lights are the most serious since they often indicate a serious problem or a component failure. When driving on slick roads, yellow or amber lights frequently signal a lower-level hazard or warning, such as the activation of the traction control system.
Your guide for all your car warning lights and what they mean
Check your owner’s manual before using your car because these icons may appear somewhat differently.
It’s important to understand what the warning lights on your dashboard represent because they can help you avoid breakdowns and save money over time by allowing you to identify issues as soon as they arise.
There are 3 different categories of warning lights; red, amber and green:
- As soon as it’s safe to do so, stop your car when the warning lights are red.
- Yellow caution lights indicate that something has to be done.
- Only informational green caution lights are displayed.
What symbols are frequently used on dashboards?
18 Typical Warning Lights on the Dashboard of Your Vehicle
- Warning lamp for oil pressure.
- Tire pressure alert indicator.
- Warning indicator for engine temperature.
- Traction control warning indicator.
- Warning light for the anti-lock braking system.
- Malfunction Traction Control Light.
- Engine Light Warning (Check Engine Light)
- Battery Warning Lamp.
What does the Lexus’ yellow light signify?
Because it displays a picture of your engine with the word “CHECK” beneath it, this light is frequently referred to as the “check engine” light. This will show up in yellow and can indicate an issue with the automatic gearbox, the throttle control, or the electronic engine control system.
What does a triangle containing an exclamation point in orange mean?
This indicator does not directly identify a specific issue; rather, it alerts you to the existence of a Critical Warning Message that you should read as soon as possible. The triangle with an exclamation point is actually a catch-all warning light intended to inform you of problems that your other lights won’t pick up on!
What does the orange exclamation point in an automobile mean?
tire pressure indicator This dashboard indicator, which resembles a tire with an exclamation point, indicates that at least one of your tires has low or underinflated tire pressure. You should immediately check the air pressure in your tires. You should still check the pressure in your tires once each month.
What does my dash’s orange sign mean?
The first thing to keep in mind is not to panic if a dashboard automobile warning light illuminates while you are driving. Next, consider the symbol’s lit color.
If it’s red, your car is either urgently in need of repair or there is a safety concern. To determine whether your car is safe to drive or whether it needs repair and you need a tow, safely pull over, turn off the engine, and dial a repair service or shop.
Dashboard warning lights in the color orange or yellow alert you to impending maintenance requirements like an oil change or an emissions system issue. Even though it’s not urgent, you should get a repairman to look at the issue as soon as feasible.
When a system is on or functioning properly, such as when your high beam headlights are on, it will display a green or blue symbol.
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Advice: If the yellow warning light on your automobile begins to flicker, treat it like a red light and contact a repair provider immediately.
How does the check engine light appear?
A computer activates a yellow warning light with the labels “check engine,” “service engine soon,” or “check powertrain” when it discovers an issue with the electronic-control system that it is unable to fix. Or the light might simply be an image of an engine with the word “check.”
A “trouble code” that pinpoints the issue, such as a broken sensor or a misfiring engine, is stored by the computer in its memory in addition to turning on the light known as the International Check Engine Symbol. An electronic scan tool or a diagnostic computer, both of which are common tools in vehicle repair shops, may interpret the code. Additionally, there are some code scanners that are made specifically for do-it-yourselfers and are reasonably priced.
The code will often just give you a general idea of the issue; a skilled expert will still be needed to fully identify and resolve it. Since a diagnosis at a shop typically costs roughly $90, many car owners are using the internet to identify the problem’s cause and solution. In certain cases, this may be effective, but when in doubt, seek expert assistance.
How do transmission lights appear?
The temperature indicator for transmissions resembles a thermometer housed inside a gear. If this indicator continues to be lit, the transmission is working at a higher temperature than usual. It suggests that the transmission fluid in your car is probably low.
When the caution light is on, can I drive?
Also called the parking brake warning light, braking system warning light, or brake fluid warning light.
This red light may be a sign that the brake fluid level is low if it stays on after you fully release the parking brake or if it illuminates while you are driving. This is a job for the pros unless you know how to check your brake fluid levels on your own.
The braking system has malfunctioned and your brakes may not be functioning properly if the ABS warning light is also on. The warning light for Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) may also be on in this situation.
Can I still drive with my brake warning light on?
Take no chances with it. Since your car’s brakes are one of its most crucial safety elements, it’s critical that you take action right away when you notice this red warning light.
As soon as it’s safe to do so, pull over and come to a complete stop. Maintain a modest pace and avoid abrupt braking. This is a job for the experts, so head to a garage unless you know how to check your brake fluid levels on your own.
If you have breakdown coverage, contact for recovery rather than risk driving if your brakes aren’t working properly.
Whether you are a member or not, you can contact the RAC at 0330 159 1111 if you require support.
Engine emission warning: what is it?
Every time you start the engine, along with other warning lights, the check engine light should illuminate briefly. This light is often a yellow or orange outline of an engine with the words “Check” or “Service Engine.” If it continues to run, something is wrong. If your check engine light flashes or blinks instead of remaining illuminated, there is a major issue that has to be fixed immediately. While many of the usual causes and solutions for an illuminated check engine light are straightforward, sometimes an engine light indicates a more significant issue.
How does an oil pressure light appear?
Your vehicle may have low oil pressure if the oil light on the dashboard illuminates. You may be low on oil, your oil may be unclean, or you may have an oil leak if your oil pressure drops for any of these reasons.
What does a Lexus’ oil light look like?
Warning: Low Engine Oil Pressure A warning buzzer will also ring when this caution light turns on. The engine oil pressure is too low, according to these warning flags. As soon as possible, pull over in a secure location and call the Lexus service center.
The meaning of a slip indication light.
The slip indicator flashes to show that Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and/or Traction Control (TRAC) are active in order to restore traction if the system detects that your tires may be slipping. If the light continues to illuminate, there may be a problem with the TRAC/VSC system as a whole.