Your car's dashboard has so many tiny lights to keep track of, it can get a bit overwhelming. Knowing the basics can help you feel less stressed on the road. This post can help with that.

Understand What Your Dashboard Lights Are Telling You

With so many dashboard lights to keep an eye out for, it's no wonder most people don't even know what they mean. Some dashboard lights will turn on when you activate a feature, like your high beams or your hand brake, while others are warning you about an issue your car is experiencing. This post focuses on the most common dashboard lights that will let you know when there is a problem. Get to know what these lights look like and what they mean below.

The Color of Each Light

Not only are there all types of lights to keep track of, you'll also have to be able to read how urgent an issue is depending on the color of the light. That's right, your dashboard lights don't all have the same color. Those that let you know when a feature is activated will have their own color, the lights that indicate there is an issue will either be red or amber/yellow. A red light basically means that you need to pull over and the issue needs to get looked at as soon as possible because your car isn't safe to drive in its current condition. An amber/yellow light indicates there is an issue but it isn't quite as urgent. You're still safe to drive home or to your mechanic to get the issue looked at.

Check Engine Light

Your check engine light looks like the outline of an engine and will often indicate there is an issue that isn't too serious. Even so, it's important that you don't simply ignore this light and hope your engine is ok. Since this light can turn on for a number of reasons, from spark plugs needing to be replaced to a loose gas cap, it's important that you get the issue diagnosed. Head to your local mechanic to have them diagnose your car with a professional scan tool.

Coolant Temperature Warning Light

This light looks like a thermometer in water and will show up red in your dashboard. When this light turns on it's because temperatures under the hood are going past their normal level, meaning your engine is overheating. There are tons of factors that can lead to this, from a low level of coolant to a broken fan. Whenever this light turns on, pull over as soon as you can and turn off your engine. This will allow your engine to cool down before it suffers any serious damage.

Oil Pressure Warning Light

This is another light that should never be ignored because it only turns on when there is serious trouble under your hood. Look out for a red light that looks like a dripping can of oil. This light will turn on when your car is running low on oil or when your oil isn't circulating properly. Either way, you'll need to pull over in order to avoid causing serious damage to your engine. If your oil is running low or if it's time for a change, be sure to get a synthetic oil change in Warminster. If you're just making the change to a synthetic oil, you may have some questions about. To get these questions answered and to get the personalized service you're after, contact Synthetic Oil Direct at (215) 834-8720. They can recommend products like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil. You can also check out their full range of products in the AMSOIL Oil online shop.

Battery Alert Light

This light, which looks like the outline of a battery, is another red light that shouldn't be ignored. When this light turns on, your battery is having issues with its voltage. Since your battery may run out of power soon, it's important that you pull over safely before you are left stuck in the middle of the road with a car that won't turn on. Once you've pulled over, you may need to get towed to your mechanic in order to check on your battery's voltage, condition, and its terminals.

Airbag Fault Light

This light may be red or amber/yellow, but in either case it will depict a passenger in a car with an airbag in their face. This light is telling you there is an issue with your airbags, causing you to be unsafe on the road. Your airbags could deploy at any moment, leaving you at risk of injury or even a bad surprise, not to mention it can be quite expensive to get your airbags put back in their place. In other cases, your airbags may not deploy when you need them to. Get this issue checked out so that you know your airbags will function when you need them.

Protect Your Engine With a Synthetic Oil Change in Warminster

Getting a synthetic oil change in Warminster at regular intervals can help keep your car in the best shape. To find the perfect oil for you engine, contact Synthetic Oil Direct at (215) 834-8720.