With so many dashboard lights to keep track of, it can be hard to know what your car is trying to tell you when one of these turns on. To help you keep it straight, check out this post.

What Do All Those Dashboard Lights Mean?

Although it may seem impossible to keep up with all the lights in your car's dashboard, knowing what they mean is essential to keeping your car in good shape. To help you understand some of the basics when it comes to dashboard lights, check out this vital information.

Pay Attention to the Color

You may have noticed that your dashboard lights come in different colors. Generally speaking, those that turn on when a features is activated, like your high beams, will be a safe color like blue. The dashboard lights that are warning you about an issue will turn on in one of two shades, red or amber/yellow. An amber or yellow light will indicate there is an issue that needs to get looked at but it isn't urgent. On the other hand, a red dashboard light is telling you there is a problem that needs to be taken care of immediately. In general, a red light means it's not safe to continue driving in those conditions, so pull over and take care of the issue before continuing on.

Check Engine Light

Some people drive around with their check engine light on for ages as if hoping it'll go away on its own. Unfortunately, this won't happen. When this amber colored light turns on, it's usually not due to an urgent issue, but your car should still get checked out and diagnosed. Usually your car will just need some general maintenance like getting the spark plugs changed. They issue may even be as minor as a loose gas cap, but you won't know until you get your car professionally diagnosed.

Coolant Temperature Warning Light

This is one of those red lights you will need to pay attention to in order to keep your engine protected. Your coolant temperature warning light will turn on when the temperature under the hood has gone beyond its normal limits, meaning your engine is overheating. To prevent serious damage to your engine, pull over as soon as you can and turn off your engine to let it cool down. There are a number of factors that can lead to this, from low coolant to a broken radiator, so get your car checked out before this happens again.

Oil Pressure Warning Light

Just like your coolant temperature warning light, your oil pressure light means there is a serious issue under the hood of your car. Whether your engine is running low on oil or it simply isn't circulating properly, if you keep driving with this light on, your engine may seize. If this sounds like an issue you want to avoid, pull over and let things cools down before checking your oil level. If your car is ready for its next synthetic oil change in Wichita, be sure to use a quality oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil. To find this oil and more like it, contact Hartmans Inc. Give them a call at (316) 686-1069 for the personalized service you need. For even more great AMSOIL products like this, check out their online shop.

Brake System Light

When your brake system light turns on, your car is warning you about one of three potential issues. Either your parking brake is on or it has gotten stuck, your car is low on brake fluid, or there's a problem with the ABS. If your ABS light also turns on, pull over immediately since your brakes may not work as you expect them to. This can put you and other drivers on the road in danger, so don't take the risk.

Airbag Fault Light

You may not think about your airbags often if ever, but you'll be glad they were there are ready to do their job if you ever get in an accident. However, if your airbag fault light turns on, your airbags may not function properly during an accident. Your airbags may not deploy, putting you at risk for serious injuries. In other cases, your airbags may deploy at any given time, surprising you as your drive or even causing injuries.

Keep Your Engine Protected With a Synthetic Oil Change in Wichita

Keep your engine running at its best with the help of a synthetic oil change in Wichita. Finding the right oil for your car is easy with the help of the oil pros at Hartmans Inc. To get to know their products and get your questions answered, contact them at (316) 686-1069. You can also check out their full range of AMSOIL Oil products in their online store.