Ignoring car warning signs as they crop up is a bad habit that some of us have been guilty of. However, some signs can be ignored if you want to temporarily save yourself money and extra trouble. Similarly, your car might show you some trouble signs that need to be tackled, but not all of them may require immediate solution. Some can be ignored till later while others call for immediate attention if you want to save your car. Let’s take a look what signs demand instant attention and what not:
Oil Pressure Light
Whenever there is a drop in engine oil pressure the oil pressure light glimmers. This is the most serious warning any car gives. Every engine needs a minimum amount of oil pressure to function, so that the parts are bathed in oil and work smoothly. Usually, when you start your car the light (shaped like an oil can or saying “OIL”) will turn on, but as the car warms up and the pressure builds in the engine the light turns off.
If the light stays on, stop the car ASAP and call for a tow truck to tow your car to a mechanic. If you think this is an extreme reaction, understand that failure to treat the situation as serious will end up RUINING your engine in seconds. If that happens and you are lucky, you might save the engine with some repairs, else you would have to replace the whole engine.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Overheating can destroy engines very easily; the reason is, most owners change the oil and oil filter, but they rarely check out cooling system until a problem arises. If this happens, a thermometer symbol or the ward TEMP lights up to indicate that the temperature has exceeded the safe maximum temperature. Unlike the oil pressure light, this warning light gives you some time before severe engine damage is caused.
You can do two things here.
- Check for leaks from the cooling system in the guise of steam or liquid dripping down under the hood. If so, do not start the car or open the radiator lid as you might get severely burned if you follow improper procedure. Call for assistance.
- If the cooling system is not leaking, the heating is caused due to a temporary overload of the cooling system pushing the car too much in excessive heat; it usually happens with a loaded car. If that is the case, turn off the AC and lower the speed while driving. The light should turn off in a few minutes but if it doesn’t, call for assistance after stopping at the side of the road.
Check Engine Light
The engine symbol displaying words “Check Engine Soon” lights up when a problem is detected in the vehicle’s exhaust emissions. The car usually starts acting up while driving and you may notice the fuel economy getting worse, steadily. There is no way of knowing the exact problem; only a mechanic can make an accurate diagnosis. Although this light can be ignored for more time than the ones above; failure to ultimately resolve the issue can result in a fire and repairs costing more than AED 1,000.
Brake Light
Whenever there is a loss in brake fluid pressure, the brake light (circular symbol with exclamation point or word “Brake”) turns on. It can also mean that the emergency brake is still ON, so make sure that’s not the case. Loss in brake fluid pressure will have you pushing the brake further to get the desired effect, and although you can ignore it for a few days, it would be ill advised. Brakes can suddenly fail and that can be fatal if you are unlucky.
Conclusion
I know we all get lazy and dread high repair costs whenever our car starts warning us of some issue, but if you frequently drive on the highway or freeways at high speeds, then even a small car warning signs may pose risk to your life and those of others too. The tips given above are of the most common issues that pop up and the ones with the most potential to be fatal or very costly if ignored.