Dashboard warning lights
What does that light mean?
Tap the light on your dashboard to see what it means, whether it’s safe to keep driving, and what to do next.
- Red: stop as soon as it’s safe
- Amber: get it checked soon
- Green or blue: information
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Engine warning light A fault with the engine or its emissions.
The engine’s computer has found a fault: anything from a loose fuel cap or a sensor to a misfire. Steady means a fault has been stored. Flashing usually means a misfire, which can damage the catalytic converter.
Can I keep driving? With care
If it’s steady and the car drives normally, you can usually drive gently to get it checked soon. If it’s flashing, or the car is losing power, slow down and stop when it’s safe.
What to do: Book a diagnostic check: we read the fault codes and find what set the light off, so you only pay to fix what’s wrong.
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Oil pressure warning light Low oil pressure: stop and check.
The engine isn’t getting enough oil pressure. The oil may be very low, or there may be a problem with the oil pump. Without oil pressure an engine can be badly damaged in minutes.
Can I keep driving? No
Stop as soon as it’s safe and switch the engine off. Once it’s cooled a little, check the oil level. Don’t drive on if the light stays on.
What to do: If the level was low, top it up with the right oil and see if the light goes out. If it was fine, or the light comes back, call us before driving it.
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Battery or charging light The battery isn’t being charged.
The charging system isn’t charging the battery, often because of the alternator or its drive belt. The car is running on what’s left in the battery, so it will stop when that runs out.
Can I keep driving? With care
Turn off anything you don’t need (heated seats, the radio, the fan) and get somewhere safe. If the belt has broken, other things it drives may stop too, so don’t go far.
What to do: We test the battery, the alternator and the belt, and replace only what has failed.
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Brake warning light Handbrake on, low brake fluid, or a brake fault.
It comes on with the handbrake. If the handbrake is off and it stays on, the brake fluid may be low or there may be a fault in the braking system.
Can I keep driving? No
Check the handbrake is fully off. If the light stays on, don’t drive: your brakes may not work properly.
What to do: Call us. We check the fluid, the pads and the brake system, and can tell you the safest way to get it to us.
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ABS warning light The anti-lock brakes have a fault.
The anti-lock braking system has a fault, often a wheel speed sensor. Your normal brakes still work, but the wheels could lock in an emergency stop.
Can I keep driving? With care
You can usually drive carefully, leaving more room to stop, and get it checked soon. If the red brake light is on as well, stop.
What to do: We read the ABS fault code and test the sensor or wiring it points to.
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Tyre pressure warning light A tyre is low on air.
One or more tyres has lost pressure, often from a slow puncture or a change in temperature. If it flashes before staying on, the warning system itself may have a fault.
Can I keep driving? With care
Slow down and check the tyres as soon as you can. If a tyre is flat or damaged, don’t drive on it.
What to do: Pump all the tyres to the pressures in your handbook, then reset the light if your car needs it. If it comes back, it’s likely a puncture: we can check and repair or replace it.
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Engine temperature warning light The engine is overheating.
The engine is getting too hot. The coolant may be low or leaking, or the fan, thermostat or water pump may have failed.
Can I keep driving? No
Stop as soon as it’s safe and switch off. Driving on can cause serious engine damage, such as a failed head gasket.
What to do: Let it cool before you touch anything: never open the coolant cap while it’s hot. Then check the level. Call us if it’s low or the light comes back.
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Airbag warning light The airbags may not work in a crash.
There’s a fault in the airbag or seatbelt pretensioner system, so they may not work in a crash. It’s often a connector under a seat or in the steering wheel.
Can I keep driving? With care
The car still drives normally, but you and your passengers aren’t fully protected. Get it checked soon.
What to do: We read the fault code to find which part has the fault. Please don’t try to unplug airbag parts yourself.
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Power steering warning light The power steering has a fault.
The power steering has a fault, so steering may suddenly feel much heavier, especially at low speed. On some cars it’s red when the fault is serious.
Can I keep driving? With care
You can still steer, but it may take a lot more effort. Drive slowly to somewhere safe. If it’s red, or steering is very heavy, stop.
What to do: Switching off and restarting sometimes clears a passing fault. If it comes back, we can find the cause.
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Glow plug light (diesel) Wait for it to go out before starting.
On a diesel it comes on when you turn the key, while the glow plugs warm up, and goes out when it’s ready to start. If it stays on or flashes while you’re driving, the engine has a fault.
Can I keep driving? With care
When starting, wait for it to go out. If it flashes or stays on while driving, you can usually drive gently, but get it checked soon.
What to do: We read the fault codes and test the glow plugs.
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Diesel particulate filter (DPF) light The exhaust filter is filling with soot.
The filter in a diesel’s exhaust that traps soot is getting blocked. It usually clears itself on longer drives, but lots of short trips stop that from happening.
Can I keep driving? Yes
A steady drive of 15 to 20 minutes on a faster road can often clear it. Follow your handbook’s advice. If the light stays on, or the car loses power, get it checked before it blocks completely.
What to do: We can check the filter and its sensors, and tell you the best way to clear it before it needs replacing.
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Traction or stability control light Flashing: it’s working. Steady: a fault or switched off.
Flashing while you drive means the system is working to stop the wheels spinning on a slippery road. Staying on means it’s been switched off, or there’s a fault (often shared with the ABS).
Can I keep driving? With care
If it’s flashing, ease off and drive for the conditions. If it stays on, drive carefully, as the car won’t help you in a skid, and get it checked.
What to do: Check it hasn’t been switched off with its button. If not, we can read the fault code.
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Brake pad wear light The brake pads are worn.
The brake pads have worn down to the sensor. They’ll need replacing soon. Leave it too long and they can damage the brake discs, which costs more.
Can I keep driving? With care
You can drive, but book the pads in soon. If you hear grinding or the brakes feel different, get them looked at straight away.
What to do: We replace the pads (and the sensor if needed), and check the discs while we’re there.
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Bulb failure light One of the outside lights isn’t working.
A headlight, brake light, indicator or other outside bulb has failed.
Can I keep driving? With care
You can drive, but walk round the car to find which one is out and get it replaced soon. A broken brake light or indicator means others can’t see what you’re doing.
What to do: We can replace the bulb, or find the fault if a new bulb doesn’t fix it.
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Seat belt reminder Someone isn’t wearing their seat belt.
Someone in the car isn’t wearing their seat belt. Sometimes it’s a bag on the passenger seat.
Can I keep driving? With care
Make sure everyone has their seat belt on.
What to do: If it stays on with every belt done up, a buckle switch or seat sensor may have a fault: we can check it.
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Low fuel light Running low on fuel.
You’re running low on fuel. Most cars have a little left when it comes on, but it varies.
Can I keep driving? Yes
Yes, to fill up soon. Running a diesel dry can mean the fuel system needs bleeding before it will start again.
What to do: Fill up at the next chance you get.
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Screen wash light The screen wash is low.
The screen wash reservoir is nearly empty.
Can I keep driving? Yes
Yes, but top it up soon: a clean windscreen matters, especially in winter.
What to do: Top it up with screen wash (in winter, one that won’t freeze).
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Service due light Your car is due a service.
The car is reminding you it’s due a service, by time or by mileage. It isn’t a fault.
Can I keep driving? Yes
Yes. Book the service soon to keep the car running well (and any warranty valid).
What to do: Book a service with us, and the reminder is reset afterwards.
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Frost warning light It’s near freezing outside.
The outside temperature is close to freezing, so there may be ice on the road.
Can I keep driving? Yes
Yes, but slow down and leave more room, especially on bridges and in shade.
What to do: Nothing to fix. A winter check of the battery, tyres and coolant can help avoid a breakdown in the cold.
Not sure which one it is?
Send us a photo of your dashboard and we’ll tell you what it means. Lights and colours vary between makes, and your handbook has the exact meaning for your car. If in doubt, stop when it’s safe.