Updated: 2/28/2018

Drivers hold their breath when they showtime turn their car on. They sentinel and wait as a dozen unlike symbols light up on their dashboard, hoping that all of them will become night again once the engine turns over. Plenty of people don't know what half of those symbols really hateful, and y'all're not solitary if you're 1 of them.

As a responsible car owner, it'southward good to exist prepared for the day ane of those lights stays on or comes on while yous're driving. So what practice your dashboard icons mean?

We're going to have some fun beneath every bit we break down what each of the virtually common dashboard icons mean compared to what they expect like they mean.

What Does This Dashboard Icon Light Hateful?

dash-lights-icons-temp

What Information technology Looks Similar: Half of a ladder ascension out of a ocean of lava, and the ladder is also made of lava.

What You Think It Means: At that place is no escape from the lava.

What It Actually Means: Your engine is too hot. You may need to take your coolant levels checked, or there could be something wrong with the radiator.

dash-lights-icons-charger

What It Looks Similar: A robot winking at you.

What You Think It Means: The Singularity is here, and they come up in peace.

What Information technology Actually Means: There's a trouble with your battery or, if it'south a hybrid vehicle, your car'due south charging organisation.

dash-lights-icons-brake-warning

What It Looks Similar: A symbol of profound urgency.

What You lot Recollect It Means: Your car has a fantastic idea that will get you out of this pickle.

What It Actually Means: In that location's something upwards with your brakes. Either your parking brake is on, your brake fluid is low, or you need to accept your Anti-lock Braking Organization checked out.

dash-lights-icons-oil

What It Looks Like: An angry antique tea pot.

What You Think It Means: "Don't fifty-fifty think about touching me because you're definitely not getting 3 wishes."

What It Actually Means: Either your engine oil level is running dangerously low or the oil pressure is dangerously high. At minimum, it's time for an oil change .

dash-lights-icons-traction

What It Looks Like: A curling rock thrown on a shuffle board.

What You Remember It Means: "Here comes the Hammer!"

What It Actually Means: Traction Command is active, which probably ways the road is slippery. Drive advisedly.

dash-lights-icons-airbag

What It Looks Like: Someone has surprised you with a beach ball.

What Y'all Recollect It Ways: You lot need to work on your mitt-centre coordination. Like, how practise yous not catch a embankment ball?

What It Actually Ways: Something is incorrect with your airbags or airbag system. Y'all'll need to have your automobile checked out to get this light turned off.

dash-lights-icons-abs

What It Looks Similar: A reminder to practice more than sit-ups.

What You Recall Information technology Means: "I guess I've been slacking on my cadre forcefulness grooming…"

What It Really Means: You lot need to have your brakes looked at, specifically your Anti-lock Braking System.

dash-lights-icons-security

What Information technology Looks Like: Somebody replaced your back bicycle with a cardinal.

What You Call back Information technology Means: "Automobile keys don't even wait similar that anymore."

What Information technology Actually Ways: Something is wrong with the security system, or you might be using the incorrect key to outset your car.

dash-lights-icons-check-engine

What It Looks Like: A car engine (sort of).

What You Retrieve It Means: "My car is going to explode."

What Information technology Actually Means: Most frequently, the check engine light comes on when something is wrong with your car's emissions organisation. Either in that location'due south a problem with your exhaust, your catalytic converter, or the air filtration system. There's a take chances that you might just demand to tighten your gas cap. Regardless, if the low-cal stays on for longer than a few days, y'all should bring your car in for service .

Hopefully this guide helps yous decode some of the more than mysterious icons on your dashboard. If you lot're all the same in doubt, here are a few rules of thumb:

  • If the light is Yellowish , keep an eye on it, but don't panic.
  • If the low-cal is Reddish , you lot should accept immediate note and accost the issue as soon as possible.
  • If the light is FLASHING , call a dealership or service station before you drive any farther.
  • If it is Green or BLUE , that system is active. Nothing is wrong.

Remember that many dashboard symbols are universal, simply not all of them. If there's an icon lit on your dash that doesn't match 1 of the ones above, look it up in your vehicle's owner's manual. Once you do that, let us know and nosotros'll add it to our guide. Because no matter which car, truck, or SUV you lot drive, nosotros want you to be safe and informed on the road.