Dashboard warning lights – Trouble with the lights

Diono, a Canadian car-seat maker recently commissioned polling firm Journo Requests to find out what Canadians understand about the warning lights on their vehicle dashboards. Two-thousand drivers were asked a series of questions to evaluate how well they recognize and react to the array of symbols that flash across their instrument panels. The results are troubling.

Just over 50% find warning lights confusing and are unsure what they’re about. Only 26% would stop driving immediately while the remainder would either keep driving, or do a web search for the meaning, or take it to their shop. Almost 30% reported ignoring a warning light at least once. When you consider that some of these lighted icons represent critical safety systems such as anti-lock brakes or air-bags, it makes you shudder to think that we share the roads with drivers that don’t understand the importance of paying heed to these warnings.

Carmakers have to accept some of the responsibility of our issues with warning systems as there’s no international standard to ensure that a ‘check engine’ icon is the same shape, size, and colour no matter what type of vehicle they are installed in; along with all the rest. In addition, with the advancements in instrument panel technology, every manufacturer has the ability to improve warnings with plain easy-to-understand language displays such as ‘your anti-lock brake system requires immediate attention’. In addition, no matter how good your eye-sight might be, it can be difficult at a glance to determine the shape of the icon.

Most important dashboard warning light

On most, but not all, vehicles the ‘check engine light’ will flash for more urgent problems and simply stay on solid for the minor ones. But be warned, a minor sensor fault, such as an oxygen sensor might not flash the icon but can cause the engine to run extremely rich or lean in terms of the fuel/air mix. Run too much fuel through the engine long enough and you can easily damage very expensive catalytic converters. Run the engine too lean and it can cause severe internal damage. Keep in mind almost 30% of the survey respondents stated they avoided having warning lights checkout out by their technicians due to a fear of repair expense.

If your ride came with a printed owner’s manual, get a colour copy of the page that explains the meaning of each icon on the instrument panel, laminate it, and keep it in the glove box for quick reference. If there’s no hard copy, use the web link provided by the carmaker and find that info, print it off, and keep it handy. Every driver in the family should spend some time familiarizing themselves with the icons and their meanings; to view them all in their lighted state, just turn the ignition to run without starting the engine and enjoy the light show.

There’s no shortage of opinions on whether or not a vehicle owner should immediately address a warning light or chance it. So here’s a definitive one; a vehicle won’t pass a provincial safety inspection with any safety system warning light on or with any such icon disabled.

If you’re driving an older ride that pops warning lights from time to time and you’re shy about running it to the shop every time, consider spending $100 for a code reader and learn how to look up the codes’ meanings via a web search. Then you can call your regular shop and ask for their advice.

If you want to learn more about dashboard warning lights, here’s a handy list.

List of dashboard warning lights

1. Hill Descent Control
2. Airbag Deactivated
3. Brake Pad Warning
4. Overdrive Light
5. Start/Stop Warning Light
6. Engine Temperature Warning Light
7. Key Not in Vehicle
8. Hood/Bonnet Open
9. Service Vehicle Soon
10. Side Light Indicator
11. Auto High Beam
12. Air Suspension
13. Ignition Switch Warning
14. ESP Fault/Traction Control Malfunction
15. Auto Windscreen Wiping
16. High Beam Light Indicator
17. Power Steering Warning Light
18. Adaptive Cruise Control
19. Low Fuel Level
20. All Wheel Drive (AWD/4WD)
21. Battery Charge Warning Light
22. Security Alert
23. Front Fog Lights
24. Oil Change Reminder
25. Icy Road Warning Light
26. Recirculated Cabin Air
27. Door Ajar
28. Hazard Lights On
29. Rear Fog Lights Switched On
30. Turn Signal Indicators
31. Cruise Control
32. Press Clutch Pedal
33. Distance Warning
34. Traction Control Off
35. Exterior Light Fault
36. Press Brake Pedal
37. Windshield Defrost
38. Low Beam Indicator Light
39. Master Warning Light
40. Airbag Indicator
41. 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) LOCK Indicator Light
42. Reduced Power Warning
43. Powertrain Fault
44. Lane Assist
45. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
46. Brake Hold Indicator Light
47. Tire Pressure Warning Light
48. Lamp Out
49. Headlight Range Control
50. Steering Wheel Lock
51. Electric Park Brake
52. Oil Pressure Warning Light
53. Child Safety Lock
54. Washer Fluid Reminder
55. Trailer Tow Hitch Warning
56. Brake Lights Warning
57. Rain and Light Sensor
58. Brake Fluid
59. Automatic Gearbox Warning
60. Rear Window Defrost
61. Brake Warning Light
62. Clogged Air Filter
63. Catalytic Converter Warning
64. Seat Belt Indicator
65. Forward Collision Warning
66. Parking Brake Light
67. Traction Control Light
68. Blind Spot Indicator Light
69. Lane Departure Warning
70. Side Airbag
71. Adaptive Light System
72. Rear Spoiler Warning
73. Check Engine or Malfunction Indicator Light
74. Gas/Fuel Cap
75. Transmission Temperature