1.) Tire Pressure Monitor System Light (TPMS)
This light usually confuses people because it looks nothing like a tire, or a monitor, or a system for that matter. Basically the light looks like a "U" that's bowed out on the bottom with an exclamation point in the middle of it. Now look at your tires. See the how the valve-stem caps are green? Those caps indicate that your vehicle has a TPMS, The valve-stem itself has a sensor on it that monitors the tire pressure. When the light comes on it's because one or more of your tires is operating below the recommended tire pressure level. Chevy's driver info center actually shows you the levels for each tire. More simpler cars like my Subaru Impreza requires me to get a tire pressure gauge and check each tire (Builds character I guess). You find which one is low and fill it to the recommended pressure which can be found in your owner's manual. If you don't have an owner's manual you can google it to.
2.) The Check Engine Light
The check engine light (CEL) is probably the most annoying yet also important light of them all. The general rule of thumb is that problems with the fuel, vacuum (no not the cleaner type), and emissions control systems can cause this light to illuminate. The reality is that any number of things can cause that light to come on. The improper thing to do is ignore it. GET IT CHECKED OUT! You don't have to go to the dealer, or Pep Boys and spend $80 either. You can go to Advanced Auto Parts and Autozone and they will do it for free! Do that to at least get an idea of what could be wrong. Additionally something simple as not screwing your gas-cap tight enough can cause it to come on (especially if it's a Chevy). The issues that cause this light to come on range from very minor to very serious, so please please please do not ignore it.
3.) The Battery Light
Usually when this light comes on you're already feeling the effects of what causes it. When your battery light is on, it means very simply that your battery is low. The battery being low can be caused by corroded terminals, bad cables, the battery simply being old, or worse a bad altenator. Again hit up Advanced Auto Parts for free battery and altenator testing. And again don't ignore the light because that means your car will die any minute.
4.) Anti-Lock Brakes System
99% of cars on the road today have Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS). This means when you hit the brakes the pads don't lock up the wheels and cause the car to skid. It helps if you can steer your car while braking in emergency situations. Problems with you ABS sensor, master cylinder, brake fluid loss, or caliper failure can cause the ABS light to come on. This is another light that doesn't look like anything that it's representing. It looks like an "O" with "( )" around it. Thank goodness most of them have "ABS" under them or in the middle, but some simply have an exclamation point which can confuse some drivers. Better take your car to your mechanic when this light comes on.
5.) Service Engine Soon Light
The most serious of warning lights is the Service Engine Soon light (no abbreviation). It's so important that auto manufacturers do not even bother to come up with a symbol for it. The words "Service Engine Soon" simply illuminate on your dashboard. Very much like the low battery light, you are probably feeling the effects of what's causing the service engine soon light. The general rule of thumb is that serious mechanical issues such as a failed cylinder, thrown rods, leaking intake manifolds, oil pressure loss, low oil, etc etc, cause this light to come on. Obviously I don't have to tell you not to ignore this light, because if you do your car is going to break down soon. Take it to your local shop and get it fixed or junked, your choice!
So we have explored the world of the dashboard lights and hopefully we have conquered it. There's many other lights that come on, but the ones we covered are the most important. Many college students both male and female do not know what those lights mean, and it gets them into serious trouble with their cars. As we all know, one problem left unfixed often leads to many other problems so the better we are at spotting these problems, the better we will be at fixing them.
-Brandon
So we have explored the world of the dashboard lights and hopefully we have conquered it. There's many other lights that come on, but the ones we covered are the most important. Many college students both male and female do not know what those lights mean, and it gets them into serious trouble with their cars. As we all know, one problem left unfixed often leads to many other problems so the better we are at spotting these problems, the better we will be at fixing them.
-Brandon
