All of us love caring for our cars by providing them a thorough wash on each weekend, taking them for a routine service, installing various add-ons and of course, enjoying driving miles and miles of distance. But frankly - how many of us actually care to read their complete user manual as soon as the car is bought home? Perhaps only a few, and that too only when the real need arises during an emergency breakdown. In fact, one of the most important things that a daily driver must know about their car is to correctly interpret the dashboard warning icons. So, what are the dashboard warning icons?
These are small symbols which are normally located on instrument cluster, along with speedometer (behind the steering wheel), that indicate and provide an overview about the basic health of your car. Also, over the last few years, these indicators have gradually replaced the fashion of old-style analogue meters and because they tell about some of the most significant aspects, knowing them is necessary. Most of the warning icons in regular cars are almost self-explanatory – so let’s kick-start with the basic ones first.
(1) High-beams on:
Cause: As simple as its name suggests. The blue semi-circle icon with horizontal straight lines on its left indicates that your vehicle’s headlamps are turned on at the high-beam mode which ethically should not be, if you are driving on city with already sufficient lighting on the road for the sake to prevent glare on the eyes of driver in front.
Safe to Drive? Yes.
(2) Fog-lamps on:
Cause: This icon appears almost same as the high-beam but with vertical mark passing through horizontal lines and illuminates with yellow colour. It glows as soon as the fog lamps are switched on.
Safe to Drive? Yes.
(3) Engine Oil Level:
Cause: The oil level symbol is extremely important and should never be ignored because it tells about your car’s engine oil state. Please turn off your car immediately if you notice this icon lit while the car is running. Check the engine oil and pressure level, top-up when low but if not and icon still illuminates, seek for prompt assistance.
Safe to Drive? Yes (Immediate check-up recommended)
(4) Battery Condition:
Cause: A very helpful mark this is – The battery icon, typically, could have two meanings: Either the alternator is not charging or your car’s battery is soon going to be conked off. Don’t panic, because you can still continue to drive but if the destination is far, then better halt at some workshop to know about the exact situation. After all, it’ll be much better than being left stranded on an open road.
Safe to Drive? Yes (Immediate check-up recommended)
(5) Handbrake On:
Cause: An exclamation mark inside the circle signifies that the hand brake / parking brake of your car is lifted. Some fresh drivers generally forget to lift down the handbrake lever before starting off and this is not a nice practice. Please remember to turn off the parking brake before taking off for the sake of your car’s rear brakes. This lamp might also remain illuminated when the brake fluid level is reaching the empty figure.
Safe to Drive? No.
MR JOHN KELVIN
SERVICE MANAGER
FG AUTO CLINIC
OBA AKRAN IKEJA LAGOS
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