As cars get more and more advanced, they include more and more features and parts. This can make the amount of dashboard lights to keep track of overwhelming. Get to know the basics in this post.

What Your Dashboard Lights Are Telling You

Knowing what all the little lights in your car's dashboard mean can seem like an impossible task. In reality, there's not a whole lot to it, and your owner's manual can always be used to figure out exactly what each light means. To help you understand some of the most common dashboard lights, check out this post from AMSOIL Dealer Dwight Smith.

What Does the Color Mean?

You may have noticed by looking at your dashboard that not all of your dashboard lights are the same color. This is part of the system that makes it easier to recognize when your car has a serious issue and when it's simply time for maintenance. To start, your dashboard lights that turn on when a feature is activated will often be a "safe" color like blue or green. When there's trouble but it's not super urgent, you will see a yellow or amber light. When your car is letting you know there is a serious problem that needs attention right away, you will see a red light. Oftentimes, when a red dashboard lights gets turned on, your car isn't safe to drive, so pulling over safely is your best option.

Coolant Temperature Warning Light

Your coolant temperature warning light is one you should be familiar with because this one does mean serious trouble. This light will turn on when temperatures under the hood have exceeded their normal range, meaning your engine is overheating. To avoid causing more damage, pull over as soon as you can and turn off your engine. After things have cooled down, check your coolant level and top it off if it's running low. This may be enough to help you get to a mechanic and get your car looked at. Anything from a coolant leak to a broken fan could have caused the issue, so you'll need to get your cooling system checked out.

Oil Pressure Warning Light

The oil pressure warning light is another one that should never be ignored. This light will turn on if you're running low on oil or if there is another issue with your oil's circulation. Whatever the cause is, it has made your car unsafe to drive in its current condition so pull as soon as possible. If you keep driving while this light is on, your engine may even seize, leaving you with a hefty mechanic's bill. If your car is ready for its next oil change, be sure to make it a synthetic oil change in Ann Arbor. Find a great oil for your engine by contacting  AMSOIL Dealer Dwight Smith at (702) 561-3706. They can recommend great products like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil. To find more AMSOIL Oil products, check out their online shop.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light may just be the most commonly ignored dashboard light. While many people keep driving even while this light is on, this isn't a great option. Your check engine light may not be signaling big trouble under the hood, but it is telling you something needs to be looked at. Oftentimes, your car will just need some basic maintenance. Figuring this out is as easy as taking your car into the shop to get diagnosed using a professional scan tool.

Brake System Light

Your brakes are crucial to your safety on the road, so don't let your brake system light go ignored. Oftentimes, you can still make it to your mechanic or home safely with this light on, but don't push your car any further. When this light turns on there may be one of three of problems. The first potential issue is that your parking brake is on as you try to drive away. The second is that you are running low on brake fluid or there is a loss of pressure in the brake fluid system. Finally, your car may be telling you there's an issue with the ABS system. If your brake system light and your ABS light are on at the same time, pull over for your safety and the safety of other drivers. In this case, your brakes may not perform as you expect them to, so it's best to get this checked out before continuing to drive.

Keep Your Car Healthy With a Synthetic Oil Change in Ann Arbor

To keep your car running smoothly, give it a synthetic oil change in Ann Arbor. Find the best products for your next oil change by contacting AMSOIL Dealer, Dwight Smith at (702) 561-3706. They can recommend the best products for all of your engines.