Published · 2 min read
Warning light on the dashboard: keep driving or stop?
Red means stop, yellow means garage soon. Which lights cannot wait, and what you can do.
Almost all cars use the same colour logic for warning lights, a bit like traffic lights. The symbols vary slightly from model to model. If in doubt, check the owner’s manual or give us a call.
Red: stop safely
A red light warns of danger to you or the engine. Stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine.
- Oil pressure (oil can): the engine is no longer properly lubricated. Driving on can seriously damage it.
- Coolant temperature (thermometer above waves): the engine is overheating. Do not open the radiator cap straight away: the system is under pressure and the coolant is hot.
- Brake (exclamation mark in a circle): the handbrake is still on, or brake fluid is low. If the light stays on with the handbrake released, do not drive on.
- Charging (battery): the alternator is no longer charging. The same belt often drives the water pump too: if it breaks, the engine soon overheats. Better to stop and call.
Yellow: garage soon
Yellow or amber lights report a fault that is not immediately dangerous but needs checking.
- Engine light: a fault in the engine or emissions control. If it flashes, drive on gently and stop soon: the catalytic converter can be damaged.
- ABS: the brakes work, but without anti-lock.
- Tyre pressure: a tyre has lost pressure. Check the pressure, and stop at once if it is dropping fast.
- Airbag: the system has a fault and may not deploy in a crash.
Green and blue: for information only
Dipped beam, main beam, cruise control: these lights only show what is switched on.
What we do
We read the fault memory with a diagnostic tool. It shows where a fault is, but not always why. We then look for the cause in a targeted way, and you get a quote before we repair anything.
A tip: if it is safe to do so, take a photo of the light with your phone. That helps us make a first assessment over the phone.