A warning light comes on while you're driving. Some people pull over immediately. Others carry on driving with it for months. Both extremes can end up costing you a lot of money. Car dashboard warning lights come in different colours, and each one means something different. I want you to understand them so you know when you need to stop straight away and when it's safe to drive to the garage.
Which red car dashboard warning lights mean you must stop?
- Oil pressure — switch off the engine immediately.
- Coolant temperature — the engine is overheating.
- Braking system — the brake fluid is low or there's a fault.
- Battery charging — the alternator isn't charging the battery.
If a red warning light comes on, find somewhere safe and pull over. Don't carry on until you know what the problem is. Trust me, this isn't worth taking a chance on.
Which amber warning lights should you never ignore?
- The engine management light when it stays on.
- ABS and ESP.
- Tyre pressure.
- The DPF.
- AdBlue.
- Glow plugs, if the warning light flashes while you're driving.
What does a flashing warning light mean?
If the engine management light is flashing, one of the cylinders could be misfiring. That means unburnt fuel can reach the catalytic converter and damage it. If the DSG gear indicators are flashing on the dashboard, the gearbox may have gone into limp mode. Either way, this really isn't the time to put your foot down.
In situations like these, drive carefully, don't put the engine under unnecessary load, and get the car to the garage as soon as possible.
Never carry on driving with a red oil pressure or temperature warning light, thinking, "I'll just make it home." Even a few kilometres with insufficient oil pressure or an overheating engine could leave you needing a completely new engine.
Why isn't simply clearing the fault code enough?
Clearing a fault code doesn't mean you've fixed the car. If the cause is still there, the fault will come back. And while you're driving around thinking everything is fine, the damage could be getting worse.
That's why we start with proper diagnostics. I want us to find out why the warning light came on in the first place, not just switch it off on the dashboard and send you on your way.
A tip from Kris Mladenov: If a warning light comes on, take a photo of the dashboard and remember what you were doing at the time. Was the engine cold? Were you accelerating? Or were you sitting in traffic? Believe me, those little details can make a huge difference when we're trying to track down the problem.
Common questions about dashboard warning lights
If you've got a warning light on your dashboard and you're not sure what it means, bring your car to Das Auto Service for diagnostics. We'll find out what's causing it and explain how urgently it needs attention. I'm telling you this because I'd much rather we caught a small problem early than see you paying for a major repair later.
Read more
- Car diagnostics at Das Auto Service
- Routine servicing at Das Auto Service
- Lambda sensor and catalytic converter: when are they really to blame?
- Car diagnostics: what the measuring blocks tell us
- TPMS: why is the tyre pressure warning light on after changing tyres?
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving if the engine management light is on?
If the engine management light stays on and the car drives normally, you can usually make it to a garage. But if it's flashing, don't put the engine under load and get it checked as soon as possible.
What should I do if the red oil warning light comes on?
Pull over somewhere safe and switch off the engine immediately. Don't drive any further until you know what's causing it.
Why does the warning light come back on after the fault code has been cleared?
Because the problem is still there. Clearing the code removes the stored fault, but it doesn't fix what's wrong with the car. So the warning light comes straight back.