12/02/2019
Five warning lights to take heed of
When one is about to develop an ailment, there are symptoms they feel. Just as with a motor vehicle, when something is not right, there are warning lights that do come on the dashboard. These lights should never be ignored as they help in lessening a serious problem that might hamper the smooth and efficient running of a vehicle.
Many vehicles have their own unique warning lights or icons to alert the driver when something is erroneous; these can be found on the back of the vehicle owner’s manual. It is important to note that the appearance of certain lights varies depending on the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Below is a rundown of five warning lights one should take heed of. Taking heed of these warning lights when they come on helps in abating damage to your vehicle, an accident or a breakdown.
(i) Low tire pressure warning light
This light will come on if the tire pressure is 25 percent or more under inflated. Driving on a low tire pressure can be detrimental as it increases the risk of a blowout. A low tire can also cause uneven braking, uneven traction: uneven and rapid tire wear, increased rolling resistance.
Possible causes- Loss of air pressure due to a leak. This can be mainly caused by a faulty valve, or a puncture, loss of air pressure due to seepage. It should be taken into consideration that 1 to 2 PSI per month loss is normal for many tires.
Solution- Most service stations offer free air pressure. Find one (service station) with an air pump and check the inflation pressure on each tire with a pressure gauge. Add air as needed to inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. For most passenger cars, the recommended pressure is 32-34 PSI.
(ii) Oil pressure warning light-
This light comes on if an engine has lost oil pressure or if the oil pressure id too low for safe engine operation. If it comes on while driving, pull over on a safe part of the road, switch off the ignition and check the oil level using the dipstick. If the level is too low, it is recommended to top up the oil and drive to a garage for assessment.
Possible causes- The oil viscosity might be too thin, hence an oil change would be recommended. Oil consumption or leaks might prompt the oil pressure warning light to come on, a worn oil pump, a defective oil pressure sending unit or an excessive engine bearing clearance also contribute to the oil light coming on.
When one is driving, they should be wary of rapping, cluttering or ticking noises emanating from the engine as this is an indication that the engine is not getting sufficient oil. An attempt at driving your vehicle with the engine in this condition is not recommended as you run the risk of damaging it.
(iii) Charging system warning light
If the charging voltage on your vehicle is low, the ‘ALT’ or ‘GEN’ warning light or a battery icon will appear. If this light comes on, one may have approximately 20-30 minutes of driving time before the battery goes dead and the engine stops running. It might be less time if one is driving at night with headlights on.
Possible causes- A slipping or broken serpentine or v-belt causes the charging system to fail, a bad alternator charging control fault or loose or corroded battery cables. Or the battery in itself might be on its way out.
Solution: Open your bonnet to see if the drive belt that turns the alternator is still intact and is turning the alternator while the engine is idling. If the belt is intact, then the charging system will need to be repaired and this requires the services of a skilled auto electrician.
(iv) Brake warning light-
This light is activated by low brake fluid levels, a loss of hydraulic pressure in the car’s breaking system or if the handbrake has not been fully released. Loss of brake pressure or fluid means the brakes will not work when you step on your pedal.
Possible causes: Loss of brake fluid due to leaks (calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, brake lines or hoses), defective handbrake switch, failure of the pressure differential switch that activates the brake light
Solution- Carefully apply the brakes to see if they are working, if they are check your brake fluid levels in the brake master cylinder. If the brake fluid level is low, the brake system needs to be checked for leaks.
(v) Temperature warning light-
This light will come on if the engine is overheating. Drivers are urged not to continue driving if the engine is overheating as this will cause expensive engine damage: piston scuffing, valve stems galling, failed head gasket, cracks or distortion in cylinder head. If the light comes on, stop driving, pull over the side of the road and shut your engine off, open the bonnet and check the radiator and heater hoses, radiator and engine coolant for leaks. DO NOT open the coolant reservoir or radiator cap until the engine has cooled off for about 30 minutes. Steam pressure inside the cooling system can blow and burn you.
Possible Causes- Low coolant level (mainly caused by coolant leak or a defective head gasket), the thermostat might be stuck, a defective water pump, broken fan belt, malfunctioning radiator cooling fan, blocked or dirty radiator, exhaust restriction (plugged catalytic converter).
HINT- Turning the A/C (air conditioning) off and turning the heater on HIGH may aide in cooling down an engine that is temporarily overheating due to unusually hot weather or from towing a trailer. However, if the engine is running hot because it is running low on coolant, this trick might not work
