2026-06-19 · 5 min read
What do dashboard warning lights mean? 8 common ones
Engine, battery, oil lights — don't panic, but don't ignore them. Here's what the common ones mean and what to do.
Dashboard lights are your car talking to you. Colour is key: green/blue are status info, yellow means take note, red means act now. Here are the most common ones.
Red (act now)
🔴 Oil pressure: low oil pressure; driving on can severely damage the engine — pull over safely as soon as possible.
🔴 Temperature/overheat: engine overheating; stop and let it cool, don't push on.
🔴 Battery: charging system fault (usually alternator or belt) — check soon.
Yellow (check soon)
🟡 Check Engine: many causes; needs a computer scan to read the code. Steady — drive slowly to us; flashing — stop soon.
🟡 ABS / brake system: brake-assist fault; drive carefully and check soon.
🟡 TPMS: a tyre's pressure is off; check, top up or repair the puncture.
Advice
European electronics are complex, so a warning light usually needs dedicated diagnostics to pinpoint. Don't delay — the earlier you check, the cheaper it is. Come to 4M CARCARE for a computer diagnostic.