For most people who are not curious about what there is to know about their cars, signs lighting up on the dashboard could be a cause for worry, and even panic. The mind might immediately jump to conclusions that are more serious than what is actually happening with the vehicle. To prevent or avoid unnecessary panic, it would be helpful to know what the lights on your car’s dashboard mean.

The Fuel Icon on the Dashboard
The fuel icon on a car’s dashboard lights up when the vehicle’s fuel is running low. When this lights up, the vehicle is alerting the driver, as well as reminding him to refuel the car in order to prevent problems that could occur should the car run out of fuel. Also, it is not advisable to keep the fuel level of a car low as this has a negative effect on the vehicle’s fuel pump.

The Brake Icon on the Dashboard
This icon on the dashboard lights up when the brake fluid on the vehicle is low. When the icon lights up, it does not automatically mean that there is something wrong with the car’s brakes, but rather with the brake fluid. If the brake icon is lit, it could also mean that the car’s parking brake has been set.

The Dashboard Light Indicating Door Issues
There is also a specific icon on a car’s dashboard that alerts the driver about door problems. For instance, if any one of the doors has not been completely closed, this dashboard icon lights up. The look of this particular dashboard icon or light will depend on the model of the vehicle and is not created to look the same for all vehicle models. Another instance when this dashboard light is triggered is when the trunk door has not been closed properly or secured. However, there are also certain models of vehicles where trunk issues have a separate icon lighting up aside from the door icon.

The Battery Icon on the Dashboard
The icon for the car’s battery can also be seen on the dashboard. Some would say that this dashboard light is misleading, as its lighting up does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the car’s battery. When this particular dashboard icon lights up, it could mean that there is a problem with the car’s alternator. For this kind of situation, it would be best to switch off as many, if not all, electrical systems as possible. This would include air conditioners and stereos. An even better idea would be to have a mechanic check the car in order to pinpoint what or where the problem is.

Aside from these basic lights on the dashboard, there are still a number of icons that can light up on your car’s dashboard. Examples of these other lights include the light for seat belts and the indicator light that switches on when the car’s high beams are on.