The lights on your dash all briefly illuminate when you start up and then go off within seconds of your engine starting. If any of these lights remain on, this indicates that something has gone wrong. Sensors inside your car will detect the issue and inform your computer, which then activates the relevant warning light. As your Ford dealer, we want to tell you what some of these illuminated dashboard lights can mean.
From Your Ford Dealer: Understanding Dashboard Lights
Check Engine Light
The check engine light looks like a stylized engine. If any goes wrong that affects the engine or transmission, this light will immediately illuminate. Some of the reasons for an illuminated engine light are a high engine temperature, a blockage in the catalytic converter, or damaged transmission gears. Our technicians will need to examine your Ford to identify the cause of the trouble and repair it.
Transmission Fluid Temperature Light
This light usually looks like a cog with an exclamation point inside it. It lights up in response to a high temperature inside the transmission. Transmission fluid provides the hydraulic power that enables the gears to shift, and it also helps to cool the hot transmission components. It’s important to get this light checked, as an overheating transmission can seize up and fail.
Add Coolant Light
Coolant is the liquid in the cooling system that absorbs heat generated by the engine and transports it to the radiator for removal by heat exchange. The cooling system operates under high pressure and speed. These stressors can cause weaknesses in the system over time and allow coolant to escape. A lack of coolant will cause the engine temperature to rapidly rise, and this will cause your engine to overheat if the issue isn’t fixed.
Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light looks like a half circle with an exclamation point inside it. If your tires are over or underinflated, they will suffer increased wear and are more likely to leak or blow out. If you have a tire pressure monitoring system installed, the screen will light up to indicate which tire or tires have an issue that needs to be fixed.
Low Fuel
The low fuel warning light looks like a gas pump. It will light up if sensors in the fuel tank detect that the fuel level is very low. This warning light will automatically go out when you fill your tank. If it continues to remain on, it could indicate a leak or blockage in the fuel system or a problem with the sensors in the tank.
These are only samples of the many warning lights that can be displayed on your dash. These give you advanced knowledge that something is wrong, and this enables us to diagnose and repair the trouble. If you’d like to know more about these lights, visit us today at Pierre Ford of Seattle in Seattle, WA.
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