What do the lights in a car mean? Check what warnings appear on the toolbar

Dashboard controls - types and descriptions of controls

Indicators in a car - periodically displayed on the dashboard - are part of a system to warn and inform the driver about what is happening with the car. Modern cars are equipped with electronic systems that are linked to these controls. Dashboard icons may differ in the shape or images they represent, as well as in color. You can see the controls:

• red is a warning
• yellow or orange - information and warning,
• green is informative.

What do red, yellow and green lights mean?

The red indicator on the dashboard should make you react as soon as you see it. Green icons, on the other hand, are informative - they indicate, for example, that you have your headlights on or that you are using parking assistance, traffic sign recognition, cruise control or hill climb assistant. You don't have to worry about indicators on the board at all - treat them as information or a reminder of a particular message.

Orange or yellow lights are important. They inform and warn of a future event. If the indicator is on, this may be due, for example, to too low tire pressure or low oil level in the engine, and the fuel in the tank is running low. As a rule, they do not require you to immediately stop moving, but you also cannot ignore them indefinitely, since an untimely response can lead to costly consequences.

The red light in the car lights up - what do the failures mean?

The red lights should prompt some action on your part before continuing your journey. This color means a warning. Icons can take the form:

• the contour of the car with a mechanical key inscribed in it - this means a serious failure in the car's electronics system;
• two triangles inscribed in each other - despite the red color, the icon only informs that you have turned on the emergency gang;
• battery - indicates that it is discharged (needs to be charged) or its voltage is too low;
• oil tank with a drop - informs, on the one hand, about a low oil level, but is also a warning for you about the imminent failure of the car engine;
• reminiscent of a projection of a car with an open door - an indicator that informs and warns that your door or trunk lid is not closed;
• a circle with the inscription ABS - indicates a failure of the ABS system;
• wave thermometer - used at high coolant temperatures;
• a circle with hatched semicircles on both sides is information about a brake system malfunction (low brake fluid level) and brake pad wear. It may also mean that the handbrake is on;
• dropper with a drop - indicates the minimum oil level in the engine.

In addition to these icons, there may be other red lights in the car. What does the indicator light mean? They usually take the form of a warning triangle with an exclamation point. As a rule, this signals that the car has broken down, and you should contact a car service as soon as possible.

Orange or yellow car lights

Yellow or orange indicators may appear next to red icons on the dashboard. You already know that these are information and warning icons. Among them you can find such as:

• “check engine” light - may mean a malfunction associated with the operation of the power unit, including a malfunction in the injection system;
• an icon with two loops - a malfunction of the engine glow plug;
• a crossed-out airbag icon next to a seat with a rearward facing child seat means that the passenger side airbag is deactivated;
• snowflake icon - warns of the possibility of ice on the road surface;
• light bulb icon with an exclamation point - indicates a malfunction of the car's exterior lighting;
• an icon with an outline of a car with an open filler neck - means a poorly closed filler neck;
• gear icon with an exclamation point - indicates damage to the gearbox;
• fuel dispenser icon - indicates the fuel reserve in the tank and the need to top up its level.

If you see one of the above icons while driving, you should check what they are associated with as soon as possible.. Ignoring them can even lead to immobilization of the vehicle. An orange engine icon could mean your vehicle is about to go into emergency mode.

Glowing green light bulbs in the car - what do they say?

These days, most often—almost every day—you'll see green icons on your car's dashboard. They are displayed in various situations, mainly when the light is turned on. Depending on the shape of the green light, such lights in cars should be interpreted as follows:

• an icon with four diagonal lines on the left side of the semicircle - a light indicator informing you that the dipped headlights are on (dipped beam);
• an icon with four diagonal lines to the left of the semicircle, crossed vertically by an irregular line - the indicator means the front fog lights are on;
• two arrows - to the right or to the left - indicator light for turning on the turn signal;
• two luminous bulbs on the left and right - an icon indicating side lights.

Normally, high beam (high beam) bulbs are marked blue on the dashboard.

Individual vehicle icons, also called indicators, have been designed to be readable and easy to interpret. Every driver should have a basic knowledge of this in order to use the car carefully and, if necessary, contact a mechanical workshop. Sometimes textual information appears next to the icons on the monitors that come with new cars, making it easier for you to react correctly.