Indicators are on

Lighting up a red or orange indicator while driving informs the driver about a malfunction and then the question arises, is it possible to continue driving?

Unfortunately, there is no definite answer, since the further procedure depends on the type of malfunction and the damaged system.

We should always take a warning light or an on-board computer error message seriously, even though in many vehicles such messages appear despite the correct operation of the systems. Faults have different severity, so the consequences of ignoring the signal will be different.

 

On red

You should pay the most attention to the red lights. This is the color of pressure or oil status indicators, battery charging, electric power steering, airbags, coolant and brake fluid levels. Failure of any of these systems directly affects driving safety. Lack of oil quickly leads to engine destruction, so after such a message, you must immediately (but safely) stop and check for a malfunction. The same should be done with liquids. Without recharging the battery, you can continue driving, unfortunately not for long, because. Energy for all receivers is taken from the battery only. The SRS indicator is on, informing us that the system is inactive and in the event of an accident, the airbags will not deploy.

Orange

The orange controls also make up a large group. Their glow is not as dangerous as in the case of red ones, but they should not be underestimated either. Orange color indicates a malfunction of the ABS, ESP, ASR, engine or transmission control system, and washer fluid level. Lack of fluid is not a serious problem, and if the road is dry, without any casualties, you can get to the nearest gas station. However, if the ABS light comes on, you can continue driving, but with certain precautions and have the diagnostics carried out at an authorized workshop as soon as possible. The effectiveness of the brakes will remain unchanged, but you should be aware that with emergency braking and maximum pressure on the pedal, the wheels will be blocked and the car's handling will be significantly reduced. An ABS malfunction causes the braking system to operate as if it were without the system. Also, the failure of the ESP does not mean that you should stop driving, you just need to be aware that the electronics will not help us in a critical situation.

A lit check engine light indicates that the sensors are damaged and the engine is in emergency operation. There is no need to immediately stop the trip and call for roadside assistance. You can continue driving, but contact the service center as soon as possible. Ignoring such a defect can lead to faster engine wear or, for example, catalytic converter failure, and certainly increased fuel consumption, since the engine still operates at average parameters.

  Check before you buy

When buying a used car, carefully check the bulbs to see if they light up after turning on the ignition and go out after a few seconds. If so, it does not mean that all circuits are working correctly. Unfortunately, often, for example, an SRS indicator or engine control is connected to the battery charging system, so that everything looks normal, because the controls go out, but in fact they are not, and getting the system into full working order can cost a penny. many. It may also happen that a special device is installed that delays turning off the lights to make it even more difficult to detect fraud. To make sure that the system is working, contact the service center and check it with a tester. Only after such a test we will be 100% sure of its performance.