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What the Symbol's on Your Vehicle's Dashboard Indicate 

If you have ever driven your vehicle and witnessed an unfamiliar light pop up on its dashboard, you may have become worried and wondered what the light was indicating. The lights on a vehicle's dashboard indicate many things, with some lights indicating multiple things at once. With the variety of vehicles that are available on the market and the numerous features that each vehicle has to offer, there are many different symbols in each vehicle. However, there are many common symbols that are shared among most vehicles that you should know about.
Oil change dashboard lights
Check Engine Light
Also referred to as the CEL, the check engine light of your vehicle is a yellow light that is shaped like the outline of an engine. The check engine light is equipped on every vehicle and is a light that notifies drivers about different problems. If the check engine light of your vehicle illuminates, then you should stop driving the vehicle as soon as possible. The check engine light may be notifying you about a small problem that your vehicle's engine is experiencing or a more serious issue that can lead to catastrophic engine damage.

Oil Pressure Light

The oil pressure light is a red light that resembles a can with a drop of fluid leaving its snout. The oil pressure light is an indication of an issue with a vehicle's oil system, whether the system is low on oil or the system can't build up enough pressure. If the oil pressure light illuminates on the dashboard of your vehicle, it is very important that you shut off the vehicle's engine immediately. Your vehicle's engine can experience immense damage as a result of running with low oil pressure.

Traction Control Light

The traction control light of your vehicle is a red light that depicts a vehicle with curved tire tracks behind its wheels. Traction control is a system that helps your vehicle to maintain its traction as you are driving. When your vehicle is losing traction under slippery conditions, the traction control light may illuminate to indicate that the system is working. The traction control light of your vehicle may illuminate or provide a message if you turn the traction control system of the vehicle off as well.

Low Fuel Light

If you see a yellow light on your vehicle's dashboard that is in the shape of a gas pump, then your vehicle is alerting you that it is running low on fuel. This light typically illuminates when a vehicle is running on one-eighth of its fuel capacity. Therefore, you must begin looking for refueling options for your vehicle once this light appears on the vehicle's dashboard.

Low Washer Fluid Light

Washer fluid is a fluid that mechanically ejects from your vehicle's hood onto the vehicle's windshield so that the windshield can be cleaned. If you see a yellow light that is in the shape of a windshield, with a diverging dashed line on the windshield, illuminate on your vehicle's dashboard, then you will need to refill the vehicle's washer fluid reservoir. Washer fluid allows you to effectively clean your vehicle's windshield from inside of the vehicle.

Exterior Light Fault

Your vehicle is notifying you that it is experiencing an issue with one of its exterior lights if a yellow light that is in the shape of a lightbulb, with an exclamation point in its center, illuminates. The exterior fault light can alert you to many different lights around the exterior of a vehicle, such as the vehicle's headlights, taillights, fog lights, and more. If this light appears on the dashboard of your vehicle, walk around your vehicle, with its lights on, to determine which exterior light is having an issue.

Hazard Lights On

If you see a red symbol with two triangles, one inside of the other, illuminated on your vehicle, then the vehicle's hazard lights are on. You may also see both of the turn signals of your vehicle blinking simultaneously when this light is on. You can turn the vehicle's hazard lights off by looking for an identical two-triangle symbol on your vehicle's dashboard and pressing it once.

Let us Help at Gerry Lane Cadillac

The symbols that are on the dashboard of your vehicle, and around the vehicle in general, all represent different and important things. Understanding these many symbols can help you to enjoy your vehicle more and identify when the vehicle is having a problem. At Gerry Lane Cadillac we offer a variety of dependable products and services. If you need help identifying any of the symbols on your vehicle's dashboard, we can help you. Contact us if you would like to learn more.