Paying Attention to your Gauges and Lights
What is your dashboard trying to tell you
Every modern car has an instrument panel designed to warn you of any possible malfunctions that may be happening. If you know what they mean, then you can save a lot of money in costly repairs if you catch a problem early enough. Most expensive car repairs, which could have been avoided, are due to negligence because people do not head the warnings, or do not know what they mean.
Temperature gauge / light
A reading on your temperature gauge near the “H” zone is an indication of trouble. Pull over, shift into neutral and allow your engine to idle. Do not continue to drive if the gauge does not return to normal. You can seriously damage your engine if it is overheating and you continue to drive.
Service Engine Soon (SES) Light
This light maintains emissions and the engine control system. When you start your car, an active SES light is normal for a moment. If you’re driving and the light is still active, it is time to get it checked out. Advantage Auto Repair will turn off your Service Engine Soon light for free. We have advanced equipment that will let us know what’s wrong with your car.
Voltage Gauge / Battery Light
This gauges the electrical system’s voltage of your car. If the pointer is “high” or “low” or very different from what you are used to seeing, you should get it looked at.
Oil Gauge and Light
Oil pressure is a very important aspect of your car’s functionality. This light doesn’t indicate how much oil you have in your engine, but low oil pressure can mean a low amount of oil. There can be a variety of reasons why your engine is not getting enough lubrication, but the most important thing to know is that poor lubrication can wreak havoc on your engine. The longer you drive with this problem, the more permanent the damage will be to your engine. Seek service immediately. This is not a problem you want to let slide!
