We’ve all been there before: driving normally like we do most days and then one of those dreaded lights comes on. Some you might recognize, some you may not. Whatever the problem is, those lights appear for a reason and too many people believe they can get away with simply ignoring them. Unless you want to put yourself, your passengers, and your car in danger, you should take those lights seriously. Here are a few of the car warning lights you shouldn’t ignore.
Brake Light
Your brake light coming on can be scary considering how important the brakes are to your safety. Don’t let this light go unaddressed, as there are a variety of problems that could be wrong with your brakes. It could just mean you forgot to disengage the parking brake. It could also mean your brake pads are worn down or that there’s a problem with your automatic braking system.
Check Engine Light
A more common car warning light you shouldn’t ignore is your check engine light. There are several reasons why the check engine light might come on, including:
- Your plug wires or spark plugs have gone faulty
- Your oxygen sensor is faulty
- The gas cap is loose
- You need a new catalytic converter
You need to address check engine lights right away. If you find that you’re dealing with this problem a lot, you might need to get a new car sooner rather than later.
Airbag Warning Light
If you see this light come on, it means that one or more of your airbags have something wrong with them. You don’t want to find this out for sure if you get into an accident, so it’s best to take it into a shop. A mechanic can tell you what the problem is and how to fix it.
Oil Pressure Light
If the oil pressure light comes on in your car, you might be very close to doing serious damage to your engine. This light can indicate that your oil levels are low or that your oil pressure isn’t high enough. You should take your car in for repairs immediately if this is the case, as driving a car without enough oil in it can harm the engine.