Auto Care Advice
Warning Lights: What Do They Mean?
Warning lights are lights on the instrument panel/dashboard of a vehicle that alert the driver when something is wrong. Depending on the light and the severity of the problem, you may or may not notice performance issues. Warning lights can be serious in nature, such as the Check Engine Light, or more benign, such as the parking brake light.
It is normal for the lights to illuminate briefly when the vehicle is started, but if they stay on or begin to flash, you should take the vehicle into a repair shop to get it checked out. You should never ignore a warning light. Some of them indicate serious problems with your vehicle that could render it unsafe to drive.
Warning Light
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Description |
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Throttle Control Warning Light The throttle control warning light illuminates when a problem is detected in the electronic throttle system. If the light comes on during start up or while driving, then there is a fault condition developing in the system. If the vehicle still drives normally, then have the vehicle diagnosed and inspected at a qualified repair shop as soon as possible because, at some point, the vehicle may not be drivable. If the light comes on and the throttle response becomes erratic, have the vehicle towed. It is not safe to drive a vehicle in this condition. |
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Throttle Control Warning Light The throttle control warning light illuminates when a problem is detected in the electronic throttle system. If the light comes on during startup or while driving, then there is a fault condition developing in the system. If the vehicle still drives normally, then have the vehicle diagnosed and inspected at a qualified repair shop as soon as possible because, at some point, the vehicle may not be drivable. If the light comes on and the throttle response becomes erratic, have the vehicle towed. It is not safe to drive a vehicle in this condition. |
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Tire Pressure Warning Light The tire pressure warning light is a little yellow icon that looks like a cut-away view of a tire with an exclamation point in the middle. If a tire’s pressure falls below 25 percent of the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, the tire warning light will illuminate. Some systems will illuminate the tire warning light if the tire pressure is too high. It is important to read the portion of your vehicle owners manual that covers the tire pressure monitoring system. That way, if or when the tire warning light comes on, you'll know exactly what to do. |
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Traction Control Warning Light The traction control system uses a computer to detect whether one (or more) of the wheels has begun to slip and lose traction with the roadway. The warning light usually comes on when the system detects a loss of traction, like in snowy or rainy weather, and the system is intervening to maintain traction. It's a good idea to read the section in your vehicle owners manual to familiarize yourself with how your traction or stability system operates. |
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Traction Control Warning Light The traction control system uses a computer to detect whether one (or more) of the wheels has begun to slip and lose traction with the roadway. The warning light usually comes on when the system detects a loss of traction, like in snowy or rainy weather, and the system is intervening to maintain traction. It's a good idea to read the section in your vehicle owners manual to familiarize yourself with how your traction or stability system operates. |
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Traction Control Warning Light The traction control system uses a computer to detect whether one (or more) of the wheels has begun to slip and lose traction with the roadway. The warning light usually comes on when the system detects a loss of traction, like in snowy or rainy weather, and the system is intervening to maintain traction. It's a good idea to read the section in your vehicle owners manual to familiarize yourself with how your traction or stability system operates. |
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