Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Warning Lights

Modern cars and trucks are computers on wheels. Automobiles have come a long way since their humble beginnings, as the machines on the roads today are smarter than anyone could have ever imagined just a few decades ago. The ability to self-diagnose issues is one of many important advancements that have taken place – but that ability is only valuable if you choose to heed the warnings you are given.

Those warnings, of course, come in the form of lights on your dash. When you are presented with a warning light by your vehicle, it’s best to respond quickly to have the problem addressed. For help, stop by or call Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance from our expert staff. We’ll help you understand what the issue is and what needs to be done to get back on track. It would be our honor to serve you!

What Are Vehicle Warning Lights?
Every modern vehicle includes a set of lights that can come on when an issue is detected by the onboard computer. These lights are typically displayed on the dash, and they will be dark when everything is operating as it should. There are warning lights for a variety of potential issues, and they include the following –
• Engine oil. This light looks like a small oil can with a drop coming out of one end, and it typically indicates that there is not enough oil in the engine. The reason for that low level is not determined by the light itself, so having the vehicle inspected by a professional is the logical next step.
• Tire pressure monitor. One of the lights that tend to come on most frequently is the tire pressure monitoring light. As the name suggests, this light is designed to come on when there is not enough air in your tires. Topping off the air pressure to the proper level should resolve this one, although you might need to consult your owner’s manual to figure out how to reset the warning.
• Check engine light. This is perhaps the most ambiguous of the lights that you may see come on in your car or truck. The symbol looks like an engine, but the reason for it coming on could be a number of things. When scanned by a service department, the code provided by the vehicle’s computer will tell a lot more about what is going on.
• Battery warning. Easy to identify because of the distinctive battery shape, this light may mean that your battery isn’t getting charged up correctly as you drive.
• Emergency brake. Okay, so this is an easy one – but we wanted to include it in our list just in case. When your emergency brake is engaged, a light will be displayed on the dash to remind you that it needs to be released before you head out. If that light doesn’t turn off even after you release the brake, you may want to have a service department take a closer look to see why that is the case.

This is, of course, not an exhaustive list of the warning lights you could see in your vehicle. If any light comes up on your dash that you are not familiar with, take a moment – when you aren’t driving – to review your owner’s manual and figure out what it indicates. Some issues that are indicated by the lights are things you may be able to rectify on your own, while others will require the help of a trained professional.

Don’t Just Let It Go
There are a couple of important reasons to take your warning lights seriously when they pop up. First and foremost, this is a matter of safety. Depending on what the light indicates, you could be putting yourself or others at risk by not having it taken care of right away. As one example, driving a vehicle that has compromised brakes is a recipe for trouble. If the light you ignored was alerting you to some kind of problem with the braking system, you’d be creating a dangerous situation by not looking into the matter as soon as possible.

The other consideration on this matter is financial. If you ignore warning lights, you could be allowing the problem to get bigger and bigger – until it becomes quite a costly repair. This won’t play out in every situation, but it’s best to get the information you need from the start to figure out what is going on and what action should be taken.
Working with the Right Team

So, you have decided to bring your vehicle to a service department to have the warning light issue examined and the underlying problem repaired? That’s good – now you just need to decide where to go. As you look around and consider your options, remember that you want to visit a business with a proven track record for honesty and reliable performance. Trusting your vehicle to a shop that hasn’t yet proven its worth in the local community might not be the best choice for this important task.

That won’t be any problem when you visit Taylor & Sons Chevrolet. We are an established business that has been trusted by customers from in and around the Ponderay, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and Coeur d’Alene areas for years. You can be sure that your vehicle is in good hands when you come to our service department, and you’ll always get an honest assessment of the situation. Rather than wondering about what that warning light means or whether or not it is important, just stop by and get a confident answer.

It’s easy enough to just keep driving around with a warning light on your dash, and pretty soon you’ll just come to ignore it. That’s not the best plan of action, however. Take the time to have the issue reviewed by a professional team like the one at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet. Whether you need service or it’s time to shop for a new or used vehicle, we would love to help.

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