Dashboard warning lights: what the colours are telling you

A warning light is your car asking for attention. The colour tells you how urgent it is, and knowing the difference can save your engine and your wallet.

Red: stop safely

A red light means there is a problem that could cause damage or put you at risk. Pull over somewhere safe and switch the engine off. Common red lights are:

• Engine temperature. The engine is overheating. Driving on can cause serious damage.
• Oil pressure. The engine is not being lubricated properly.
• Brake system. Check the handbrake first, then the brake fluid level.
• Battery or charging. The car is not charging and will eventually stop.

Amber: get it checked soon

Amber or yellow lights mean the car has found a fault. You can usually keep driving carefully, but do not ignore it.

• Check engine. The car has stored a fault code. A flashing light means a serious misfire, so slow down and have it looked at straight away.
• ABS. Normal braking works, but the anti-lock function may not.
• Airbag. The airbag system may not deploy in a crash.
• Tyre pressure. One or more tyres is low.

Green and blue

These simply tell you a system is on, such as your indicators or main beam.

Find the real cause

A light alone does not say what is wrong. An OBD scan reads the fault codes behind it, so the repair is aimed at the actual problem instead of guesswork.