Car Warning Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Anh Tuan, a grocery store owner on Nguyen Trai Street, recently purchased a Dongfeng 4-axle truck to facilitate his goods transportation. His excitement was short-lived when, one day while driving on Hoang Quoc Viet Street, his dashboard suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. Panicked and clueless, he was fortunate to have a Howo truck driver stop and assist him. It turned out to be just a low tire pressure warning light, but due to his unfamiliarity with car warning light symbols, Anh Tuan had a major scare.

Anh Tuan’s experience is not uncommon. Understanding car warning lights not only enhances your driving safety but also enables you to detect technical issues early, preventing costly and extensive damage.

Types and Meanings of Car Warning Lights

The dashboard of a modern car is like a “brain” that displays all information about the vehicle’s operating status. The warning light system plays a crucial role, helping drivers quickly recognize and address arising problems. These warning lights typically come in three main colors:

1. Green Warning Lights: “All Clear – Smooth Sailing”

These lights indicate that a function is operating normally. Examples include turn signal indicators, high/low beam headlights, and cruise control system indicators.

2. Amber/Yellow Warning Lights: “Caution – Pay Attention”

This group of lights signals potential issues that require attention but are not yet critical. You should take your car to a garage for inspection and timely repairs.

Some common amber/yellow warning lights:

• Tire Pressure Warning Light: Shaped like a tire with an exclamation mark, it warns of low tire pressure in one or more tires.
• Check Engine Light: Shaped like an engine, it indicates a problem with the engine system.
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Warning Light: Usually displays “ABS,” indicating a malfunction in the ABS system.

Low Tire Pressure Warning Light

3. Red Warning Lights: “Stop Immediately – Danger!”

These lights indicate serious problems that directly affect the vehicle’s operability and your safety. When you see a red light, pull over to a safe location and call for help immediately.

Some common red warning lights:

• Engine Temperature Warning Light: Shaped like a thermometer, it warns of an overheated engine.
• Oil Pressure Warning Light: Shaped like an oil can with a drop of oil, it indicates critically low engine oil pressure.
• Brake System Warning Light: A circle with an exclamation mark inside, indicating a serious brake system malfunction.

Engine Temperature Warning Light