Post by tanjm348 on Jan 12, 2011 8:39:09 GMT 8
motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Owners/Story/A1Story20101214-252715.html
Read your car's vital signals
By Goh Mei Yi (AsiaOne Motoring)
The lamps and gauges on your car's dashboard are indicators of your vehicle's health. Each lamp or gauge serves as a warning signal when something is wrong with the engine and other parts of the car.
Pay attention to the warning lamps that light up on the instrument panel the next time you start the car. Here are what some of the gauges and lamps are and what they mean if they light up when they're not supposed to:
Temperature warning lamp or gauge
This will light up, or the needle will jump to the red zone, when engine coolant temperature exceeds the highest safe operating limit. Intermittent flickering may occur if the weather is very hot, especially in stop-start driving like in a traffic jam.
If the lamp lights up continuously or the temperature needle doesn't drop, pull off the road and stop the engine. Open the hood and let the engine cool off.
If you see steam, raise the bonnet carefully and look for a broken cooling system hose, radiator or engine core plug. If you find a major leak, don't start the car. Call for a tow truck.
Oil pressure lamp
This light should illuminate when the ignition is switched on and should extinguish as soon as the engine starts.
If the lamp comes on while you're driving, stop the vehicle as soon as is safely possible and shut off the engine. Let the engine cool down and pull out the dipstick to check the oil level. Add oil if necessary. If the warning lamp illuminates, even though the oil level is correct, don't start the engine. Seek assistance.
Charging system lamp
This lamp monitors the health of the charging system so that you will be warned about problems before you get stuck. The CHARGE lamp lights up to show when the alternator (or generator) is not charging the battery. It could be because of a slipping drive belt or a problem with the alternator (or generator) or the voltage regulator. You can still drive a short distance to get help if this lamp lights up.
Engine warning light
If the engine is running and this light comes on, it indicates a malfunction with the engine management system. Try stopping the vehicle and switching off the engine. Wait a few minutes, then restart the engine to reset the system. It is still safe to drive as long as no other faults are apparent with the engine. Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Brake system warning lamp
The red BRAKE lamp may light up for different reasons. It warns drivers if half of the brake hydraulic system has failed and lost pressure. It could mean that the fluid level is low in the brake master cylinder too. A simpler explanation could be that the hand brake is not fully released when the ignition is on.
Read your car's vital signals
By Goh Mei Yi (AsiaOne Motoring)
The lamps and gauges on your car's dashboard are indicators of your vehicle's health. Each lamp or gauge serves as a warning signal when something is wrong with the engine and other parts of the car.
Pay attention to the warning lamps that light up on the instrument panel the next time you start the car. Here are what some of the gauges and lamps are and what they mean if they light up when they're not supposed to:
Temperature warning lamp or gauge
This will light up, or the needle will jump to the red zone, when engine coolant temperature exceeds the highest safe operating limit. Intermittent flickering may occur if the weather is very hot, especially in stop-start driving like in a traffic jam.
If the lamp lights up continuously or the temperature needle doesn't drop, pull off the road and stop the engine. Open the hood and let the engine cool off.
If you see steam, raise the bonnet carefully and look for a broken cooling system hose, radiator or engine core plug. If you find a major leak, don't start the car. Call for a tow truck.
Oil pressure lamp
This light should illuminate when the ignition is switched on and should extinguish as soon as the engine starts.
If the lamp comes on while you're driving, stop the vehicle as soon as is safely possible and shut off the engine. Let the engine cool down and pull out the dipstick to check the oil level. Add oil if necessary. If the warning lamp illuminates, even though the oil level is correct, don't start the engine. Seek assistance.
Charging system lamp
This lamp monitors the health of the charging system so that you will be warned about problems before you get stuck. The CHARGE lamp lights up to show when the alternator (or generator) is not charging the battery. It could be because of a slipping drive belt or a problem with the alternator (or generator) or the voltage regulator. You can still drive a short distance to get help if this lamp lights up.
Engine warning light
If the engine is running and this light comes on, it indicates a malfunction with the engine management system. Try stopping the vehicle and switching off the engine. Wait a few minutes, then restart the engine to reset the system. It is still safe to drive as long as no other faults are apparent with the engine. Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Brake system warning lamp
The red BRAKE lamp may light up for different reasons. It warns drivers if half of the brake hydraulic system has failed and lost pressure. It could mean that the fluid level is low in the brake master cylinder too. A simpler explanation could be that the hand brake is not fully released when the ignition is on.