When you have a warning light illuminate on your dashboard, how do you know the importance of addressing the issue immediately or if it can wait until you finish your trip? One way is to always travel with a mechanic onboard. The other, more practical way is to pay attention to the vehicle and to the color of the warning light.

A red warning light always demands immediate attention. If it is a standard gauge warning light such as engine temperature or oil pressure, the vehicle needs to be stopped immediately (as soon as that can be safely accomplished) and should not be driven any further. Those two are tow truck time.

If it is a brake warning light, the vehicle is likely quite unsafe but it may be driven if the braking system seems normal to the driver. If the brake pedal is soft or mushy or falls to the floor, it is tow truck time again.

Yellow warning lights are a bit different but are no less important. The “Check Engine”, “SRS” (Supplemental Restraint System also known as the “air bags”) and ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) lights are the most well known and common yellow warning lights. While it may be safe to continue driving the vehicle, you must be aware of important issues that come along with the warning lights.

When the ABS or SRS lights are illuminated, these systems are almost surely non-functioning, placing the driver and any passengers at a higher risk of an accident due to the anti-lock brake system not working properly, or at a higher risk of injury due to the air bags not deploying in an accident. Obviously, these issues should be corrected as soon as possible.

For the dreaded “Check Engine” light, the vehicle’s performance is the highest indicator of the immediacy of addressing the issue. If the car continues to operate normally and the driver cannot distinguish any change in performance, it is most likely completely safe to finish the trip being taken or to schedule a service visit to Accurate Automotive at your convenience. On the other hand, if the performance is noticeably diminished or the engine seems to run “rough” or lack power, the issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible to avoid the possibility that further damage and greater expense will result if it is not repaired right away.

The technicians at Accurate Automotive Attention have the right equipment and technology to solve any of these issues for you. Please contact one of our Service Writers and make your convenient appointment today if you are experiencing any warning lights on your dashboard.