What Does this Dashboard Light Mean???

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We’ve all been there… driving along and a light pops up on your dashboard. The panic sets in. You don’t know whether to test your luck and keep driving, or pull over and call for roadside assistance. That’s why we came up with this handy guide to help quell the panic and explain the most common dashboard lights that tend to pop up. Fair warning – while dashboard lights might be universal, their design isn’t – so if none of these look familiar, refer to your car’s owner manual for more info.

Tire Pressure:

This is the least worrisome and most familiar light of them all – the tire pressure light. This one usually pops up on one of two occasions: 1. You guessed it, when your tires are low on pressure and need a little extra boost 2. When you’ve popped a tire. Keeping your tires properly inflated helps you save money in the long run as they can improve your gas mileage.

Traction Control:

You’ll see this one a lot if you’re traveling on slippery roads. This means that your car’s anti-slip measures or electronic stability system is in use. Most vehicles will have an option to turn this feature off – which is especially useful when you’re stuck in a snowbank (speaking from personal experience here).

Check Engine:

This is the scary one, we know. But no need to worry just yet. There are a number of reasons why this light could be going off. Sometimes it’s as simple as tightening your gas cap. Other times it could be because an important part of the engine needs replacing. This isn’t one to ignore. So if you’ve tightened your gas cap and your light is still on, we suggest making an appointment ASAP to get your engine checked. 

Temperature Warning:

Two seemingly scary lights in a row, but no need to panic. Deep breaths. This one really just means that your vehicle’s temperature is too hot. It could be as simple as topping off your coolant levels or checking the radiator cap, but make an appointment with your mechanic to make sure that there is nothing greater going on.

Battery Warning:

This one typically indicates that your vehicle’s voltage is below normal, which means your vehicle’s charging system isn’t working correctly. You might just need a new battery, but play it safe and give your repair shop a call to verify. Whether a dashboard light comes on spontaneously, or as part of a larger accident, responding to your vehicle’s signal is important to keep your car operating at its best. Learn more about MAPFRE’s auto claims process, or if you’re not a customer, learn if you could be saving by switching to MAPFRE. Get a quote online in Massachusetts, or contact an independent agent.

Please Note: This is meant only to provide general information about commonly available insurance coverages. Except as expressly noted, this content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, American Commerce Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 4928-8); Citation Insurance Company^SM; The Commerce Insurance Company^SM; Commerce West Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 1372-2); and MAPFRE Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 3039-5). Not all products available in all states.

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