What Are Vehicle Warning Lights?
Warning lights are the display indicators on your vehicle’s dashboard that alert you to any potential trouble. Even when you get regular preventative maintenance done on your car, truck or SUV, you still may encounter a warning light occasionally. And you must pay attention, especially to crucial warning lights, such as:
- Check engine light
- Oil pressure warning
- Battery charge level
- Coolant temp warning
While all of these lights mean potential trouble for your car, you should consider blinking even more urgent. For instance, stop your vehicle immediately and call for a tow if your check engine light is flashing.
In Jersey City, you’ll get the attention you need in addition to access to the best auto repair shop in the City. Don’t let a warning light go, bring your vehicle in for quick, effective service for a fair price.
What Are the Rest of the Car Check Lights?
Car dashboard warning lights have greatly expanded, and they now provide all sorts of information that may not be as crucial. Still, these car check lights are helpful, and you shouldn’t ignore them. Depending on your vehicle’s year and model, you may encounter any of number car check lights, including:
- Reduced power warning
- Transmission temperature
- Overdrive light
- Fog lamp
- ABS light
- Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
- Airbag fault
- Service vehicle soon
- Door ajar
- Washer fluid reminder
- Brake system
- Catalytic converter failure
- Oil change reminder
- Traction control or ESP
- Security alert
- Gas cap open
- Lamp out
- ESP fault
- Cruise control
- Glow plug (diesel only)
- DPF light (diesel only)
- DEF light (diesel only)
Some of these lights may come on periodically during the ordinary course of driving. Others are helpful preventative maintenance reminders. A few mean your vehicle requires service as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure of the meaning of any of these lights, stop by The Waxman of Tristate. The experienced technicians check out the issue with the latest diagnostic tools for your personal or fleet vehicles. They specialize in computer programming of most lines, including:
- Foreign vehicles
- Domestic lines
- Electric cars and SUVs
- Hybrids
What Are Modern Automotive Diagnostics?
In 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to require all automobiles sold in the United States to have an on-board diagnostics system (OBD). The OBD:
- Operates through a series of sensors placed throughout your vehicle
- Gathers the status from each sensor
- Alerts you to any irregularities through your car dashboard warning lights
While some of the messages may be obvious, others are more general, such as your Check Engine Light. What does that mean, exactly? In this case, you need the assistance of a professional with the right diagnostic tools. These handheld devices plug into an interface below your dashboard and communicate with your car’s OBD. The process takes several steps:
- The OBD sends a specific code to the diagnostic tool.
- It describes what’s precisely wrong with it.
- Your The Waxman of Tristate technician then interprets the results and makes the necessary repairs.
How Can Diagnostics Help Fix Your Vehicle?
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) have certified the technicians at The Waxman of Tristate. Once they’ve diagnosed the problem, you can rest assured that they can successfully repair your vehicle. In fact, they offer a 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
If one of your car dashboard warning lights is advising you of trouble, The Waxman of Tristate is ready to help. With a service center in Jersey City, they’ve served customers from all New Jersey boroughs since 1999. Contact the professionals today to figure out how to turn off a check engine light or any other annoying flashes with the best and most accurate diagnostics and repair.