As automobile owners, we all know that our vehicles can be temperamental at times. With sophisticated onboard systems like your ECU (engine control unit), you can quickly see when something goes wrong. So, here are some of the most common dashboard lights you can encounter and what they all mean.

1. Check Engine Light

engine check light on car dashboard

One of the most common dashboard lights is your check engine light. This light is illuminated when your car's ECU senses something is wrong. This can be triggered by many things, both big and small. However, when the check engine light is flashing, something is seriously wrong and should be addressed immediately.

Even though there are many reasons for this light, the cause can only be identified using an OBD-II scanner. However, with the help of some modern technology, pinpointing your problem has never been easier.

2. Battery Light

picture of a battery light on car dashboard

Another common dashboard light that is inevitable is your battery light. Your car's voltage should read anywhere from 13.7 to 14.7 volts while your engine is running and around 12.5 volts while it's stationary. This light is illuminated when your car's ECU senses low battery voltage, which could be for myriad reasons. The battery light notifies you of the electrical issue in your car, anywhere from a defective alternator or bad battery cells.

3. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Light

image of a tpms light on a dashboard

The dashboard light imaged above is the TPMS light. This stands for tire pressure monitoring system, which essentially means tire pressure. A few things can cause your TPMS light to illuminate, such as a faulty sensor, insufficient tire pressure, or even water in between the connections. Don't ignore this dashboard light—after all, your tires are what connects you to the road. Inadequate tire pressure can lead to poor handling, terrible gas mileage, and uneven tire wear.

4. Airbag Light

image of airbag light on a dashboard

The airbag light is another thing you shouldn't dismiss. This light is rather easy to identify and something you should address immediately. If this light is on, there is a problem with your vehicle's supplemental restraint system. With a malfunction in the system, your airbags may not deploy when you need them the most. Unfortunately, airbags become defective over time, though commonly recalled from the manufacturer for being faulty or unsafe, which can be replaced free of charge.

5. Coolant Light

image of coolant light on a dashboard

Similar to some dashboard lights mentioned before, this is another you won't want to ignore. Your car's engine needs a few things to run optimally: gas, spark, fuel, oil, and coolant. With inadequate coolant in your cooling system, you risk ruining your internal engine components and overheating your engine.

While some cars have a dedicated coolant light, all cars have a coolant temperature gauge that can be used to monitor the system. Your temperature gauge should stay directly between the C and H at operating temperature. If it dips below or creeps higher than the middle, one or more of the components in your cooling system need to be addressed.

6. Traction Control or ABS Light

abs light illuminated on a dashboard

Another crucial system on your vehicle is your traction control system. The traction control light should pop up when you turn it off manually and should not be lit up by itself. In the latter situation, your car's ECU is telling you that something is wrong. It can be simple as a defective TPMS sensor or something more serious like the ABS. Traction control proves to be important since it is designed to give you traction when you have it the least. This can help you regain control of your car if you ever hit a patch of ice or have to swerve suddenly.

Don't Ignore Your Dashboard Lights!

As most of us have probably experienced, a plethora of things can go wrong with your vehicle. From simple issues to drastically more complex ones, the resources to mediate your issues are available with tools like OBD-II scanners. It is important to take note of dashboard lights since your car is telling you something is wrong.