NTK explains the meanings of the six lights on the car's dashboard

Beyond the symbol, The permanence of lights on and colors of the lights are also indicative that the vehicle has problems

São Paulo, novembro de 2024- Vehicle dashboard lights give many signals about the vehicle's status to the driver. When the vehicle is started, light up briefly and, If you don't delete, pode ser um alerta.

The NKT, brand of Niterra, Japanese multinational that also owns the NGK brand and specializes in components for ignition systems, it makes it easier for the driver to understand the meaning of each of the lights. Each light signal warns of the vehicle's operating conditions, Indicating everything from immediate safety needs to corrective checks.

1- Oil Light: lights up with the start and then goes out. If it remains lit, indicates that the oil pressure is below the specified, asking the driver to stop the vehicle immediately.

2- Temperature Alert Light: Vehicles without a temperature indicator have this light, which varies between blue (Cold engine) and red (Overheated motor). When in red, indicates the need for immediate stopping to avoid overheating.

3- Battery Light: to check the system, This light comes on and should go out immediately. If the light stays on, indicates a failure in the charging system and asks for the vehicle to be stopped for checking.

4- Injection light: lights up amber to indicate a possible problem with the electronic injection system. Driving the vehicle with this light on can result in excessive fuel consumption and increased emissions. Ideally, check the problem quickly to avoid damage to the engine or catalytic converter.

5- ABS Light: When starting, This light turns on and off right away. If it turns red, indicates that the ABS braking system is disabled and requires immediate attention.

6- Parking brake light: stays on while the parking brake is engaged. If it continues, It is a sign of low brake fluid level or parking brake deployed and also requires immediate attention.

Additional care for sensors

In addition to oil and temperature that have specific sensors, Injection light can be triggered by oxygen sensor (which regulates the mixture of air and fuel); rotation (Responsible for controlling the rotation and position of the cylinders); MAP (which measures the pressure in the intake manifold); and butterfly position, which informs the position of the throttle throttle.

"The driver should also pay attention to the color of the lights. Red indicates that the vehicle should not be driven until the problem is resolved, as occurs with parking brake activated or failure to use the seat belt", explains Hiromori Mori, Niterra Technical Assistance Consultant. "The amber light, on the other hand, signals a failure in some vehicle system and recommends a check as soon as possible."

If the light stays on, is a sign of an active failure that requires immediate action. If it goes out after a while, This suggests that a fault has been detected and is not currently present. The light on intermittently, on the other hand, signals a specific condition, that can be difficult to identify, In this case we have to identify under which conditions the light comes on, Customer assistance is very important, Telling the mechanic under what conditions the problem occurred, as cold engine, High revs and other points.

When the driver doesn't know the meaning of each light on the dashboard, You can take a photo and send it to your trusted mechanic. Furthermore, It is possible to consult the vehicle manual, which is usually available on the automakers' websites. To avoid any problems, Niterra recommends following the frequency indicated by the manufacturer for preventive maintenance and makes a series of sensors available in the automotive aftermarket, ranging from ABS to injection system and oil pressure switches, Offering high quality and precision products.