Has a warning light lit up on the dashboard of your car, and you have no idea what it means? Don't panic. Here is a handy and comprehensive guide to recognising car warning lights and icons. They follow the same logic as traffic lights: the colour tells you how urgent the issue is. Below you will find what each colour means, the most common warning lights and what to do when one appears.

Car warning lights by colour

The warning lights on your dashboard are visual indicators that vary in colour according to how serious the reported status is.

• Red reports an imminent danger and tells you to stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

• Amber or yellow (the most common yellow car warning lights) flag an issue that needs checking soon, though it is usually less urgent than a red one.

• Green and blue simply indicate that a system, such as the headlights or indicators, is on and working. They are not a fault.

Red warning lights (most urgent)

Red car warning lights are the ones drivers dread, often joined by an acoustic signal. Stop safely and seek assistance. The most important red lights are:

• STOP light, coolant temperature, oil pressure, brake system and battery charge.

• Airbag (SRS) light, which signals a fault in the airbag or seat-belt restraint system.

Amber and yellow warning lights

Amber or yellow car warning lights mean caution: the car may still be drivable, but the issue should be investigated as soon as possible. The most common are:

• Engine management light (EML or check engine), which can range from a minor sensor fault to a serious engine or emissions problem.

• ABS, tyre pressure (TPMS), traction control, diesel particulate filter (DPF) and low fuel.

Green and blue warning lights

When a green light comes on, there is no need to panic: this colour indicates that something is on and working as intended, such as the dipped headlights or the turn indicators. Blue lights are less common and generally show that the full beam headlights are on.

What to do when a warning light comes on

Use the colour as your first guide: stop straight away for a red light, and book a check soon for an amber one. Always cross-check the symbol with your vehicle handbook, as the exact icon can vary by make and model. If a light stays on, the safest step is an electronic diagnosis to read the fault codes and pinpoint the cause. Remember that some lights, such as the engine management light, can also cause an MOT failure.Not sure what a light means? The Motrio experts can run a full diagnostic and fix the cause. Motrio Car Repair Shops: professional service for all vehicle brands

Car breakdowns may happen, sometimes when you are far from home: what can you do in these cases? Here is a little handy guide to know how to behave and how to signal your presence on the road

CONTENTS

What to do when the car has broken down

Warning triangle: how is it used?

Car breakdown: roadside assistance

Car breakdown: the warning signs

Holidays on the road, a leisure week-end, outings in the countryside or simply errands that require using the car: when travelling by car, there can be many different snags. Having a car breakdown is certainly one of them!

So, what should one do? What’s the correct behaviour to prevent the situation from getting worse, for instance by impeding traffic and putting oneself and others at risk?

Let’s find out together.

What to do when the car has broken down

In the even of a broken down car, first of all, one ought to keep calm and keep one’s wits about oneself: mechanical failures or malfunctions of electronic origin can hardly block the car abruptly. If while driving you notice a drop in power or you hear abnormal noises, you should try and reach the emergency lane as soon as possible, taking care to indicate your direction with the indicators, and ensure the road is clear.

If the engine stops suddenly, great prudence is required: you should not stop the vehicle, but rather use the residual inertia to reach the emergency lane. However, be careful: with the engine off, the steering wheel is much harder to steer because the hydraulic power steering stops working.

Once you have reached the emergency lane, or however after moving the car to a spot where it is not an obstacle for pedestrians and motorists, it is definitely not recommended to tinker with the engine, especially if you don’t have the necessary know-how.

The proper steps to follow are:

– Activate the four indicators using the red button usually located in the middle of every car dashboard.

– Pull the hand brake.

– Before getting out of the vehicle, put on the high-visibility vest as required by law.

– Do not get out of the driver's door, but use the passenger's door in order to stay as far away as possible from fast motorway traffic.

– Get hold of the warning triangle, usually housed in the spare wheel compartment under the boot, assemble it and place it on the emergency lane 100 metres from the broken down vehicle.

– It is also advisable to climb over the guardrail so as to be protected against any oncoming vehicles.

– At this point use your mobile phone to notify the Automobile Club or roadside assistance of the broken down car (the latest generation of cars also have an internal button to contact emergency services immediately).

– If you do not have a mobile phone, if the battery is low or you are out of range, then you need to walk along the emergency lane until reaching the nearest emergency telephone.

Warning triangle: how is it used?

The answer may seem obvious, but it is not uncommon to see motorists who use the warning triangle incorrectly to warn of the presence of a broken down car on the road, consequently making it useless. This device is essential for safety, and its purpose is precisely to warn other motorists of a potential danger on the road.

Car breakdown: roadside assistance

After putting on wearing ??? The reflective vest, turning on the four indicators and placing the warning triangle correctly, if the fault cannot be solved independently, then the pros must be called in. Before calling for paid tow trucks, remember that the towing service might be included in your insurance policy. If you are not sure, it is still advisable to check with your insurance (the service is provided anyway, even in the case of cars under warranty).

Any passengers who are in the car must also be taken to safety, they should get out of the car and reach a motorway restaurant or the nearest service area. 

If the area where the car has broken down does not have one, you should in any case ensure that these people are sheltered, away from the road, including the driver: so that you can all wait for roadside assistance in complete safety.

In the event you should be forced to leave the broken car parked in a no-parking area or in a paid parking lot, you must leave a written note on the dashboard: it is also essential to try to document the emergency as much as possible, including by taking videos with your mobile. This operation becomes important because, in the event of a fine, you can apply for it to be cancelled owing to force majeure. It is a complicated procedure but it will save you significant amounts of money.

What if you run out of petrol?

There might be the most diverse causes for a broken down car but the prime suspect is usually the fuel supply system. If for example, the car makes a noise but refuses to start up, the fuel tank might be empty. If the fuel gauge shows that there is still fuel, the tank float might be jammed. It can be checked easily: just add a little fuel to the tank and try to start the car again (indeed, it is advisable to also keep an empty petrol can in the car, to be used in case of need). However, it might take a while, because when the fuel supply system is completely empty it must first be ventilated.

If the tank empties too quickly, check for any petrol smells: the fuel line is likely to be damaged and leaking petrol. Another cause, finally, might be a malfunction of the fuel pump.

If you are unable to restart the car on your own, you must now call for assistance.

The warning signs

Are there any alarm bells that provide an “early warning” about any car malfunctions and that can prevent a broken down car? Of course!

Have you ever noticed an engine failure warning light  on the dashboard panel ? Well, that might indicate a malfunction of the whole mechanism... but even a simple problem with the electronics.

In any case, if the warning light is red, you need to stop the car and call the tow truck. If the light is yellow, you can drive on until the nearest service point.

Another cause for a broken down car, is the oil light.

It is therefore advisable – and even recommended – never to underestimate or ignore the “messages” that our car sends us, but not only: frequent maintenance of our car is also a must. 

It might seem obvious, but a perfectly efficient vehicle is the best way to steer clear of malfunctions and bad breakdowns. Carrying out scheduled servicing at an authorised workshop and never overlooking a warning light switching on in the instrument panel are signs of a “healthy” behaviour: if everyone did it, the number of broken down cars would be drastically reduced.

MOTRIO TIPS&TRICKS

ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSIS

Nowadays, electronics are involved in many aspects of a car’s operation, indeed you will have seen yellow or red lights on the dashboard of your car sometimes.

Electronic diagnosis is an important part of car maintenance; indeed, computerised analysis will allow the mechanic to identify exactly the malfunction on the electrical and electronic parts of the vehicle and to assess their condition and safety.

Thanks to this analysis, it is possible to carry out certain operations such as programming and mapping the control unit in order to optimise consumption, checking fuel consumption, and assessing proper operation of warning lights and sensors.

If you think your car needs an electronic diagnosis, make an appointment at the nearest MOTRIO Service Centre, all it takes is a few clicks!