Warning Light Diagnostics

12th Street Auto Care Center is proud to be ASE and AAA certified. You can trust our mechanics to take a look at your dashboard warning lights and tell you exactly what system is affected. When you notice a new warning light appear on your dash, don’t hesitate. Stop by our auto shop or call to book an appointment. Our technicians have been specially trained to inspect, diagnose and either repair or replace all parts in your vehicle. That means they can perform warning light diagnostics mean and they have the knowledge to repair the affected system to get your vehicle up to code and back on the road.

Your car tells you when there’s something wrong in a number of ways. One of those methods is by lighting up the appropriate warning light on your dashboard. But if you let your car go unchecked for a long time, soon your dashboard will light up like a holiday tree. If you’re hesitating to call because you’re not sure what the light means, you can potentially make the problem worse. Always call 12th Street Auto Care Center for help when your dash starts lighting up. A fast response is a cheaper fix. But if you’re just wondering what those different colored lights mean, here’s a quick breakdown.

If you ever notice a red light appear on your dashboard, pull over as quickly and safely as possible. These lights indicate there is a serious problem with your vehicle and it can be very dangerous. Red lights usually mean there is something wrong with your brake system, your engine could be overheating or you have low engine oil pressure, all of which can lead to serious accidents. If your engine gets to a high enough temperature, you can melt components under your hood and the oil can catch fire. Remember, if a red light ever appears on your dash, pull over, turn your car off and call 12th Street Auto Care Center.

Orange or amber-colored lights on your dash are warning lights. These are important to pay attention to, but don’t represent immediate danger for you or your vehicle. An example of orange lights are the icons revealing your battery is dying, you need an oil change or you’re getting low on fuel. Though these are all important notices, none of them require immediate attention. You can stop somewhere within the next several minutes for gas and be just fine. You can also make an appointment at 12th Street Auto Care Center to ensure your battery gets recharged or replaced, and your oil is changed, flushed or topped off.

These icons indicate you have a feature engaged. An example is when you use cruise control. Once engaged, you may notice a new blue icon on your dashboard. This is just how your car reminds you which features you’re using so you don’t forget to turn it off, like when your headlights are on. Sometimes these icons are green, but again, the urgent colors are amber/orange and red.

If an icon appears and you’re not sure what it means, consult your vehicle’s manual. If you’re still not sure, call 12th Street Auto Care Center. One of our knowledgeable mechanics will translate all the icons on your dashboard so you can better understand what your vehicle is trying to tell you.

Whenever your warning lights appear, it’s a good idea to call 12th Street Auto Care Center right away. This is especially true of red and orange/amber-colored icons. If your dashboard ever flashes a notification or image you’re not familiar with, give us a call. We can help you understand what is happening with your vehicle and provide the appropriate repairs or replacements. If you only notice one light, it’s still worth making the call. The last thing you want is to have more lights pop on over the course of the next few weeks or months, indicating the single issue is now several.

When your car, truck, van or SUV is sending you confusing signals, don’t hesitate to call 12th Street Auto Care Center. Our ASE-certified mechanics are ready to help with warning light diagnostics. Call our local Sioux Falls, SD auto repair shop today for all your car, truck, van or SUV auto repair needs.