Either way, it’s wise to understand what these dashboard warning lights mean and what actions you need to take. It’s usually quite rare to see any of these lights beyond the start-up, however would you know what any of these lights actually mean should they come on? Most of them are advisory and some will require your immediate attention, whilst some you may have more time to address. You’ll no doubt have noticed every time your start your car, or indeed a rental car that all of the lights on the dash illuminate and then quickly go out, this is all part of the start-up procedure and standard electrical and systems checks the car will do each time it is started. The thumb wheel is designed to adjust the lights down during the period of carrying loads or towing.Red, Amber, Green Dash Warning Light - What do they mean? This moves the headlight beams up and down and is very rarely used unless you are in the habit of towing a trailer or caravan or loading the boot with breeze blocks, all of which bring the front of the car up and make the lights look like they are searching for Messerschmitts. The left or right bias can be seen either as a sharp line or sometimes as a blob of light Thumb wheel adjusterĮver seen that little thumb wheel on the dash with a picture of a headlight next to it? Some people think that this is an adjuster for changing the bias of the lights from UK to continental standard if only it was, but no. Light parallel to the road surface and a secondary beam of light pointing right or left.
Alternatively, a simple check that you can carry out yourself, preferably but not necessarily at night is to put your headlights on dipped beam and hold a piece of white A4 paper in close to the light. Not sure which yours are? The best way to find out is to take your car to a garage and ask them to check and if possible adjust them against a beam setter, the same type that is used at the ITV station. Some ITV stations will accept flat-lined lights, others will not Some can be adjusted to take out the right hand bias making the beam pattern “flat” or Experience has taught me that few lights have this ability. Many previous customers have told me that the headlights on their cars have been altered to perform to continental standards which means pointing to the right kerb instead of the left. These are simple to fix with the system being re-set afterwards by use of a diagnostics computer that all modern mechanics need to have to hand.Ĭhecked yours lately? If you’re like me no, but now you know what to look out for, but don’t wait for the ITV as I’m sure that this clever device has saved hundreds of lives when it explodes for a nano second before collapsing again, saving us from biting the steering wheel or head butting the windshield Biased headlights More often than not the main culprits are bad connections with the plug and socket under the seats, or the seat belt socket. The air bag warning light is supposed to come on when you turn on the ignition, and then go off a few seconds later. All exterior lights should work also, though I am perpetually surprised that in such cases the inspector will often point out the such and such a light is not functioning and give you a pass, hence the reason why there are so many cars in Spain with only one brake light, if any The most common warning lights show bulbs not working on the exterior lights, engine management system fault, ABS (anti-lock braking system) and airbag warning.Īs far as the ITV is concerned, the engine management and ABS warnings need to work. Over-familiarity with our vehicle, means that we tend only to notice these when there is a problem and they are often ignored until it is time for the ITV (MOT) inspection.
Some even have a Head Up Display (HUD) which projects information onto the windscreen so the pilot or driver does not have to look down to get a reading A bewildering display of lights to indicate smooth running or problems are in their face, left, right and overhead. Flashier sports cars do not have a driving position, they have cockpits! Perhaps the owners see themselves as fast jet pilots.