How to turn off those pesky lights on your dashboard - LK's Auto Repair Inc. (2023)

FAQs

How do I clear my dashboard warning lights? ›

The first thing you can try, to turn off the car, then restart the engine. The second step is to disconnect your battery, wait for a few minutes then reconnect the battery. Another option is to continue to drive your car, and hope the light will reset itself.

Most vehicles have a dashboard light control switch that will dim the dashboard lights as well as turn them off. Find the control switch, dial, or knob, which is generally located on the console near the steering column or may be part of the headlight switch.

When all your dashboard lights turn on at once, it most commonly indicates an issue with the alternator or the charging system. It is common for all the dash lights to come on with no alternator output; low voltage can cause unusual electrical issues. The alternator should be tested at the time of battery replacement.

The Light Stays On

You may think that there is still a problem with the car after the repair, but it's because the light needs time to reset. The car's internal computer only resets after a set period where it checks all of its sensors once more. The reset can happen automatically after around 10 to 20 cycles.

If you have left car lights on all night, the battery can quickly run down. It does not make much difference whether it is a halogen, LED or xenon lamp. If you leave the light on for too long, the battery will drain and the car will no longer start.

One of the most common causes when a car light won't turn off, is a faulty switch. In such a case, you move the switch to "Off" – but the signal does not reach the light. This defect can usually be quickly detected by dismantling the switch.

If you see orange or yellow dashboard lights it is reminding you that something needs to be serviced soon, like an oil change, or that something is wrong with your emissions system. While not an emergency, you should have a car mechanic look at the problem as soon as possible.

The instrument cluster fuse, also known as the dashboard fuse, powers the gauges and displays on your vehicle's dashboard. This includes the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge.

A dashboard warning light related to your brake system could get triggered for various reasons, including improper wiring, a faulty rear brake light bulb, damaged brake lines, etc. Remember, knowing what a particular brake light means is vital in knowing what's wrong with your car.

What is the most serious warning light in a car? ›

The check engine light is usually the most serious and feared warning because of the kind of damage it can signal. This warning often indicates the potential for serious engine damage. When ignored, your vehicle could suffer from a blown head gasket or a seized engine.

Does AutoZone Scan Check Engine Lights? AutoZone can diagnose Check Engine Light codes, yes. If your engine light is on and you are wondering why head down to your local AutoZone where one of our store associates can help diagnose the issue through our free Fix Finder service.

Read on to see the most common dashboard warning lights and what they mean. There are two main types of dashboard warning lights: red and orange. A red warning light generally indicates a serious issue with your car.

Hold the Reset Button and Turn the Key

Turn the ignition back to the ON position while holding the reset button. Watch the oil change or maintenance light carefully. It should start to blink. Allow the light to blink ON and OFF for a few seconds, then release the reset button and turn the ignition OFF.

If you want to perform a full reset, wait at least 15 minutes before reconnecting the battery to ensure all residual power has been drained. A full reset reverts your ECU to its factory settings and likely causes it to forget its learned ideal shift points and air-fuel mixing ratios.

In most cases, successfully repairing the issue that caused your light to come on will cause the check engine light to turn off automatically—but only after 10 to 20 “cycles”.

To make sure the check engine light does not reappear, it's recommended that you drive your car 30 to 100 miles. This enables the vehicle's “Drive Cycle” to reset, as the various sensors need time to recalibrate.

How long can you drive with the check engine light on? Once you see the check engine light, it is safe to drive with the light on for 50 to 100 miles. This is because if the issue is with the sensors, then this will buy some time for it to reset, turning the check engine light off.

Between 30 and 90 minutes is the range for the state of your battery. If you kill the battery, it will be unable to start the car.

What may drain a car battery when it's off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're blasting the radio on your drive to work!

What causes car battery to drain fast? ›

“Electrical devices or lights left running, a defective charging system or alternator, and extreme weather are some common reasons but maybe it's just time to get a new battery.”

Yes! Many vehicles have automatic headlights which turn on and off as needed, which is determined by an ambient light sensor. They will also turn off automatically a short time after the ignition switch is shut off.

If the check engine light illuminates, it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated, depending on the problem. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic.

your vehicle has temporarily lost traction

the tcs warning light will pop on when the system detects a loss of traction, like in snowy or rainy weather. typically the light is seen when the system intervenes to maintain traction.

Orange (amber) flashing lights

Unlike the other colours of flashing lights on emergency vehicles, orange flashing lights do not have the right of way. You do not have to give way to a vehicle with orange flashing lights.

Most modern vehicles have a fuse box located under the hood and another under the dashboard. The fuses for your instrument panel lights and the gauge cluster should be located under the dashboard or behind a panel near the driver's side door.

Most common fuses are only $10 to $20, although some specialty fuses are more than $100 to replace, in addition to diagnostic costs. Anytime a fuse fails, its circuit should be diagnosed to track down the reason for the fault.

On average, the cost to replace dashboard lights is between $50 and $200. Depending on the severity of the problem, some cars may only require a new light bulb, while others may need an entirely new unit. The best way to determine the exact cost is to take your car to a certified mechanic for an inspection.

The battery light on your car dashboard signals a charging problem with your car battery. If the light turns and stays on, it might be that your alternator isn't generating enough voltage to charge it. Common causes can be a broken alternator belt, damaged battery cells or a failed alternator.

Which light illuminates when there is a malfunction in engine control system and transmission control system? ›

A check engine light or malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), is a tell-tale that a computerized engine-management system used to indicate a malfunction.

Drowsiness alert systems display a coffee cup and message on your dashboard to take a driving break if it suspects that you're drowsy. Some systems with audio alerts may verbally tell you that you may be drowsy and should take a break as soon as it's safe to do so.

The Oil Pressure Warning light looks similar to a tea kettle with a drop falling from the spout. As it's one of the most serious dashboard indicator lights, it would be a good idea to stop the vehicle immediately and turn off the engine.

If all of your lights have come on then that may be an indicator of some sort of serious malfunction with the vehicle. The fact that it appears to be running fine is a good sign. However, I would refrain from driving it until you can figure out what the issue is.

Red Engine Temperature Warning Light

A red (occasionally yellow on some vehicles) engine temperature warning light that stays on or comes on while driving means there's a coolant fault or your engine is overheating and requires immediate attention. Sometimes this warning light may flash.

Option A: Go to Autozone

Wondering if the local Autozone can turn off a check engine light? The answer is yes, but… there are a couple things to remember: Local auto parts stores will typically offer to read your codes for free, but not all locations will clear the light due to liability issues.

The first thing you can try, to turn off the car, then restart the engine. The second step is to disconnect your battery, wait for a few minutes then reconnect the battery. Another option is to continue to drive your car, and hope the light will reset itself.

When all your dashboard lights turn on at once, it most commonly indicates an issue with the alternator or the charging system. It is common for all the dash lights to come on with no alternator output; low voltage can cause unusual electrical issues. The alternator should be tested at the time of battery replacement.

Yellow or Orange Lights on Dashboard

If you see orange or yellow dashboard lights it is reminding you that something needs to be serviced soon, like an oil change, or that something is wrong with your emissions system. While not an emergency, you should have a car mechanic look at the problem as soon as possible.

Typically, the best cleaner for a car dashboard is a simple oil soap and water solution. You can use Castile soap, which is an amazing oil soap with many uses. This type of soap is tough enough to provide a thorough cleaning but gentle enough for materials like leather.

Will check engine light reset itself? ›

In most cases, successfully repairing the issue that caused your light to come on will cause the check engine light to turn off automatically—but only after 10 to 20 “cycles”. A cycle, in this instance, refers to the process of turning the vehicle on, running it for some time, and turning it off again.

You guessed it, microfiber towels are the heroes of car detailers everywhere. Wipe off the wax haze using circular motions. As the towel loads with wax, refold it to a cleaner section.

The experts at AutoGeekOnline don't recommend its use over wide areas because the sandpaper-like quality of the Magic Eraser can strip the dye out of plastic dashboards and kick plates. The leather seats in cars also have a coating. By using a Magic Eraser you could, unknowingly, remove the protective layer.

Wash the Car

Windex is a great cleaner for inside your car, getting rid of built-up gunk on windows, dashboards, steering wheel, and upholstery. It's non-greasy, so it won't leave everything slippery nor damage the upholstery and faux wood surfaces.

Option A: Go to Autozone

The answer is yes, but… there are a couple things to remember: Local auto parts stores will typically offer to read your codes for free, but not all locations will clear the light due to liability issues. Some of them don't even carry code readers that can reset the check engine light.

A. It depends on the car's age and type of ECU used. On some older cars, disconnecting the battery will reset the system but in most new cars it does nothing, except potentially reset the clock and radio station presets.

If your car is no longer under warranty, then you'll want to take it to either the dealer or a mechanic to get it fixed. The pricing for this can vary depending on the amount of work to fix it and the parts needed. Generally, this can be between $80 and $180.

Here's something you probably don't know: after clearing the car's computer you will need to drive for about 50 to 100 miles. As you drive your car the computer will monitor all the sensors and register the results. You can use GOFAR to constantly monitor your car diagnostics.

To make sure the check engine light does not reappear, it's recommended that you drive your car 30 to 100 miles. This enables the vehicle's “Drive Cycle” to reset, as the various sensors need time to recalibrate.

“Ignoring the check-engine light will cause your car to fail an emissions test and can result in additional repairs down the road.” For 2022, CarMD found that the average check-engine light repair cost was $403, up 2.8% from 2021.