Warning! Warning lights

For many years, vehicle dashboards have been losing their dials and gauges in favour of warning lights - an increasing number of them. Switch on the ignition and an array of different coloured lights with tiny icons blinks at you. Most worrying, the results from a recent survey by AA Personal Loans suggest that more and more drivers are confused by these symbols. The survey found that as many as 42% of motorists were foxed by the symbols, with almost half of women (47%) and 33% of men unable to correctly identify symbols for frequently used functions or basic warning lights.

While 69% of women (but only 5% of men) failing to identify the front windscreen washer and wipe symbol is not disastrous, the ability of just 38% of women (compared with 65% of men) to properly identify the warning lamp indicating high coolant temperature could result in expensive engine damage.

Fortunately, an inexpensive glovebox guide called Your Car , published by Haynes, explains what the warning lights mean. Haynes is the world's foremost publisher of automotive repair manuals and renowned for teaching millions of car and motorcycle owners how to carry out routine maintenance and repairs. Your Car contains a wealth of useful information: tips on troubleshooting, what to do in an emergency, simple checks, where to go for help and so on. It's written to be understood by all motorists - male and female - and many of the checks won't result in dirty hands but could prevent expensive repair bills.

Those confusing warning lights are explained in detail in Your Car - the type of symbol and icon, what it means and what you should do. We summarise that information below.

The Haynes glovebox guide Your Car retails for £9.99, while Haynes car manuals cost £17.99 (hardback). They are available from all good car accessory retailers and bookshops including: Halfords, Motor World and WH Smith. A comprehensive stockist locator can be found at www.haynes.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

This information is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For further information, please contact Rebecca Nicholls on Tel: 01452 260063 or email: pr@haynes.co.uk


Brake warning lights. There may be one light for different warnings or up to three separate ones. If you suspect the light indicates low brake fluid level, do not drive the car. Check the brake fluid level and top up if necessary.		Engine management system warning light. The car can be driven, but the engine management system should be checked as soon as possible.
There may be a brake pad wear warning light (replace the pads, or have the job done, as soon as possible) or a handbrake 'on' light (release the handbrake fully).		ABS warning light. This indicates a fault with the anti-lock braking system. The car can be driven, but the braking system should be checked as soon as possible. (The car won't pass an MoT with this light on.)
Charge warning light. The alternator is not charging the battery. Don't drive too far in case the battery goes flat. Have the alternator and wiring checked.		Airbag or SRS warning light. Again, the car can be driven but the airbag may not work if you have an accident. Get the airbag system checked as soon as possible.
Oil pressure warning light. This means low oil pressure. If it comes on when you're driving, stop the engine immediately. Check the oil level and call for assistance if necessary.		Glow plug warning light (on diesel engines). This is just to tell you that the glow plugs are heating up in readiness for a cold start. You should wait for the light to extinguish before starting the engine.
Coolant temperature warning light. Stop as soon as possible. Wait for the engine to cool and then check the coolant level and top up if necessary. If the light comes on again soon, stop and call for assistance.		Water in fuel warning light (on diesel engines). This means water needs to be drained from the fuel filter - a simple task, explained in Your Car . Don't leave it - water in the injection system can cause expensive damage.
Coolant level warning light. Take the same action as above.		Low fuel warning light. Fill up with fuel soon - do not risk running out and being stranded.

These useful tips are just the sort of vital information you'll find in Haynes manuals.
And they're not just for advanced home mechanics.

Your Car and other Haynes Glovebox Guides such as Driving Abroad provide vital information for a range of vehicles and driving situations. For detailed maintenance information, Haynes produces its world-famous manuals - covering more than 500 models. Each Haynes manual contains sections on maintenance - simple weekly checks to keep you on the road; servicing - complete, fully illustrated step-by-step guides; fault finding - information helping you to pinpoint specific problems easily; brakes - safety checks and repairs for the home mechanic; plus Haynes Tips - valuable short cuts to make many tasks easier.

Written from hands-on experience gained from the strip-down and rebuild of cars in the Haynes project workshop, these manuals can help you understand, care for and repair your car. Haynes staff do it themselves to help you do it- yourself and, whatever your mechanical ability, the practical step-by-step explanations, linked to numerous photos, will help you get the job done right. Regular servicing and maintenance of you car can maintain its resale value, save you money, and make it safer to drive.

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