Car manufacturers have been mindful of the safety of drivers from the beginning. It is no wonder that new automotive safety technologies are being created. Specifically, there are more and more car alerts you should pay attention to if you want a ride that is not only comfortable but safe as well. In this guide, you will know the different car alerts you should pay attention to when you are driving. These car alerts can be seen in your car’s dashboard but there are also other safety systems installed in your car. You will know what the warning lights mean for your car and what you can do about each one. Keep reading and learn how these car alerts can benefit you in the long run.
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It is easy to overlook just how amazing a car is. Once you switch on your vehicle, there are systems in use that continuously run checks as you drive. These systems oversee the major parts of your car such as the engine, emission system, electrical system, and brake system are working perfectly fine. You can note that the car alerts you should pay attention to are the first forms of maintenance you can do for your vehicle.
How do car alerts work?
All modern cars are equipped with a safety system called on-board diagnostics system or OBD for short. The OBD system works so much like an electrical fuse panel. In an instance where there is a problem in the electrical system of a building, the panel automatically shuts off electricity from coming to that problematic area. The same goes with the diagnostics system contained in your vehicle. The OBD works through sensors. A number of sensors are placed in several crucial areas in your vehicle. The sensors will monitor the components where they are placed and report back to the OBD system. Unlike the fuse panel that shuts off when a problem is detected, the sensors’ reports are translated as the signal lights on your car’s dashboard. One or more sensors may detect something wrong with your vehicle and it will then send a feedback into the OBD. This is how you get car alerts you should pay attention to.
Many car drivers have fallen into the habit of ignoring the signals found on the dashboard. These car alerts may not seem like much in the beginning. You may think at some point whether the car alerts you should pay attention to are accurate. We will talk about that in a later section in this section. But one thing is certain, the OBD system is required for all cars for a reason. This safety technological system has been around since the 80’s and it has been upgrading since then.
Aside from alerts, your car is also equipped with safety features. Automakers are giving these features a level-up for each new model. Cars are becoming more efficient in many ways. Not to mention, newer models are easier and faster to drive. With the fast drive, safety must not be left behind. Other car safety features that you can find in your vehicle are the following:
- Common Safety Features
There is safety equipment in the exterior of your vehicle that is very easy to notice. Airbags are standard equipment in all vehicles. Electronic sensors are also the ones that set off the airbags in case of car crashes and other accidents. Seatbelts of newer car models come in different designs but they serve the same purpose. Like the airbags, seat belts can be found in all cars. Seatbelts may not be the fanciest car safety feature but it is the most helpful. Car manufacturers make seat belts more and more comfortable so no one has a reason not to use them. Other common safety features found in all cars are: shatter-resistant glass, mirrors, and bumpers.
- Lights
Your car uses three different lights that are needed for various situations. These lights are the brake lights, headlights, and turn signals. Surely, you’ve used these lights one way or another. Make sure to keep these important lights well-maintained. If one fails at some point, replace it immediately. You can’t afford to risk it especially if you are driving for long periods at night.
- Other safety technologies
As roads become increasingly jam-packed, there are higher risks of collisions. Vehicles have pre-collision technology that gives added protection in a chance of a collision. This technology also uses sensors that send signals to the main safety system. When an accident is sensed to happen, the system will tighten the seatbelts, airbags readied, and brakes are positioned to decrease impact during a collision.
The following are just simple safety features aside from the usual car alerts you should pay attention to. Don’t they make you feel more secure when driving your vehicle. However, the greatest safety measure you can take is to always be mindful as you drive. All safety features, no matter how advanced, won’t do so much to prevent an accident. But you can resolve to drive safely and avoid situations where you know that your safety and security may be compromised.
What are the benefits of car alerts?
Obviously, car alerts you should pay attention to are for your safety as the car owner. Other than that, here is a list of benefits that you get from car warning signals in your car.
- Prevent accidents on a busy road
The best thing about car alerts is that they don’t only keep you safe but other car drivers as well. Preventing accidents on a busy road can save everyone loads of time and energy as well.
- Maintenance for your vehicle
Much of the things you can do to keep your car performing optimally lie on how well you maintain your vehicle. The car alerts you should pay attention to on your car’s dashboard do not only tell you about possible causes of accidents. These warning lights also tell you if a component is faulty. Once you see a light blink, make sure to attend to it immediately. You can save yourself from spending a lot on repair if you take prompt action while the problem is still small enough for you to fix on your own.
- Help you be more confident in driving
Many car drivers make the mistake of ignoring car warning lights. However, your driving confidence will increase if you pay attention and take the time to learn what the warning lights indicate. This way, you can easily attend to problems while you are driving.
What are the main warning lights in a car?
You can count on your warning lights to alert you of common situations like oil pressure to more complicated car issues such as internal engine problems. There is hardly any driver who has never encountered any weird beeps or sounds from their car before. The same goes with the warning lights in your car which serve as safety mechanisms for your automobile. It is too common to see warning lights in your car’s dashboard every now and then. Therefore, it is inevitable to have car alerts you should pay attention to. For most conditions, your attention will not be enough if your car is trying to alert you of some problem that needs immediate fixing. You must be able to understand these signals as well. Car alerts you should pay attention to are there to keep you safe after all. Here is a list that can help you grasp a firmer understanding of what warning lights in your car dashboard are trying to spell out:
- Seatbelt sign
Most people ignore this warning when in fact, it is one of the most important car alerts you should pay attention to. This is a safety reminder you cannot afford to ignore.
- Oil warning light
This indicates the level of oil in your car. A yellow-colored oil warning light indicates low oil pressure. However, if the issue is in the engine which affects the oil pressure of the car, the warning light will be colored red. This warning signal also alerts you of the lack of fluid circulating the car. Do not ignore this signal since it can be perpetrated by greater problems with the car.
- Coolant temperature light
One of the car alerts you should pay attention to is regarding your coolant system. It is directly related to your engine which gave this warning signal another name which is the engine temperature warning. If ever you see a symbol in your dashboard that looks like a thermometer, then your car is informing you of engine overheating. Overheating happens due to a number of causes but the coolant takes the first spot.
- Tire pressure sensor
Your car’s tire pressure sensor is also referred to as a tire pressure monitoring system or TPMS. It lets you know about the condition of your tire and if they are getting high, low, or just enough pressure to keep them running. You should make sure to stay in the normal tire pressure zone because driving with low or too much pressure is extremely dangerous for you. Doing so may also result in a bad tire and further damage to your car.
- Anti-lock brake system sensor
Commonly known as the ABS sensor, this warning light usually appears every time you turn your car and then immediately disappears. This just shows that your car is working fine. However, if the ABS symbol stays for some time even when you are not turning, there is a problem with the internal part of the vehicle. This is one of the car alerts you should pay attention to so that you can keep safe while on the road.
- Traction control light
The car alerts you should pay attention to include the traction control symbol in your dashboard. The traction control warning light is a sign that there is an imbalance between your wheels and that one of them might be moving faster than the rest. This warning signal comes in handy in cold climates, since that is the time when car wheels mostly slip. It is also connected to your ABS sensor which aids its efficiency in regaining traction for the wheels.
- Low fuel warning light
A low fuel signal is one of the most common car alerts you should pay attention to. This is simply true when you are on a long drive. You would not want your car to stop in the middle of the street because you ignored the fuel indicator in your dashboard right? Pay attention to the signals on your dashboard for a safer and more comfortable drive.
- Battery alert sign
You might be seeing a red or yellow box with a plus and minus sign in your dashboard. This symbol is trying to tell you that your charging system is encountering some problems. The root of the problem might not always be the battery. Sometimes, the car alerts you should pay attention to more oftenly is the alternator belt since it has a direct effect on the battery of your car. However, if the problem is solely with the battery, you will notice your headlights giving off a dull color as well as the lights on your clock.
Are car alerts accurate?
The simple answer is yes. Car alerts are accurate enough to keep you safe if you follow them. It is understandable though that sometimes, these warning signals can be quite confusing especially when multiple symbols appear in your dashboard. However, the car alerts you should pay attention to provide a level of security that your car cannot achieve without them.
In the event that the car alerts you should pay attention to are quite suspicious if they are accurate or not, there are still a few things you can do to check. Take a look at the signs that appear in your dashboard. Usually, they will pop up and then fade away after a few seconds. If the symbols do not vanish but stay for some minutes, then you know there is an issue.
All things considered, you will not lose anything by paying attention to the signals your car sends out. In fact, you will even gain from it. You are guaranteed to benefit from vehicle safety. It is true that accidents happen all the time. However, paying careful attention to what your car is trying to tell you through symbols and warning signals, can gear you for each drive. This guide has highlighted and made sense of the signals your vehicle is sending. Now that you are completely aware of the car alerts you should pay attention to, it is time to apply them each time you drive.