Dashboard warning lights are how your car communicates with you when something goes wrong.

They light every time you start your vehicle, illuminated briefly as your car or truck warms up and makes sure all systems are safe and ready to go. Occasionally one light might stay on, indicating there’s a problem. Be equally alert if one or more warning lights don’t briefly illuminate. If they aren’t functioning, you might not be able to detect a problem they’d warn you about.

But if you don’t understand what a warning light means—or choose to ignore it—a small problem could turn into a bigger, more expensive, and potentially dangerous issue. And even the savviest car owner can have trouble deciphering the message a warning light is trying to convey.

1. Oil Pressure Warning Light
2. Tire Pressure Warning Light
3. Engine Temperature Warning Light
4. Traction Control Alert Light
5. Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light
6. Traction Control Malfunction Light
7. Engine Warning Light (Check Engine Light)
8. Battery Alert Light
9. Low Fuel Indicator Light
10. Automatic Shift Lock or Engine Start Indicator Light
11. Seat Belt Reminder Light
12. Airbag Warning Light
13. Security Indicator Light
14. Fog Lamp Indicator Light
15. Washer Fluid Indicator Light
16. Brake Warning Light
17. Lane Departure Warning Light
18. Transmission Temperature Warning Light

Pay attention to the oil pressure light. It indicates that there is an issue with your car’s oil pressure system. Either you’re running low on oil or your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid to properly lubricate the surfaces inside your engine. (NOTE: Some car dashboards will display the word “OIL” instead of this symbol.)

What To Do: Poor engine lubrication can cause major engine damage, so this is an important warning to pay attention to! Pull over as soon as it is safe, turn off the vehicle, and check the oil! Look around the engine bay for obvious oil leaks, and then pull out the oil dipstick to check the fluid level.

If you have a question about your dashboard warning light, come to Lim’s. Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

Can it be fixed?

Tire changing in the professional car repair service

Unfortunately, sidewall punctures on passenger or light truck tires can’t be repaired. That’s because: The patch won’t hold – Tires have cords that run all around the tread of the tire, the part the makes contact with the road. But on the sidewall, those cords aren’t there.

What happens if the nail is on the edge of the tire?

If the nail is in the area covered by the steel belts, it can be repaired in most cases. However, if the nail is located on the outer edge of the tread or near the sidewall, the tire will most likely need to be replaced.

Should I drive the car with a nail in the side of the tire?

You probably shouldn’t. You might have a blowout. It’s one of the most unexpected—and unnerving—driving experiences: a tire blowout. And something as small as a nail in the road can be the cause. “It happens any time the air in the tire escapes at a rapid speed,” says James Solomon, a defensive driving expert with the National Safety Council.

Bring your car into Lim’s. We’ll take a look. Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.