Lights and gauges
Lights and gauges aren't working. Headlighs, tail lights and turn signals all work. What can be the problem?
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
This may be related to a short, a faulty gauge cluster or a faulty instrument cluster voltage regulator. The instrument voltage regulator regulates the voltage supplied to the various gauges in your vehicle’s dash. When this is not working properly, this may cause the gauges in your dash to dim or flicker erratically or in some cases provide false readings. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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When you see an illuminated “check gauges” light, several different malfunctions could be happening: low tire pressure, a loose gas cap, depleted engine oil, a blown fuse, or an overheated engine.
If the check engine light in your 2021 Jeep Wrangler starts flashing, that means that the problem needs rapid attention and your Jeep should be brought in straightaway. This blinking light usually indicates a draconian engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.
If the check engine light in your Jeep starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention quickly and your Jeep should be brought in quickly. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.
If you are not sure what that symbol entails, well, basically this means your Jeep`s computer has detected some sort of problem with a part or system on the vehicle, and is letting you know via the Malfunction Indicator Light (check engine light).
In some vehicles, a gauge is used that would show the needle in the warning zone of HOT. If this warning light comes on while driving, STOP as soon as you can at a safe place and shut the engine off.
A loose gas cap is one of the most common reasons for the check engine light to go on. Check that your gas cap is screwed on securely and that it`s in good condition. If you have a tank of bad gas in the car, your check engine light may come on.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEST PRACTICES
If the light is not flashing, check the gas cap. Oftentimes if the gas cap wasn`t tightened enough, the check engine light will display. If tightening the gas cap does not make the light go away, take the vehicle in to have the diagnostic codes looked up.
A flashing light indicates a more serious problem like an overheating engine or engine misfires, which can cause irreversible damage. If the check engine light is flashing, you should stop, turn off the car, and call for assistance.
A blinking check engine light will show up on your dashboard is almost always correlated with engine misfires. A misfire means that the engine is dumping uncombusted fuel into your car`s exhaust system. Engine misfire is a serious issue because it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter.
The check engine light, often referred to as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp or MIL, allows the PCM to alert the driver that an emissions related problem has occurred or is currently occurring. The check engine light is located on the dashboard panel and is colored red or yellow.
A small, yellow engine-shaped light indicates that the car`s electronic system has detected a problem that needs to be checked. This warning light is known as the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).
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.
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.
The emissions/exhaust system is the most likely culprit for many check engine lights being illuminated. There could be an exhaust leak or a problem with the catalytic converter. The mass airflow sensor (MAF) is another sensor that is easily tripped or can fail.
1. Your Car Needs an Oil Change. An illuminated check engine light is the first warning sign that your vehicle needs an oil change. It can activate because the oil is too dirty or when there`s not enough flowing throughout the engine.
Whether for a week, a month, or a year, if you ignore the check engine light, it puts your vehicle, and by extension, your personal safety at risk. Because your vehicle cannot alert you to new or worsening problems, small problems can quickly morph into large ones.
Briefly touch the inside of the terminal with the tester`s probe end; if the tester lights up, the circuit is good, meaning no wires are broken. If you hold it a little longer, the needle should move slowly, indicating the gauge is good. Once you see needle movement, stop the test.
Best Answer. Check your battery voltage and your alternator output. When you step on the brakes, your foot is off the gas and the brake lights turn on. That drops the voltage and causes one or more of your gauges to go out of range and light the “Check Gauges” warning.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.
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Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.
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2012 equinox reduced power light engine light and traction light came on. Lost a lot of power got home and all light except engine
ANSWER : Your car has what is called a "safe mode" that will be engaged by the computer when it detects that something critical has gone wrong related to any of the major components in your engine chassis or power train. This may be related to a number of things, most of which should have been registered in the computer when the check engine light came on. I recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your check engine light and diagnose any codes registered by your vehicle’s computer.
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ABS light on, ESP light on,Traction OFF light on, engine light on, rides perfectly OBDI reads only Front Right Wheel Speed Sensor
ANSWER : If a faulty component is still in place, the fault codes will return almost immediately after clearing them. ABS, ESP, and traction control systems all rely on input from wheel speed sensors to determine as the name implies, the speed of each wheel. When a wheel, or wheels are spinning faster than others due to wheel slip or the vehicle is sliding, the ABS and ESP systems can reduce throttle input as well as apply braking to an individual wheel or all of them if needed. With a wheel speed sensor fault code stored, these systems cannot determine the rate that all 4 wheels are spinning and sets a fault. That is why the abs/esp light is on. The system should be scanned by a certified technician and the wheel speed sensor replaced if found to be the cause. The warning lights will stay on and these systems will not function as designed until the fault is corrected. These lights do not come on to indicate a need for routine service. Rather they only come on when a component in the system is at fault.
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First, the fuse 19 keeps blowing. When I hit the brake pedal my dash lights up. The third brake light acts like a running light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the wiring on the vehicle to the tail and brake lights. There is a cross short that is causing the lights to blow the fuses and make the tail lights brighter than normal. If you need further assistance with your electrical issues, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.
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Gas gauge isn’t working. Sometimes the speedometer and the temperature gauge doesn’t work. Limited lights around gauges and radio.
ANSWER : Hi there. The dashboard lights are burned out in the dash and the dimmer switch could be worn causing the lights to be weak. The gauges that seldom fail to work is most likely a loose wire in the dash panel. The fuel gauge that is not going to E when shutting off the car has a damaged rheostat within the sending unit. The sending unit is in the fuel tank attached to the fuel pump. If you need further assistance with your gauges not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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signals, daytime running lights are not working, park brake light on dash is on steady and chime is dinging steady 4×4 wont engage
ANSWER : This is likely a brake light switch problem. I would suggest testing the brake light switch which should be located down by the brake pedal. This may also be a computer problem as well as indicated by the other lights on in the dash. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to possibly replace the brake light switch and diagnose with a scanning tool which will download useful data from the truck’s computer indicating what specifically the problem may be.
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