Why You Shouldn't Ignore Your Warning Lights
Every time you start your Cadillac, you’ll see an assortment of warning lights briefly flash on your dashboard before they quickly disappear. What you don’t want to ignore is a warning light that suddenly pops up as you’re driving or one that appears at startup and remains lit for the entire drive.
It’s easy to dismiss a warning light, but doing so could cost you in more ways than one. Read on to learn why you should bring your vehicle to Sport Cadillac as soon as you see any warning lights on your dashboard during your normal drives.
Ignoring Warning Lights Could Lead to Serious Problems
Your Cadillac and practically every other vehicle on the road use warning lights as a way to inform and warn drivers of potential and ongoing problems. Think of it as your vehicle giving you a heads up about a potential problem even if it can’t speak. Warning lights can range from something as simple as a “Check Engine” icon to warnings about specific vehicle functions like air suspensions or diesel particulate filters.
Overlooking any of these lights could spell trouble, especially if there’s a serious problem that could harm your vehicle. For instance, you could damage or even destroy your engine if you ignore a “Check Engine” light. Ignoring warning lights could also put you and others in your vehicle and on the road in danger. An ignored “Traction Control” warning light could result in a loss of traction and a potential accident on icy or otherwise slippery roads.
Paying attention to these lights could save you money and frustration, especially if you plan on keeping your Cadillac for years to come. For instance, your vehicle may trigger a warning light if it’s low on coolant or oil due to a leak. By taking your vehicle to a service center at the first signs of trouble, you can have those issues repaired quickly and economically.
8 Warning Lights You Shouldn’t Ignore
Warning lights always demand attention, but the following warning lights are especially important. Ignoring these warnings could put your vehicle and your overall safety in jeopardy:
Check Engine
A Check Engine light is a catch-all for a variety of engine and emissions system malfunctions, which is why you should have your vehicle checked out as soon as you see this warning light. Those issues could be as minor as a loose gas cap or as serious as a failed oxygen sensor or a misfire caused by a fouled or damaged spark plug.
A misfire or any other serious engine malfunction can cause the Check Engine light to flash repeatedly. At that point, you’ll want to pull over, shut off your vehicle and have it towed to the nearest service center immediately. Otherwise, you’ll risk severe engine damage by driving your vehicle any further.
For emissions and other minor issues, the Check Engine light will appear and remain solid throughout the drive. While there’s not as much urgency as a flashing Check Engine light, you should still have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
Service Engine Soon
Much like the “Check Engine” light, this warning indicator is often used to let drivers know their vehicles require servicing as soon as possible. You may see this light if your vehicle is overdue for an oil change or if there’s an issue that requires service in the near future.
Anti-Lock Brake
You’ll see this light if your Cadillac’s Anti-Lock Brake System or ABS is malfunctioning. Depending on the problem, your brakes may not function properly and cause your Cadillac to have longer braking distances or lose control as a result. If you see this light, then it’s time to have your vehicle checked out by an authorized service technician.
Oil Pressure Warning
You may see this warning light if there’s an oil-related issue with your Cadillac. Your vehicle may have a low oil level, for instance, or there may be an issue that’s causing too much or too little oil pressure for your engine to operate properly. Whatever the issue, you’ll want an authorized service technician to check it out immediately. Otherwise, you could end up with a damaged engine and a steep repair bill.
Tire Pressure Warning
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems use this light to warn drivers of underinflated or overinflated tires. Either condition could rob your Cadillac of its EPA-estimated fuel economy and lead to increased tire wear and a shorter service life for your tires. In some cases, you’ll see this warning light if the TPMS itself is malfunctioning and needs service.
Engine Temperature
This warning light appears if your engine is overheating, usually due to a lack of engine coolant or poor coolant flow caused by a faulty water pump or low coolant levels. If you see this warning light, then you should find a safe place to park, shut off the engine and have it checked out as soon as possible.
Airbag Warning
Airbags are a vital part of your Cadillac’s safety system. If this warning light appears and remains lit, then it means your airbag system needs service. Ignoring that warning light could put you at risk of a serious injury or worse if the airbags fail to deploy or deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Battery/Charging System
You’ll see this warning light if there’s an aspect of your vehicle’s charging system that needs servicing. For example, this light may appear if the alternator isn’t keeping the battery charged up properly or if the battery itself is failing.
