How to Check Your Dash Lights

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual.

Do you know if your dash lights are working or not? Here is how to work it out!

Steps

1. 1
   Read the car manual before starting. Familiarize yourself with which dash switches are supposed to light up on ignition and on start. Memorize this for the following steps.

   
   
2. 2
   Check the dashboard indicators before putting the key into the ignition.
3. 3
   Place the key in the ignition. Switch it to "On". Do not go to start, however. Keep looking at the dash lights. The dash lights should come on for five or more seconds. Do you notice any that have not come on?
4. 4
   Check gauges. Gauges will only come on when the engine is on. This means switching the car on to check the gas and temperature gauges.
5. 5
   Get the broken lights finished as soon as possible. Broken dash lights means not knowing that something is low or not working and this is dangerous and can damage the engine (such as a lack of oil), cause you to run out of fuel, or can cause you to have an accident (e.g., faulty airbags).

   
   

Tips

• Dash lights include:
  • ABS (anti-lock brakes)
  • SRS (air bags)
  • O2 (oxygen sensor for emissions)
  • EGR (exhaust gas recirculation)
  • CHG (charge)

  • Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on Using an Oil Extractor. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.