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Understanding Truck Warning Lights: What They Mean

Imagine cruising down the highway, enjoying beautiful scenery, and suddenly a bright light flashes on the dashboard. What does light mean? Is my truck going to explode? Do I need to pull over? A lot of questions hover in your mind. 

Truck warning lights are more than just colourful symbols on your dashboard. They are the signal of your truck’s health and performance. 

Sometimes, many drivers overlook warning signs in trucks or don’t fully understand what they mean. Knowing what these truck warning lights mean is important for truck drivers, operators, and fleet managers to ensure smooth operations. 

This guide confabulates with dashboard warning lights trucks, explaining their meaning, and necessary actions to take when they flash. Let’s get into it. 

Different Truck Warning Lights And Their Meaning

Following is the comprehensive list of dashboard warning lights trucks and what they indicate by appearing on the dashboard. Let’s unveil. 

Engine Light

The first warning light we have on the list is the engine light. It is one of the most common dashboard warning lights in trucks. This light indicates that something is not functioning correctly. Continuing driving the truck under this conduction may lead to costly repairs. 

Oil Light

The oil light appears when there is a problem with the truck’s oil low pressure. This mostly happens due to leakage in the oil tank. 

If you see this warning sign in trucks, the first thing you need to do is check your truck’s oil level. Stop immediately to avoid engine damage. 

Brake Light

The brake warning light means that there is some issue with your truck’s braking system. This could be due to low brake fluid or engaged parking brakes. Not only does brake failure cause damage to the goods, but also threatens the driver's life. 

In this situation, the driver must check the brake fluid level to ensure it’s available in sufficient quantity. And if the light keeps on, taking the truck under mechanic supervision is recommended. 

ABS Light

ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking system. It is known to be a sophisticated system in vehicles. When this light is on, it means your advanced braking isn’t working properly, while regular brakes may still work. But, the system which prevents wheel lock during emergency braking is disabled. 

Proper working of ABS systems is important as it prevents accidents. Drivers have to be extremely careful when the ABS warning light is on. 

If your ABS light is constantly blinking, getting your truck checked by a professional is highly important. 

Coolant Level Light

The coolant level warning light signifies that your truck's coolant level is too low and not able to regulate the engine temperature. 

In trucks or other vehicles, the coolant absorbs the heat produced by the engine, which can quickly overheat without coolant. Low coolant levels can damage the engine, leading to damage or costly repairs. 

In this situation, you must stop your truck slowly, let the engine cool down, check the coolant reservoir, and contact a mechanic for inspection. 

Tyre Pressure Light

This is a system which is used to monitor the tire pressure and let drivers know when more air is required in the tyres. If the tyre pressure is low, it can increase the risk of blown tyres, creating a dangerous situation on the road. 

Besides it, low tyre pressure also causes increased fuel usage and later costly operations. If tyre pressure monitoring warning light is on, immediately pull over and check all your tyres. 

Usually, the tyre pressure light is on before the blowout when the tyre pressure is down to the recommended level. 

Battery Light

If there is an issue with the truck’s battery system, you will encounter a battery warning light. What could be the causes? Maybe the alternator isn’t working, the battery is failing, or the belt is. 

If the light appears while driving, it might be an indication that your battery might die soon. To save from the situation, take your truck to a mechanic to get it checked. 

Meanwhile, turn off high battery draining accessories like AC or headlights. 

Concluding Words

A truck isn’t just a vehicle, it’s a likelihood of many drivers. Keeping it in good conduction is one’s duty. The truck warning lights are the indication to keep the truck in good and healthy condition. 

The above-mentioned dashboard warning lights trucks are there to protect you, your truck, and your overall journey. If one of these warning signs blinks, get your truck checked. If the situation persists, get professional help without any delay.