Hyundai Dashboard Warning Lights
All Hyundai models come equipped with dashboard lights that warn you when something is wrong with your vehicle. Knowing what these lights mean can help you understand how quickly you need to respond to them. When you notice a warning light illuminate on your dashboard, it’s essential to schedule a service appointment right away, especially if the light is an emergency warning.
You may also notice dashboard lights for maintenance reminders or indicators, such as turn or headlight signals. Here’s a bit more information about the Hyundai dashboard warning lights and how to respond to protect your vehicle:
Common Dashboard Warning Lights
There are many types of dashboard warning lights, all of which indicate issues at varying levels of severity. Here’s some more information about a few common Hyundai dashboard warning lights:
- Check engine light: This indicator shows up as a bright yellow illustration of an engine and means that there may be an issue with the engine, such as malfunctioning spark plugs or a broken catalytic converter. When your check engine light comes on, it’s crucial to bring your vehicle in for maintenance immediately.
- Battery warning light: The battery warning light appears as an icon of a battery that illuminates bright red. When this occurs, it could signal a dead or damaged battery or loose connectors, both of which are serious issues that need attention from a professional as soon as possible.
- Oil pressure light: When a yellow icon showing an oil can appears, this is your oil pressure light, and it means you should take your car in for maintenance as soon as possible. This warning light can refer to several issues, such as overheated oil or oil pressure that’s too high or too low.
- Tire pressure monitoring system light: This warning light appears as a yellow circle with a wavy edge at the bottom and an exclamation point inside. It indicates that your tire pressure may be too low. If this light comes on, you’ll need to bring your vehicle in to have the tires checked, as you don’t want to drive on tires with low pressure.
Importance of Paying Attention
When one of your dashboard lights turns on, it’s crucial to pay attention to it and avoid ignoring the signal. This is because ignoring your warning lights and continuing to drive can lead to more damage affecting your car. Acting as soon as you notice a dashboard indicator allows you to address any issues promptly and prevent your car’s condition from worsening, potentially even saving it from breaking down.
Immediate Action Lights
Some dashboard warning lights are more serious and require immediate action. For example, when the word “BRAKE” appears illuminated in red, this is a sign that there’s an issue with your brakes or the hydraulic system that powers them. Another example of an immediate action light is the engine coolant temperature warning light, which shows up as a thermometer submerged in squiggly lines. This light means that your engine may be overheating, and you should stop driving to stay safe.
If you notice one of these lights come on during your drive, stop the car immediately and find a way to get it to a service appointment. If you continue to drive your car while an immediate action light is on, you risk damaging your vehicle further, which can lead to costly repairs down the road. Since immediate action lights can often indicate a serious problem, view our dealership’s service specials to see whether we can help you out even further by ensuring that you get a great deal on your repairs.
Maintenance Reminders
There are also dashboard warning lights that indicate it’s time to bring your car in for routine maintenance. For instance, if a sign comes up that says “maintenance required” or “service required,” this typically means that it’s time to schedule a maintenance appointment. Of if the oil change reminder light comes on, it means that the car is due for an oil change.
When these types of indicators show up, you don’t need to rush to get your car to a technician, but you should still schedule an appointment soon to ensure that you stick to your vehicle’s required maintenance schedule. This allows your car to continue to function properly without accumulating any unnecessary wear or damage.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes
A diagnostic trouble code is a numeric code that’s attached to a specific vehicle issue. Maintenance technicians can use these codes to determine what exactly is wrong with your vehicle when a warning light comes on. In many cases, it’s necessary to have a professional diagnostic scan when one of your warning lights comes on so that a technician can use the codes to figure out the precise problem. For example, if your check engine light is on, a technician can run diagnostic codes to see whether the issue is with your engine, your catalytic converter, or something else.
Resetting Warning Lights
In some cases, you can reset your warning lights on your own after you ensure that the issue is resolved. You can typically do this by pressing the “Reset” button and restarting your car. However, some warning lights may require a professional reset, so if you’re unsure about a specific indicator, it’s best to call your trusted dealership to ask about coming in for a service appointment. They can then take care of the reset for you.
What To Do When a Warning Light Illuminates
You should follow the below steps if a warning light comes on in your car:
- Safely pull over to check the vehicle’s manual for the meaning of the specific warning light.
- Determine whether it’s safe to continue driving or if immediate action is required.
- If unsure about the issue, seek professional assistance from a certified Hyundai service center.
Are Your Dashboard Lights On?
This has been a comprehensive guide to the dashboard lights you might see on a Hyundai vehicle. Knowing what these warning lights mean and responding to them quickly are important to preserving the condition of your Hyundai vehicle. When warning lights appear on your dashboard, be vigilant and bring your car in for a service appointment promptly. It’s also key to maintain your vehicle regularly by taking it in for professional inspections to keep your Hyundai in optimal condition so you stay safe on every trip.