Your dashboard warning lights illuminate in response to potential issues affecting your Ford's performance or safety. Some lights refer to specific issues, like the brake light, while others refer to more general situations, like the check engine light. As your Ford dealer, we want to tell you more about some of these lights. From Your Ford Dealer: Understanding Your Dashboard Warning Lights ABS Light The ABS light looks like a circle surrounded by brackets with the letters ABS inside it. It refers to your anti-lock braking system that prevents your wheels from locking if your car gets into a skid. You can still drive with an illuminated ABS warning light, but it does make driving more dangerous until the fault is repaired. Battery Light This light looks like a line drawing of a battery. It illuminates if any problem occurs with the battery, alternator, voltage regulator, or any other part of the electrical system. Electrical system problems can result in a dead battery, starting problems, or random electrical issues. Our technicians can easily trace and repair electrical issues and this warning light will go out. Brake Warning Light Depending on your Ford model, this light appears as the word BRAKE or a circle enclosed with brackets with an exclamation point inside. It illuminates if your parking brake is still engaged or if sensors in the braking system detect a problem. Brake system issues can range from worn brake pads to a brake fluid leak. Driving with an illuminated brake light risks an accident. Coolant Temperature Light This light appears as a dipstick with three horizontal bars inserted into wavy lines. It warns that your coolant temperature is hotter than it should be. Coolant is responsible for removing heat from your engine to control the engine temperature. If this light illuminates, pull over ASAP and allow your engine to cool. Contact us right away so we can investigate and fix the problem. Engine Oil Light This light looks like an oil can with a drop of liquid falling from it. It lights up if there's a problem with your engine oil or its circulation through the engine. The oil might be old and need replacement, or the oil pump might have failed. Oil problems can cause your engine to seize up. We'll investigate and fix the problem. Powertrain Fault This warning light is only found on Ford models with a 4WD or AWD drivetrain, and it looks like a wrench. It illuminates if any fault is detected with this system. We advise against driving if this light is illuminated, as controlling your vehicle may be very difficult depending on the problem. Our technicians will find the cause of the trouble and repair it. If you have an illuminated warning light, contact our service department today at Bill Jackson Ford in Troy, AL.
