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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.

You'll typically get service at your Ford dealer on a regular schedule, but sometimes your car will let you know that it's time for a trip to the dealer in between regularly scheduled appointments. When your car needs transmission service, symptoms of the problem will be largely gear-related, though there are other issues that can crop up alongside problems with your gears that you need to be aware of. Recognizing When It's Time for Transmission Service for Your Ford From Your Ford Dealer Slipping Gears When your gears get slippery, it's a sign that your next stop should be your dealer. The gears will typically slip while your car is accelerating, resulting in too much revving from your engine while moving up a gear. When the gears slip while you're moving down a gear, the changing gears may feel harsh and happen later than expected. Because you never know when you're going to slip out of gear, it can be harder than normal to control acceleration and deceleration. This difficulty controlling your car can be very dangerous. Trouble Changing Gears Sometimes when your transmission isn't working correctly, you'll be completely unable to change gears. It can also be harder than usual to shift gears. Usually, this is a very easy problem to rectify, as it may just be caused by a problem with your transmission fluid. Delayed Gear Changes Your gears should change reliably right when you tell them to. The second you put your car in drive, you should be able to drive away, for example. However, when your transmission system is in disrepair, you might notice that your car takes a little longer than it should to respond when you change gears. As a result, it might be a few seconds before you can drive away after shifting from park to drive. Unexpected Noises When your car starts making new sounds, it's a sign you need to take a trip to the dealer ASAP. The sounds associated with a faulty transmission usually happen when your car is in neutral. There could be bumping noises or grinding noises coming from under the hood. You might also hear noises when you're changing gears, such as grinding sounds. Burning Smell When you don't have enough transmission fluid in your car, the fluid can start to burn up, or your transmission may overheat. Both of these issues result in a burning smell. Even if you don't notice the burning smell while you're driving, you may notice it when you check on your transmission fluid if your transmission fluid needs to be flushed. Swing by Bill Jackson Ford in Troy, AL if you experience any of the issues above. Our technicians can help you out with any problem your car is having, so schedule service online today.