A yellow warning light in your car, what does it mean and what to do when it suddenly comes on? Read on!

Ignore it and drive on, or maybe pull in at the nearest petrol station or motorway service area? Will a mechanic be needed? These and many other questions run through drivers' minds when, while driving, they see a yellow warning light on the dashboard.

We explain what yellow warning lights in your car mean

Has a yellow light come on on your dashboard?Don't panic,a yellow icon in your car is what's known as a warning light and doesn't necessarily mean a breakdown. This is how the system tells you there's some problem worth taking a closer look at. What could it be? Most often minor faults you can handle yourself, which don't require an abrupt stop or a specialist's help. What's more, they can also be cautionary lights in your car. A yellow snowflake means, for example, that you're driving on an icy surface and it's worth taking extra care. It's best then to slow down and avoid sudden turns, braking or overtaking manoeuvres.

In winter, besides the snowflake icon, you'll surely come across a lit yellow light with a windscreen and arrows. The system is then telling you about the front or rear windscreen heating being switched on that is, a situation where you turn on the blower to melt the frost, for example. A yellow icon is also used for switched-on rear fog lights. So it's natural that it will stay lit until you switch it off.The fuel pump symbol, on the other hand, means that you're running on reserve and had better top up on fuel. As you can see, these lights describe not only faults but also things worth paying attention to while driving. Don't panic if your newly bought car or a car on lease shows a yellow icon. Do, however, look at which of the signals they indicate are worth paying attention to.

Yellow warning light with an exclamation mark, what does it mean?

Let's first take a close look at the icons that most often cause doubt, the ones with an exclamation mark. Which ones might you see on the dashboard and what exactly do they mean? Here's a hint:if you see a yellow warning light of a triangle with an exclamation mark and an arrow, it means there's a problem with the ESP system. A yellow light shaped like a tyre, with an exclamation mark right in the middle, is a sign that the tyre pressure is too low. It's a signal that it's worth pulling into a service area or petrol station and topping up. If, on the other hand, you see a light icon with an exclamation mark, the problem lies in the exterior lights. Then it's best to check the bulbs.

Yellow oil warning light, see what it's telling you

A lit yellow oil warning light in your car has various causes. Usually it's too low an engine oil leveltop it up as soon as possible so you don't wear down the engine while driving. It can also mean too low pressure or a sensor failure. It's worse, however, if ared warning light comes on (colloquially known as the Aladdin's lamp). Then the oil level is too low or there's too little of it to keep driving. Remember that the moment this icon lights up you should stop immediately and switch off the engine.

Yellow engine warning light, is there anything to worry about?

You start the car and see that a yellow CHECK ENGINE engine icon has appeared on the dashboard. What then? It doesn't matter whether the symbol is on steadily or flashing. A yellow colour of the engine warning light in your car means the system has detected irregularities in one of the components. On the one hand, it may be a one-off engine fault that fixes itself and the icon goes out. On the other hand, if the light doesn't go out, it may be a problem with the injection system, the flow meter, the spark plugs or the wiring (e.g. when a marten chews through the cables under your bonnet).

What to do when you notice a lit yellow engine warning light? Don't panic, but don't ignore the signal either. It's best if you immediately book an appointment with a mechanic to check where the problem lies. It's different, however, when you notice a red warning light. Then stop in the nearest possible place, don't continue driving and call a mechanic right away.

You now have full knowledge about yellow warning lights on the dashboard. And do you know which car is best for the city? Take a look at our article and gain even more expert knowledge! ↓