Seeing lights? Interpreting the lights on our dashboard could save your live and helps prolong the life of your car.

In short, dashboard lights warn us of problems and tell you what actions you need to take. The warning could be about a simple action like "release the handbrake"; or it could be highlighting a serious fault in the car.

Most cars will come with an owner's manual that will outline particular warning lights for the make and model you are driving. It is important to keep this manual handy at all times (for example, in the glovebox). But there are some common warning lights that you should know how to respond to as soon as they come on.

Oil warning light - This could look like an oil container or have the word "oil". This could mean the oil level is low and that it is time to fill it up again. You can normally fill up your oil yourself, but it's worth considering whether it's time to get a complete oil change. It's easy to check the oil yourself to see if it needs changing, but if our car is due for a service, a good mechanic will always include it in the car service itself.

Coolant warning light - This light typically looks like a thermometer. If this light comes on it could mean that your radiator is running low on coolant. You can fix this yourself by putting coolant or distilled water into the radiator. However, make sure you do not open the radiator cap while the car is still hot. Hot water and steam could explode out of the radiator and cause serious injury.

Electrical fault light - This usually indicates that the battery is not being properly recharged. There could be many reasons for that but one of the most common is that the alternator is not working properly. This means there is only a matter of time until the battery dies. To prolong the battery's life, try not to run unnecessary features like the radio or air-conditioning. In this event, you may need the assistance of a mechanic as soon as possible.

Service engine -This may be the words "service engine" or the image of a spanner. This means the car is due for its next service. It may have calculated the kilometers or the date since the last service or it may have a system of detecting reduced performance of the car. whatever the case, its probably time to call Temby Auto Service for a service.

Check engine - This is always the most concerning light, because there are a number of things that could cause this light to go on. Firstly, check if the fuel cap is on properly. If it is and the light still shines, then it is time to call Temby Auto Service, who can run a full engine diagnostic with a little machine called an OBD2. This machine reads the fault codes in the car's computer so the mechanic can determine what the fault is.

Even though these lights might be delivering bad news, it's far better than being surprised with a sudden breakdown and being stranded.