Warning Lamps: Part One

What is the first thing you do when an amber or red warning lamp illuminates in your cars instrument panel besides panic? You may open the glove compartment box and grab your vehicles owners manual (if it is there) to find exactly what this lamp with a symbol you do not recognize, or a small series of letters, mean. For example “SRS”, what does that mean? Well I will give you some information on the most common warning lamps that illuminate on today’s instrument panels.

“SRS” means Safety Restraint System. When this light illuminates it is indicating a problem within the air bag or seat belt system of the vehicle. When the light is on the air bag will no deploy.

“ABS” means Anti-Lock Brake System. If this light illuminates it is indicating a problem within the vehicles anti-lock brake system. When the light is illuminated the anti-lock brake system will not function, however, the service brakes will generally work normally.

Look out for “Warning Lamps Part 2” next month.