Nissan Dashboard Warning Lights & Meanings
Have you ever looked down at your Nissan dashboard and seen an unfamiliar light? The warning light could mean something simple, such as you haven’t buckled your seatbelt, or it could also be a more serious warning light, like low oil pressure. Unfortunately, many drivers don’t understand what the Nissan dashboard warning lights mean. At Nissan of Streetsboro, we can help you understand what your warning lights mean and service your vehicle to reset those dashboard warnings. Understanding the lights and what to do when they activate will save you a potential breakdown and expensive repairs. That’s why we’ve created this list of Nissan warning lights to help you understand your vehicle’s condition and service your car before serious damage occurs.
What Does Each Warning Light’s Color Mean?
Think of your warning lights color like traffic lights. Green means go, yellow means proceed with caution, while red means stop. If you get a green dashboard light activated on your dashboard, you likely have engaged a system such as your high beams. No need to worry. These symbols mean the vehicle system is functioning as it’s supposed to.
A yellow indicator light means a system like your power steering encountered a problem. Your power steering may still work, but the system has detected a possible failure. It could indicate a leak in the system or a mechanical part malfunctioning. You should have a qualified mechanic diagnose the issue as soon as possible. In this guide we’ll review each of the yellow warning lights symbols.
When you see a red warning light, it means you need to bring your Nissan in for service immediately. A red warning light indicates a critical system failure such as your engine overheating or a brake system failure. You should never ignore a red warning light as it can create serious damage to your vehicle and put you and your passengers in danger.
Master Warning Light
Your Nissan’s master warning light looks like a triangle with an exclamation point inside. It could illuminate red or yellow depending on the fault. As we said, never drive more than you absolutely must with a red light active. A yellow master warning light indicates a potentially serious problem on the horizon. Either red or yellow, this master warning light indicates a serious problem in your Nissan. Bring your car to our service center right away and have one of our technicians diagnose the problem.
Battery Warning Light
This light shines red and looks like a battery with a plus and minus symbol. When the battery light activates, you have a problem with your charging system. You need to get your battery, and electrical system checked. Your battery might not hold a charge anymore, or your alternator, which charges your battery, could have failed. Nissan of Streetsboro technicians can quickly identify the problem and, in most cases, fix it in as little as 30 minutes. Ignoring this warning light could leave you stranded with a dead battery.
Power Steering Warning Light
You have two power steering warning lights. The first looks like a steering wheel with an exclamation point to the side and illuminates red. The second light shines the letters P and S in yellow. Again, the red warning light means something has compromised your power steering. You’ll probably feel the difference when you turn, especially at slower speeds. The yellow light means you have a problem but not a complete failure. It could indicate you need more power steering fluid or something more serious.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
The engine temperature warning light shines red and looks like a thermometer with wavy lines at the bottom. Your Nissan’s engine operates at high temperatures and relies on your cooling system and oil to keep the temperatures within an acceptable range. When an engine overheats, damage can occur if you continue driving. You’ll want to pull over immediately in a safe spot, turn off your Nissan, and let the engine cool down.
Ignoring this warning light will almost certainly lead to expensive repairs or even the need to replace your engine. If you are nearby Nissan of Streetsboro, bring your car to us immediately after your engine has cooled. If the light comes on again on your way here, stop and let it cool once more. If you aren’t close, we recommend you call our service team at 330-968-0123. We will tow your vehicle to us and give you a ride.
Oil Warning and Oil Level Warning Lights
Your oil and oil level warning lights look similar, and both shine red. These lights look like an old-school oil can. The oil can alone indicates a drop in oil pressure. The oil can with wavy lines beneath it means your oil level has dropped to unsafe levels. In either case, you need first to check your oil level. Then, if your engine needs more oil, add some, one quart at a time until full. In some cases, the oil light will turn off after adding oil.
If the level remains in a safe zone, or you’ve added oil, and still the light remains on, bring your vehicle to our service center, and one of our technicians will determine why the fault light activated. For example, it could be your oil pump has failed, or a gasket has sprung a leak.
Brake Warning Light
You have two brake warning lights on your Nissan. The first shines the word BRAKE in red and indicates a problem with your brake system that needs immediate attention. Your Nissan’s brakes use a complex combination of mechanical and hydraulic components to slow and stop your car. Ignoring this light could result in a total system failure and an accident.
The second yellow light shows the letters ABS inside a circle and surrounded by parentheses. This light indicates a problem with your anti-lock braking system. It could be your master cylinder, or some electronic component has failed, compromising the system. Your brakes may still work, but the ABS pulsing function may not. So, while you’ll still be able to stop, you won’t have the safety of ABS under slippery conditions.
Service Your Nissan Regularly
Keeping up with regular maintenance offers you the best way to prevent a warning light from coming on. That’s why we offer rotating service specials to encourage you to keep your Nissan in top condition. We encourage you to read your owner’s manual to fully understand what each light means and the steps you should take when they activate. If you have a warning light activated on your Nissan and want our qualified mechanics to diagnose the problem, you can schedule service online or stop by today. One of our certified technicians will happily diagnose the problem.