When Auto Repair May Not Be Necessary Despite Dashboard Lights

If you assume you need auto repair because there are a few dashboard lights on, you may be wrong. While these lights can be a little intimidating since you do not know what they mean, there is no point in assuming that you have to spend hundreds of dollars fixing an issue. Instead, consider what the problem might be.

Many cars have a sensor that can tell when the cap to the gas tank is either not screwed on tightly enough, or is completely gone. If you see a light on your dashboard, yet the car is not making any odd noises or acting differently, you might want to check the gas tank area. Just tighten the lid and see if that works. If so, you may have just saved yourself from worrying about the costs of auto repair since the problem is fixed.

On the other hand, if the alert does not disappear, there are other alternatives. For example, most cars have another sensor that can tell when the oil was last changed. If you know it has been a while, take your car in to a local shop to get this simple task done. It is cheap and fast, and many people even do it on their own. If you recently got the oil changed, but the light has been on since then, it is possible that the mechanic never reset it, in which case you may be able to do it yourself depending on the car. You can check the manual to find out how to turn off this alert, though you should make sure that this is the only reason it is on.

Another light that may appear on the dashboard is the brake light. Of course, the obvious issue may be that your emergency brake is still on, so check that first. In many cases, though, this alert simply means that you are low on brake fluid. This is an easy fix that you can do on your own. Just add some fluid. If the alert does not disappear after that, it is possible that there is another issue with the brakes, which means you may need auto repair from a professional after all.

You should note that some shops that sell new car parts can perform a diagnostic check, meaning that an employee scans the light to find out what it may mean. This service should be free, and while it might not fix the issue, it will let you know if you need auto repair from the experts. When in doubt, you should take your car to a shop to get it looked at.