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GarageAnswers

What does this warning light mean?

Tap the light you’re seeing. You’ll get what it means, what to do right now, and whether it’s safe to keep driving.

Red usually means something is seriously wrong. Deal with it right away.

Yellow or orange usually means service soon. A flashing one is treated like red.

Green or blue is information only, like high beams or four-wheel drive.

Colors and symbols vary by automaker; your owner’s manual has the exact meaning for your car. Color guide:Synchrony: Car Dashboard Warning Lights and Symbols Guide (updated Jan 2025).

Check engine light, flashing

Act now

What it means: A misfire bad enough to send unburned fuel into the exhaust, which can overheat and destroy the catalytic converter.

What to do: Ease off the gas and get off the road when it’s safe. Don’t keep driving it normally until the misfire is diagnosed.

Why is my check engine light flashing?

Check engine light, solid

Get it checked soon

What it means: The engine computer stored a trouble code. It can be anything from a loose gas cap to a failing sensor.

What to do: If the car drives normally, it’s usually OK short-term. Get the code read soon. Stop if it also runs rough, overheats or shows low oil pressure.

Is it safe to drive with the check engine light on?

Oil pressure warning

Act now

What it means: Oil pressure may be low while the engine is running. It is not a low-oil-level gauge.

What to do: Pull over safely, stop the engine and call a dealer or repair shop; running the engine with this light on can seriously damage it. Check the oil level on the dipstick, since the light itself doesn’t measure it.

Source: Nissan Juke 2025 Owner’s Manual: Engine oil pressure warning light

Engine temperature (overheating)

Act now

What it means: The engine is running too hot, most often from low coolant, a stuck thermostat, a cooling fan that isn’t running or a bad belt or water pump.

What to do: Pull over, turn off the A/C, and shut the engine off if you see steam or the gauge is in the red. Never open the radiator cap hot.

My car is overheating. What should I do?

Battery / charging light

Act now

What it means: The charging system isn’t keeping up: often the alternator, a loose or broken belt, or bad battery cables.

What to do: Turn off everything you don’t need and drive straight to a shop, or pull over safely. The car can stall with little warning.

Why is my battery light on while driving?

Brake warning light (red)

Act now

What it means: Usually the parking brake isn’t fully released or the brake fluid is low.

What to do: Release the parking brake fully. If it stays on, treat it as a brake problem: check the fluid and have the brakes inspected before driving on.

Why is my brake warning light on?

ABS light

Get it checked soon

What it means: The anti-lock system is switched off. Regular brakes usually still work, but wheels can lock in a hard stop.

What to do: Drive carefully to a shop, leaving extra stopping distance. If the red brake light is on too, stop driving.

Is it safe to drive with the ABS light on?

Airbag (SRS) light

Get it checked soon

What it means: The airbag or seat-belt pretensioner system found a fault. It should go out a few seconds after you start the car.

What to do: The car still drives, but the airbags may not work properly in a crash. Have the system checked right away if the light stays on, flashes, or never lights at startup.

Source: Nissan Juke 2025 Owner’s Manual: SRS air bag warning light

Tire pressure (TPMS) light

Get it checked soon

What it means: Solid: one or more tires is well below the recommended pressure. Flashing for a minute then solid: the monitoring system has a fault.

What to do: Check all four tires with a gauge and fill to the pressure on the driver’s door-jamb sticker.

Why is my tire pressure light on?

Check fuel cap

Not urgent

What it means: The emissions system found a fuel-vapor leak, most likely a loose or worn gas cap.

What to do: Tighten the cap until it clicks, or replace it if the seal is cracked. The light can take a few days of driving to go off.

Why is my "check fuel cap" light on?