The lamps and gauges on the instrument panel are indicators of the state of your car’s health. Each lamp or gauge serves as a warning signal to tell you that something is wrong with the engine and other parts of the car.

Pay attention to the warning lamps that light up on the instrument panel the next time you start the car.

This lamp will light up, or the needle will jump to the red zone, when engine coolant temperature exceeds the highest safe operating limit. Intermittent flickering may occur if the weather is very hot, especially in stop-start driving like in a traffic jam.

If the lamp lights up continuously or the temperature needle does not drop down, pull off the road and stop the engine. Open the hood and let the engine cool off.

If there is steam, raise the bonnet carefully and look for a broken cooling system hose, radiator or engine core plug. If you find a major leak, do not start the car. Call for a tow truck.

If the car battery is fully charged, it can still operate the electrical system, but the electrical reserve is only temporary. Get the problem diagnosed by a service technician as soon as you can.

It could forewarn that fluid level is low in the brake master cylinder too. Some cars with older anti-lock brake systems (ABS) also use the red BRAKE warning lamp to indicate problems with the ABS.