How do idiot lights work

A few other examples. An ancient Volvo came in recently requiring instrument cluster removal to turn out the maintenance light. And then there are the lights no one can figure out. I recall someone who replaced the alternator on a Merkur Scorpio because a red warning light was on. There is a point here. If you clutter up the instrumentation with unnecessary warning lights, or warning lights that are difficult to understand or reset, people will simply ignore them, perhaps with serious consequences.

I know some of these warning lights are federally mandated, such as the tire pressure warning system. So please try to make them easy to understand and reset. I was recently in a Toyota Sienna van with a low tire pressure light on.

After I set the pressure in the tires, I pushed the clearly marked low tire reset button. A simple mechanical counter that goes from green to yellow to red. Once the service is performed, inserting the ignition key into a slot resets the reminder. The European manufacturers Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes Benz love to put on maintenance lights that require a special tool costing hundreds of dollars to reset.

The trouble is when it takes our time, it costs you money. We, owners and mechanics, all just want to know what we need to know, when we need to know it, and what steps to take to correct the problem.

Keep it simple, please. No plan of attack. Most new vehicles have stuck with some level of basic gauges but there is an added twist. Usually there is an extra display to alert you with symbols or words to let the driver know what is going wrong. Some vehicles even have driving tips. If you are a gauge watcher when you drive you may have noticed something strange about the gauges in your new car. They seem to always read the exact same value. Very little excursion.

The manufacturers decided that the gauge watchers are happy when the gauges do not stray. I have noticed that alot of temperature gauges read 90 when the real engine temperature is between 70 and degrees Celsius.

I guess they feel this is more comforting for the driver. When is a gauge no different than a warning light? If you drive a newer vehicle check out your engine oil pressure gauge if you have one. Does it seem like your oil pressure is always rock solid and other than when your engine is off that gauge stays dead centre? That gauge is no different than a warning light. Oil pressure varies a lot. Sign in. Forgot your password?

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