Dash Warning Light Question
09-09-2002, 09:02 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pasadena, CA very soon to be Portland, OR
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dash Warning Light Question
My question is about the big red "!" light in the instrument panel. I have an intermittant check engine light that comes on then goes away with no real symptoms. When it comes on the big red "!" light does NOT come on.
It was my understanding that if any of the lights in the guage cluster showed something wrong then the warning light would go on as well. Is this correct? Does the fact that the warning light doesn't come on mean that the check engine light is a false alarm?
All help appreciated.
It was my understanding that if any of the lights in the guage cluster showed something wrong then the warning light would go on as well. Is this correct? Does the fact that the warning light doesn't come on mean that the check engine light is a false alarm?
All help appreciated.
09-11-2002, 06:20 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Louisville, KY.
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Because I have an 85, I don't have a "check engine" light, but I assume it's like any other car which does,,,so. The big red " ! " is a master warning light, designed to draw your attention to the fact that you have an imminent catastrophic failure pending ( loss of oil pressure, overheat ). The "check engine" light indicates that the ECM has seen a sensor value which is out of parameter, and could indicate a defective sensor or open / short curcuit in the sensor wiring, but in any case not imminently catastrophic. Just the same, a CE light which although intermittant, comes on regularly, should be diagnosed and the cause repaired.