Posted on 1/30/2026
Dashboard lights are supposed to help, but sometimes they do the opposite. A symbol pops on, you squint at it, and your brain starts filling in gaps. You either assume it is nothing and keep driving, or you assume the worst and stress out the whole way home. The better move is to know which lights drivers mix up most and what each one actually means. If you respond early and correctly, you can avoid breakdowns and waste money on fixes you do not need. 1. Check Engine Light Versus Maintenance Reminder These two get confused constantly. A maintenance reminder is usually tied to mileage and time, like oil change intervals. It does not mean something has failed, it means you are due for scheduled service. A check engine light is different. It is triggered by the engine computer detecting a fault, often related to emissions or engine performance. It can be something si ... read more