You don’t want any surprises when you’re driving your car — least of all the sudden appearance of a glowing warning light on the dashboard. These cautionary icons should alert you of an underlying problem in your vehicle. Here are the dashboard warning lights you will see most often on a Volkswagen from Lewisville Volkswagen or any other brand’s vehicles we sell.

Low coolant/high temperature

If your Passat, Atlas, or other vehicle cannot keep its operating temperature under control, it will overheat and trigger this alert. Most new Volkswagens even give an audible alert when this warning activates. The symbol looks like a thermometer floating in wavy liquid, so the meaning will be immediately clear when you see it. Check the coolant level and then bring your car to Lewisville Volkswagen before it starts smoking.

Low oil

An old-fashioned oil lamp represents your Golf or Tiguan’s oil level indicator. If your car doesn’t have enough motor oil, it won’t flow properly from contamination, the pressure is too low, or the sensor is malfunctioning, you will see this icon glow on the dashboard. Avoid this with regular oil changes at Lewisville Volkswagen and addressing any leaks when you notice them.

Engine malfunction

Every driver in Texas dreads seeing this infamous warning light appear on their car’s dashboard. That’s because the check engine light could be triggered by a wide array of issues — from a loose gas cap to a failing transmission. So how are you supposed to know the cause? Only a diagnostic test from an authorized mechanic like ours at Lewisville Volkswagen will reveal the exact problem so it can be fixed.

Bulb out

Newer Volkswagen vehicles like the Taos are much better at alerting you when a taillight or headlight is burnt out. If this happens, you’ll probably see the symbol of a glowing light bulb on the dashboard and possibly a pop-up message on the driver info screen. Dead bulbs are easy to fix — especially when it’s done by a mechanic at Lewisville Volkswagen. Don’t wait to long for repairs; driving with dead bulbs can be dangerous and illegal in Texas.  

Low tire pressure

The latest Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems will actually tell you which tire is low and what its current PSI is. Older Volkswagen models will only show this symbol of a bowl with an exclamation point inside it; it’s your responsibility to determine which tire is the culprit and have it reinflated. If the problem persists, you may need a tire plug at Lewisville Volkswagen to patch a leak.

Battery error

Just because you can successfully start your Volkswagen Arteon’s or Atlas Cross Sport’s engine doesn’t mean all is well with the car battery. A battery-shaped warning symbol still may appear. This will give you a preemptive warning that the charging system/alternator is malfunctioning and needs repaired before the battery is sapped dry. A low-voltage reading will not properly recharge the battery.

Antilock brakes malfunction

The letters “ABS” stand for the antilock braking system. This safety feature causes the brakes to pulsate so they don’t lock up and cause your Volkswagen to skid. It’s very dangerous to drive your car when its ABS is failing — which this warning light will convey. If you see the letters ABS appear on the dashboard, carefully drive your car to Lewisville Volkswagen immediately.

Even if you don’t drive a Volkswagen in Lewisville, Texas, we invite you to visit our dealership’s service center for a checkup and diagnosis when your car’s warning lights flare up. Our technicians will identify the root of the issue and fix it so no further damage is caused.