How to Deal with the Main Warning Light Being On?

[LaFrancisco]

If the tire is underinflated, replenish air promptly. Replace the oil pipe, power steering pump, or power steering gear. Excessive wear of the steering gear piston cylinder, poor sealing of the oil seal, or sticking/damage of the control valve. Inspect all connection points of the oil pipe and tighten all connecting bolts. Loose bolts can cause the main warning light to illuminate, which needs to be addressed promptly to avoid major malfunctions. Check the steering gear, steering pump control valve, oil cup filter, steering fluid, and clean the entire power steering system. Looseness in the connection points of the power steering system, leading to steering fluid leakage.

[LaElle]

Last time I took my old buddy on a long trip, a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark suddenly popped up on the dashboard, so I immediately pulled over and turned on the hazard lights. This thing is like the car shouting 'Look at me quick'—it could be serious or minor. First, check if any doors aren't closed properly, then make sure the handbrake is fully released—especially important if it's an electronic one. If it's still lit, you’ll need to check the dipstick—low oil will also trigger a warning. The worst is when the engine fault light comes on together with the yellow warning—that’s when you shouldn’t push your luck and should slowly make your way to a repair shop to check the trouble codes. Remember, a red light means you must call a tow truck immediately, while a yellow light allows you to move the car but avoid highways. I always keep an OBD scanner in my car—plug it in to get a general idea of the issue. Newbies should definitely get one of these.

[LondonRose]

Never follow my colleague's example of slamming the dashboard when the main warning light comes on! This warning light is like an assembly call—it could indicate something as minor as abnormal tire pressure or be a precursor to transmission failure. From my experience, here's how to handle it: First, quickly check if there are any accompanying lights on the dashboard, such as the battery or coolant temperature light. Then, feel the steering wheel for any vibrations and listen for unusual engine noises. If the car is still running smoothly, the safest move is to drive directly to a trusted repair shop. Last year, my car's warning light came on due to low brake fluid, and topping it up fixed the issue. However, if the light comes on along with severe shaking or smoke, pull over immediately, turn off the engine, and call for help. During regular maintenance, ask the mechanic to clear stored fault codes with a diagnostic tool—sometimes it's just a false alarm.

[Joanna]

We female drivers are most afraid of dashboard warning lights, aren't we? Last week I experienced this: a yellow triangle suddenly appeared when starting in the mall parking garage, scaring me into immediately flipping through the owner's manual. The manual said it might be something minor like low washer fluid, but I was really relieved when I found the wipers couldn't spray water. Ladies, remember the three-step method: first check basic fluid levels (engine oil/coolant/washer fluid), then see if doors and trunk are properly closed, and finally inspect seatbelt buckles. If the light stubbornly stays on, taking a photo to send to car-savvy friends is better than wild guesses. I later learned these lights are like WeChat group announcements - different models mean different things. A constant light in Japanese cars might just be a maintenance reminder, while in German cars it warrants caution.