What to Do When the Dashboard Warning Light Comes On and Power Loss Occurs?
3 Answers
In the event of a dashboard warning light indicating a fault and power loss, you should immediately stop the vehicle and call for a tow truck or wait for assistance. For safety reasons, do not attempt to continue driving. There are three main reasons why the engine warning light may come on, accompanied by insufficient power or a complete loss of power: 1. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the engine: When the mixture in the cylinders is too rich, the vehicle may experience knocking or shaking. Conversely, if the mixture is too lean, the vehicle may exhibit poor acceleration. 2. Issues with the air-fuel mixture: This could be due to faults in the spark plugs, high-voltage wires, or ignition coils. Poor performance in the ignition system or weak sparking from the spark plugs can also trigger the engine warning light, causing the vehicle to shake and lose power. 3. Abnormal fuel supply pressure or faults in the intake pressure sensor: If the fuel pump's supply pressure is irregular or the intake pressure sensor provides incorrect readings or malfunctions, it can lead to vehicle shaking and insufficient power.
Don't panic when dashboard warning lights come on and power fails. As an experienced driver, I've encountered this several times on long trips. Immediately brake gently and pull over, engage the handbrake and turn on hazard lights. Power loss could be due to a dead battery, broken driveshaft or failed fuel pump. Don't attempt to restart blindly - turn off the engine and wait a few minutes to observe dashboard changes. If you have a phone, quickly take photos of the warning lights to send to 4S technicians for help. They can remotely diagnose some issues. While waiting for assistance, stay in your vehicle - safety first. When help arrives, use OBD scanning to read trouble codes and identify the root cause. Like last time when my belt snapped, replacing it solved the problem. Remember: safety is infinitely more important than saving time. When car trouble occurs, park properly and wait for professionals to avoid accidents that could harm people or vehicles.
When the dashboard warning light suddenly comes on and power is lost, I must remind beginners to stay calm. Gradually slow down and find a safe place to stop the car, then firmly engage the handbrake. Note which specific light is illuminated on the dashboard, such as the engine or battery fault indicator. The loss of power might just be a sensor false alarm—try turning off the car, waiting five minutes, and restarting; sometimes the light will go off. If the problem persists, call the 4S dealership to describe the situation and let the technician guide you—don’t tamper with the engine yourself. A common issue for beginners is a faulty oil pressure sensor, which needs inspection and replacement. Safely pull over and wait for a tow truck; don’t attempt to keep driving, as losing control of the transmission is extremely dangerous. Remember to buy basic diagnostic tools and have the shop install them during the next maintenance visit as a preventive measure.
