May, 2023 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership

My Dashboard Lights Are On! What Does This Mean?

Have you ever been driving along down the road and noticed one of your dashboard lights being illuminated? Modern vehicles are extremely complex machines that give us the ability to get to where we need to go in a quick, efficient, easy manner. But, just like with any piece of technology, maintenance is required to prolong effectiveness. Dashboard lights are there to let you know that your attention is required.

Oil pressure

When your car is having troubles with oil pressure, you will see an image of something that looks like an oil can.

If you ever see this light illuminated, it typically means that your car has low engine oil pressure. Low oil pressure can have several causes, but the best situation you can find yourself in is if it means that your car is low on oil. Pull over to the side of the road and check your engine’s dipstick if you have one. If you have a more modern car, you probably won’t have to do this since most modern cars are now equipped with check oil programs.

When the oil light is lit, it’s probably an indication that the internal parts of your car are not being sufficiently lubricated. It’s best to not drive your car when this light is on. If you do, you’re potentially looking at significant damage to your engine and costly repairs.

Tire Pressure

This symbol looks like this: (!)

Your tire pressure light is triggered by your car’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This let’s your know when your tire is in need of air. When a tire is low on air, your car’s gas mileage may be significantly impacted. And, whenever you drive a car with a tire that is in need of air, what you’re really doing is wearing out your tire faster than it needs to be. This will cause you to need to spend more money on new tires. Newer cars may have a built-in system that allows you to read the pressure of each tire. You should always refer to your car’s owner’s manual to see the proper tire pressure that is suggested for your car. It’s important to keep in mind that tire pressure can also be affected by cold weather, so if your light is on, the situation may not be as dire as you might initially believe. Any time you see this light on, address the issue immediately.

Coolant Temperature

When you see symbol lit up, it means that your car’s engine is overheating. When the coolant temperature gets too high, it most oftentimes means that something is wrong with one of the cooling system components. It may be an issue with your fan, radiator, thermostat, water pumps, hoses and coolant.

Driving your car when it’s overheating can be dangerous. Doing so can cause serious and permanent damage to your car’s engine. If you’re ever in need of a tow, ERIE has an Emergency Roadside Service coverage that can be added to your auto insurance policy for about $5 per vehicle per year. If you have questions about this, give us a call at 301-948-2010 and ask to speak with one of our experience insurance professionals.

Traction Control

You’ll see an outline of a car with two squiggly tire track lines behind it.

If you see this light illuminated, it’s best to take your car to an experienced mechanic as soon as you can. It means that your car’s stability control is off or has failed. It can be dangerous to drive your car in these conditions.

Check Engine

On some vehicles, you’ll see a symbol that looks like a car engine. Other cars may simply have the words “CHECK ENGINE”.

When this light is illuminated, it means that there is something wrong with your vehicle’s motor or emissions system. You could have a major mechanical issue on your hands or it could be something as minor as a loose cap. Get to a service garage as soon as possible when you see this.

Battery

This symbol looks like a battery in the shape of a box that has a “+” and “-“ sign.

When you see this, it means there is a problem with your car’s electrical system. Your battery could be defective or it means that your car’s alternator is no longer working properly. This means that, as you drive, your battery is not being recharged. Ignoring this problem instead of taking your car to a repair shop could end up leaving you stranded on the side of the road.

Low Fuel

This symbol looks like the outline of a gas pump.

Whenever this symbol is illuminated, it’s an indication that you need to get yourself to a gas station quickly.

Airbag

This symbol looks like a person sitting in a car with a large ball in front of their head.

If you see this symbol lit, it means that your car’s internal system has detected a problem with the passenger safety system. Whenever you drive your car, you want to make sure that your safety systems are functioning properly, so that in the event of an accident, you’ll remain safe.

Washer Fluid

This symbol looks like a windshield with a stream of water spraying in an upward direction.

Whenever you see this symbol illuminated, it means that your windshield wiper fluid reservoir is low or empty. Wiper fluid is usually available for purchase at any gas station or auto repair shop.

Brake System

While some vehicles will show a symbol of a what looks like a circle with parentheses on either side, others simply display the word “BRAKE”.

There is a problem with your car’s braking system. It’s not safe to drive your car under these conditions since you never know when your brakes may fail and cause a serious accident.

Anti-Lock (ABS) System

This symbol looks like this: (ABS)

If this light is illuminated, it means there is a problem with your car’s anti-lock brake system. This system is designed to prevent your wheels from locking up under a hard stop. Usually, when this light is lit, it means you’ll need to replace your ABS sensor. This is an important safety feature to have functioning properly, so that you can remain as safe as possible behind the wheel.

Transmission

This symbol is a gear icon with an exclamation point or a thermometer in the center.

When this light is illuminated, it means there’s a problem with your vehicle’s transmission. Your transmission could be overheating or a sensor has recorded a mechanical issue. In either case, it’s best to get your vehicle to a mechanic right away.

 

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Must-Know Tips for Boating Safety

The weather’s finally getting warmer and it’s time to enjoy your time out on the water with friends and family. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned boating expert or a newbie, it’s a good idea to freshen up on boating safety, so that you and those you care about most can have a fun, memorable experience out on the water.

Unfortunately, boating accidents claim lives every single year. To prevent a potential tragedy, follow these safety precautions before taking the boat out:

Have your boat inspected. The Vessel Safety Check is a free public service that is offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteers. Experts will make sure that your boat meets the minimum safety requirements and also that you have the necessary safety equipment onboard that can save lives and get help in the event of an emergency.

Make sure you have plenty of life jackets on board. The easiest way to keep yourself safe while you’re on a boat is by wearing a life jacket. Eighty-two percent of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket, according to Coast Guard studies. At minimum, you should have a life jacket readily available for each person on board your boat. Laws do require that you wear a life jacket while on board as well. In states where no children’s life jacket law in in place, a U.S. Coast Guard interim rule states that children under the age of 13 are required to wear a life jacket that is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Develop and communicate a float plan. All important information pertaining to your trip including contact information for your trip leader, the type of boat you’re using, and where you plan to use your boat should be included in the plan.

Remember that consuming alcohol while on a boat is not a good idea. Sixteen percent of all recreational boating deaths have been linked to the consumption of alcohol. Although it’s not illegal to drink while boating, think of the situation the same way as driving a car under the influence of alcohol. Your reaction time is impaired and you could jeopardize the lives of yourself and your loved ones.

Pay attention to the weather. Before taking your boat out on the water, take a look at the weather forecast to make sure no thunderstorms will be on the way. Windy days also present certain hazards while boating. Waves can potentially capsize smaller vessels or passengers could fall overboard.

Keep your boating skills sharp. Operational error accounts for over 70% of boating accidents each year. You can improve your boating skills by enrolling in educational courses.

Know how to swim. If you’re out on the water in any situation, you should know how to swim. Otherwise, like it or not, you are putting yourself at risk. Floatation devices can help, but only so much.

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Tips to Remain Safe While Sharing the Road With Motorcyclists

Millions of people embark on the open road on their motorcycles every year.

While riding a motorcycle can have an element of thrill, it can also present danger. Riding a motorcycle is much less safe than driving a car or a truck. In fact, estimate from the federal government show that the number of deaths per mile traveled on motorcycles was 29 times the number deaths in cars in 2019.

While there’s the obvious risk from lack of bodily protection a person has while on a motorcycle, it’s important to understand that other drivers on the road play a role as well.

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, over half of all motorcycle accidents resulting in fatalities involve another vehicle. More alarming is that, most of the time, it’s the fault of the driver of the car or truck, not the driver of the motorcycle.

As drivers of cars and trucks, we have a responsibility to be aware of motorcyclists on the road. Here are a few things we can remember when we’re on the road:

Be aware of motorcyclists during the warmer months. Being aware of your surroundings is a surefire way to stay safe on the road. And keeping a mental note that you’ll likely see someone on a motorcycle when the weather is warm may be helpful in keeping both you and the motorcyclist safe.

Check your blind spots. Being that motorcycles are much smaller than cars or trucks, they’re not as easy to see. Regularly checking your blind spots before turning or changing lanes can help to keep motorcyclists safe and will keep you safe from making a terrible mistake.

Don’t get too close. As with other cars on the road, you should always maintain a safe distance between yourself and motorcycles. To be extra careful, consider increasing the distance between your car and a motorcycle. Motorcycles can come to a complete stop much more quickly than a car can. Don’t tailgate!

Stay in your lane. Motorcycles are allowed to use full lanes. Don’t try to share a lane with them. Keep your distance.

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Signs to Look Out for When Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

Your car battery plays a crucial role in granting you the ability to navigate through everyday life in today’s society. The battery provides the source of energy needed for all of the other electrical components of your car to function properly as well. Like everything in life, a battery’s lifespan is finite and will need to be replaced at some point down the line. Here are five signs that indicate your car battery may need to be replaced.

You have difficulty starting the ignition/turning over the engine.

Having a hard time getting your car to start may be an indication that it is time to replace your battery. As a car ages, the components that allow the car to function properly become less effective. As a result, it takes more time for the battery to receive a charge from the alternator. In other words, it takes the engine more time to turn over. As with anything in life, procrastinating, especially when you see warning signs that something needs to be done, could result in costs that could have been avoided had to taken action earlier. If you try to turn the engine over and hear a clicking sound, it’s likely that your car battery is already dead. The safest action to take is to take your car to an experienced mechanic at the first signs of trouble.

Dashboard lights and lighting issues.

Do you ever notice any icons on your dashboard being illuminated? If so, do not ignore them. This is your car trying to tell you that something is wrong. Oftentimes, there may be an issue with battery or one of the car’s computers. Whenever you notice one of these signs, consult a mechanic to be safe.

Another indication there may be a problem with your car’s battery is that your headlights are dimmer than usual. In order to ensure your safety while driving, make sure that you consult a mechanic as soon as you see any signs of trouble with your car.

Electrical malfunctions.

Your car battery is responsible for providing power to all of the electrical components of your car. So, if your battery is weakened, it may result in malfunctions of anything that relies on electrical power to run. For example, if your power windows or door locks suddenly doesn’t seem like it’s responding normally, your battery may be on its last legs. If you notice any unusual occurrences related to electrical functions with your vehicle, it’s time to have a mechanic take an extensive look.

Poor performance in cold weather.

Generally speaking, car batteries do not perform well when it’s cold. Batteries tend to not have as long of a lifespan in cold weather due to the fact that they need to have maximum flow of energy due to slow-moving engine oil. If you’re not careful, your battery can actually freeze. Consider having your car battery replaced before the cold season.

Strange odor.

If you notice a foul smell coming from your car, it may be an indication of a failing battery. A smell similar to that of rotten eggs means that a battery is leaking gas. Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can leak out if a battery is damaged. Sulfuric acid is extremely dangerous and, if not disposed of immediately, has the potential to corrode other parts of your car. If you notice a foul smell coming from your car, it’s best to take it to a maintenance garage to have a professional take a look at it right away.

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