When a warning light comes on, it is your vehicle's computer telling you a specific system needs attention. We diagnose ABS, airbag (SRS), traction control (TCS), stability control (VSC), brake, battery, oil pressure, coolant temperature, tire pressure (TPMS), and power steering warning lights in Ann Arbor, MI, and we identify the exact cause before recommending any repair. Below, we break down what each light means and when your vehicle should be diagnosed.

Warning Lights We Diagnose in Ann Arbor, MI

Each link below jumps to that light's section on this page, so you can go straight to the one you are seeing.

Seeing the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light instead? Visit our Check Engine Light Repair page.

Why Dashboard Warning Lights Matter

Your vehicle has a network of computers monitoring braking, traction, stability, and occupant safety systems every time you drive. When one of these systems detects a fault, it lights up a specific icon on your dashboard rather than a generic warning. That specificity is useful. It tells us where to start looking before we ever connect a scan tool.

We do not recommend ignoring any of these lights. Some indicate a system has gone offline as a precaution, and you may not notice a difference in how the vehicle drives. Others point to a safety system, like your airbags, that will not function properly in a collision. We will explain what your light means and what we recommend, in plain terms, before any work begins.

ABS Warning Light

Your ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) light means the anti-lock function has detected a fault and has taken itself offline. Your regular brakes will still stop the vehicle, but the anti-skid protection that keeps your wheels from locking up during hard braking will not engage.

Common causes we look for:

  • A faulty or dirty wheel speed sensor
  • Low or contaminated brake fluid
  • Damaged or corroded wiring at the wheel
  • A failing ABS control module
  • A blown fuse.

We recommend having this light checked promptly, especially before driving in wet or icy conditions, since that is exactly when the ABS is designed to protect you.

Airbag / SRS Warning Light

Your airbag light, also called the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) light, means your vehicle's airbag and seat belt pre-tensioner system has detected a fault. This light briefly illuminates every time you start your vehicle as part of a normal self-check. If it stays on or comes on while driving, the system has disabled part or all of your airbags.

Common causes we look for:

  • A faulty or corroded crash sensor
  • Damaged wiring near the steering column or under a seat
  • A worn seat belt buckle sensor or pre-tensioner
  • Low battery voltage affecting the SRS module
  • Interference from aftermarket seat covers, seats, or a steering wheel swap.

We treat this light as a safety priority. If it is on, your airbags may not deploy correctly in an accident, so we recommend having it diagnosed as soon as possible.

Traction Control (TCS) Warning Light

Your traction control light means the system that reduces wheel spin during acceleration on wet, icy, or loose surfaces has either been switched off or has detected a fault. A traction control light that flashes briefly while you are accelerating on a slippery road is normal. It means the system is actively working. A light that stays on steady usually means the system needs attention.

Common causes we look for:

  • A faulty wheel speed sensor shared with the ABS
  • A steering angle or yaw rate sensor fault
  • An engine misfire or emissions-related fault that turns off traction control
  • Low battery voltage after a jump start or weak alternator
  • A blown fuse or communication fault with the ABS module.

Because traction control shares components with your ABS, we check both systems together to find the actual source of the fault.

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) Warning Light

Your VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) light works alongside your ABS and traction control systems to help keep your vehicle pointed in the direction you are steering during a skid or sudden maneuver. A flashing VSC light usually means the system is actively correcting your vehicle's path. A solid light indicates that the system has been turned off or that a malfunction has been detected.

Common causes we look for:

  • Shared sensor faults with the ABS or traction control systems
  • Uneven tire wear or incorrect tire pressure confusing the stability sensors
  • A steering angle sensor that needs recalibration
  • An underlying check engine or ABS fault triggering a stability shutdown.

Since VSC depends on the same sensor network as ABS and traction control, a fault in one system often shows up as a warning light in another. We scan all three systems together rather than guessing at a single part.

Brake System Warning Light

Your brake system warning light means your vehicle has detected an issue separate from the ABS light, most often related to brake fluid level, the parking brake, or overall brake system pressure. This light may appear as a red circle with an exclamation point or the word BRAKE, depending on your vehicle.

Common causes we look for:

  • The parking brake left partially engaged
  • Low brake fluid level, often from worn brake pads
  • A brake fluid leak in a line or at a wheel
  • A worn brake fluid level sensor
  • A failing master cylinder.

If this light comes on while driving and the parking brake is not engaged, we recommend having your vehicle inspected right away, as it may indicate reduced braking performance.

Battery / Charging System Warning Light

Your battery light, shaped like a battery icon, indicates that your vehicle's charging system is not maintaining the battery at the correct voltage. This is not always a battery problem. It is often the alternator, the belt that drives it, or the wiring between them.

Common causes we look for:

  • A failing alternator
  • A worn or broken serpentine belt
  • Corroded or loose battery terminals
  • An aging battery that can no longer hold a charge
  • A faulty voltage regulator or wiring fault in the charging circuit.

We recommend addressing this light quickly. Once the battery runs down, the vehicle can lose power steering assist, lighting, and eventually stall while driving.

Oil Pressure Warning Light

Your oil pressure light, shaped as an oil can, indicates that your engine is not maintaining safe oil pressure. This is different from a low-oil-level reminder. It is a mechanical warning that your engine may not be getting properly lubricated.

Common causes we look for:

  • Low oil level from a leak or extended service interval
  • A failing oil pump
  • A faulty oil pressure sensor or switch
  • Worn engine bearings reducing oil pressure
  • The wrong oil viscosity for your engine.

We treat this light as urgent. If it comes on while driving, we recommend safely pulling over and stopping the engine rather than continuing to drive, since low oil pressure can cause serious engine damage within minutes.

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light

Your coolant temperature light means your engine is running hotter than it should. It usually appears as a thermometer icon or a temperature gauge moving into a red zone.

Common causes we look for:

  • Low coolant level from a leak in a hose, radiator, or water pump
  • A failing radiator fan or fan clutch
  • A stuck thermostat
  • A clogged radiator or failing water pump
  • A blown head gasket in more serious cases.

We recommend pulling over and shutting off the engine if this light comes on while driving; continuing to drive an overheating engine risks warped heads, a blown head gasket, or complete engine failure.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Warning Light

Your TPMS light, shaped like a tire cross-section with an exclamation point, means one or more of your tires has fallen below the recommended pressure, or the monitoring system itself has detected a fault. A steady light usually means low pressure. A flashing light, followed by the light staying on, usually means a sensor problem.

Common causes we look for:

  • A tire that has lost pressure from a slow leak, temperature change, or puncture
  • A failing TPMS sensor battery, which typically lasts five to ten years
  • A sensor that needs to be relearned after a tire rotation or replacement
  • A damaged valve stem or sensor from a previous tire service.

We recommend checking tire pressure right away when this light comes on, then bringing the vehicle in if the light stays on after tires are properly inflated.

Power Steering Warning Light

Your power steering light means your electric or hydraulic power steering assist system has detected a fault. Depending on your vehicle, this may show as a steering wheel icon or the letters EPS.

Common causes we look for:

  • A fault in the electric power steering control module
  • A failing torque or steering angle sensor
  • Low power steering fluid or a leak in hydraulic systems
  • A worn power steering pump or belt, on hydraulic systems.

Steering will feel noticeably heavier when this light is on, especially at low speeds. We recommend having it checked soon, as reduced steering assist affects the vehicle's handling.

Master Warning Light

Some vehicles use a general master warning light, often a red or yellow exclamation point inside a triangle, alongside a message center display. This light does not point to one specific system on its own. It means the vehicle wants you to check the message center or another gauge for more detail.

Common causes we look for:

  • Whatever specific fault is named in the accompanying dashboard message
  • Low fluid levels the vehicle can detect electronically
  • A door, hood, or trunk that is not fully closed
  • A more serious fault in one of the systems covered above, showing here as a general alert.

We read the vehicle's message center and scan every related module to identify exactly what triggered this light, rather than guessing from the icon alone.

What To Do When a Warning Light Comes On

  • Note whether the light is flashing or staying on steady. Flashing often means a system is actively working. A steady light usually means a fault has been detected.
  • Note which other lights are on at the same time. Warning lights on shared systems, like ABS, TCS, and VSC, often appear together and point investigators to the same root cause.
  • Avoid clearing the light yourself with a generic code reader before a full diagnosis. Clearing a code does not fix the underlying issue, and it can make the problem harder for us to trace if it is intermittent.
  • Bring your vehicle to us for a proper diagnostic scan. We read the fault codes from the specific module involved, not just the engine computer, so we can tell you exactly what triggered the light.

Warning Light Diagnostics in Ann Arbor, MI

We diagnose and repair dashboard warning lights for drivers throughout Ann Arbor, MI. Our shop uses diagnostic equipment built to communicate with the ABS, SRS, stability control, charging, and TPMS modules on your vehicle, not just the engine computer, so we can pinpoint the actual fault rather than replacing parts by trial and error.

If you are seeing a warning light we have not covered here, including the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light, visit our Check Engine Light Repair page for more detailed information.

Is a warning light on in your vehicle? Call us today to schedule a diagnostic appointment.

Hoover Street Auto Repair
142 E Hoover Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 913-6272