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How those pesky dashboard warning lights can affect your car's NCT

We’re here to help you decode them.

DASH WARNING LIGHTS are built into the instrument binnacle of a car. Modern motors are fitted with a number of warning lamps on the dashboard that let the driver know if certain critical safety, performance and environmental features are not working properly.

Some of the lights are easy to understand and fix, like adding screen wash to the reservoir and checking the tyre pressure, but some are a little more difficult to interpret.

One thing that does help with understanding the problem is the colour of the light.

The warning lights are colour coded to help convey the severity of the issue. The lights glow green, orange and red.

Green lights aren’t really a warning, they just indicate that something is on, for example the car’s lights.

Orange lights indicate that something is wrong and needs your attention but the issue isn’t safety critical. For example tyre pressure indicators on more modern cars.

Red lights indicate an issue that is serious and demands immediate attention. This could be something like the low engine oil light or coolant warning light.

Ignoring the lights, especially red ones, can cause damage to the car – but did you know the lights can also affect the outcome of your car’s NCT?

The dash warning lights that affect NCT results:

Engine warning light: If this light remains on, then the smoke test on diesel-engined vehicles cannot be carried out until the issue is rectified.

Engine oil pressure light: Similarly, the smoke test on diesel-engined vehicles cannot be carried out until the issue is rectified.

Oil warning light: When this light remains on with the engine running the Exhaust CO/HC/LAMBDA test cannot be carried out.

Main beam warning light: If this isn’t working properly, your car will fail the ‘headlamp condition’ part of the NCT.

The NCT also checks that the Malfunction Indicators are in working order. You car will fail this part of the NCT if the following dash lights are not working or if an obvious modification affects correct operation:

  • Supplemental Restraint Systems
  • Airbags
  • Electronic Stability Control
  • Anti-Lock Braking System
  • Electronic Braking System
  • Parking Brake
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
  • Electronic Power Steering
  • Brake fluid warning light

If a light comes on when you are driving, don’t panic. Just pull over somewhere safe and convenient and find the manual to work out what the light means, what needs attention and how urgently the issue needs to be addressed. And of course, get them sorted out before the NCT.

READ: 5 of my favourite performance arms of car manufacturers >

READ: What are those numbers by the side of the motorway and what are they for? >

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    Mute Whatever
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    Feb 6th 2020, 7:39 AM

    This is a fantastic initiative, well done

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 6th 2020, 7:56 AM

    @Whatever: how is this good? Protected sex is way better than a kit. Is there not std clinics in place all ready. GP’s in place. Would it not be better to put that money to hire more people.

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    Mute Donncha Ó Coileáin
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    Feb 6th 2020, 8:07 AM

    @Dave Barrett: You can protect yourself all you want, but you can still get STIs. Even with 100% protection, you need to get tested.

    Home-testing kits offer a lot more value for money than hiring more people at the clinics. Though, more staff wouldn’t hurt either. Home-testing kits also offer the chance to be tested to those who, for seriously outdated reasons, think going to the STI clinic is something shameful and to be avoided at all costs.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 6th 2020, 8:32 AM

    @Donncha Ó Coileáin: whats shameful is getting a std in the first place.

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    Mute john doe
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    Feb 6th 2020, 8:55 AM

    @Dave Barrett: getting an sti is unfortunate but there is nothing shameful about sexuality or even promiscuity so long as all involved are willing and eager.

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    Mute Michael Burke
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    Feb 6th 2020, 9:19 AM

    @Dave Barrett: go back to your own century

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    Mute Bandit 600
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    Feb 6th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Dave Barrett: exactly comments like yours the reason why many people wouldn’t go to their doctor or a clinic to get checked

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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Feb 6th 2020, 1:02 PM

    @Dave Barrett: what if your unfortunate enough to be the monogamous ONE in a relationship? You don’t know where you stand and clearly can’t trust your former partner (or partner if you’re the forgiving type) to be fully forth coming with facts?
    How has a person in that situation shamed themselves?

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:50 AM

    @Dave Barrett: Sorry…did you mean “what’s shameful IN getting “ ? Otherwise you are mentally defective.

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    Feb 6th 2020, 7:53 AM

    This initiative might sound ‘rash’ but it deserves ‘the clap’. I’ve been ‘itching’ to get one of these – bet there were still be a few ‘crabby’ comments made about this.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Feb 6th 2020, 6:19 AM

    A pox on all their houses!

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    Mute Justice Mickey
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    Feb 6th 2020, 7:30 AM

    @John Mulligan:
    No, it should be “a pox in all their houses”

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    Mute Mejo
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    Feb 6th 2020, 9:08 AM

    Welcome to our Weimar Republic!

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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Feb 6th 2020, 1:18 PM

    @Mejo: suspended twitter account eh? Says it all.
    I’m sure you’re Twitter wasn’t suspended for opened minded 21st century thinking.

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    Mute Mejo
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    Feb 6th 2020, 2:10 PM

    @Davis Payne: ‘it says it all’ would you like to elaborate Davis?

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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Feb 6th 2020, 12:58 PM

    A lot of people may be too embarrassed to go and get tested. If it helps a higher rate of detection that’s great.

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