At Dartmouth Nissan, we receive a lot of calls from customers in the Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Fall River areas who have questions about a light on their dashboard. And, that's great! When our car tries to tell us something by illuminating a dashboard symbol, it's important to listen.
That's why we created thisNissan Altimadashboard light guide. In this guide, we'll cover the most common dashboard lights you'll see, and what to do about them.
Nissan Altima Dashboard Warning Lights
Warning lights are indicators that require prompt attention to keep your ride safe and avoid any irreparable damage to one of your car's vital systems.
However, keep in mind that most of these lights will illuminate each time you turn on your vehicle, and then quickly turn off. If one of them stays lit, even after you've begun to drive, check your owner's manual, contact a certified Nissan technician, or follow this guide for directions:
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Warning Light:This light may look like the letters "ABS" by themselves or in a double circle. It indicates that that ABS is not functioning correctly. The brake system will still operate normally, but without the protection of anti-lock assistance. Drive to your nearestNissan service centeras soon as possible.
Brake Warning Light:If the word BRAKE, or an exclamation point in a double circle, shows up on your dashboard when the parking brake is not engaged, your brake fluid could be low. Have a certified Nissan technician check your fluid levels. If your brake fluid level is correct, there could be a larger problem with your braking system. Do not continue to drive. Instead, contact your localNissan dealershipfor assistance.
Charge Warning Light:A picture of a battery may mean that the charging system is not functioning properly. There may be an electrical system malfunction, so contact a Nissan technician as soon as possible. Do not continue driving until the issue is fixed.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light:If you see a yellow exclamation point surrounded by half-circles, your tire pressure may be low, or your tires may be slowly losing air. Fill your tires to the recommended PSI as soon as possible. After filling your tires and driving a mile or two, this light should turn off. If it doesn't, make a service appointment as soon as possible. You may need a new set of tires.
Master Warning Light:This light looks like an exclamation point in a triangle, and will be accompanied by one of the following instructions on the vehicle information display:
- No key warning
- Low fuel warning
- Low windshield-washer fluid warning
- Parking brake release warning
- Door/trunk open warning
- Loose fuel cap
- Check tire pressure warning
Follow the prompts on the screen to fix the error.
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL):The MIL, sometimes called the "Check Engine Light" looks like the picture of an engine. If it's a steady light, you may be low on fuel or have a loose fuel cap. Contact your local Nissan technician if the light does not turn off after a few driving cycles.
If the MIL is blinking, it's likely that an engine misfire has been detected. To avoid or reduce damage to the emission control system, keep your speed under 45 MPH, avoid hard acceleration or deceleration, avoid steep uphill grades, and reduce the vehicle weight by removing cargo if possible. Drive to your nearest Nissan service center as soon as possible.
Learn More about Nissan Altima Dashboard Lights
If you see any of the warning lights we mentioned in our Nissan Altima Dashboard light guide, or see something we didn't mention, contact the service center at Dartmouth Nissan and we'll provide an expert diagnosis and a professional fix.
Drivers in the Dartmouth, New Bedford, or Fall River areas can use our convenient online portal toschedule servicetoday!
