If you see this light, the first thing you should do is pull over. You don’t want to be driving when this light comes on, as it could indicate serious engine problems. Once you’re pulled over and in a safe spot, turn off the engine and restart it. The check gauges light should be gone now, but if it remains on after restarting your vehicle, then you know that something is wrong. Check all of the gauges in your vehicle – oil pressure, fuel level and battery charge – to make sure they are working properly. If all gauges are normal, then there isn’t anything to worry about; just turn off the check gauges light by going into your vehicle’s menu system (read your owner’s manual for how to do this).
Turning off the check gauges light
If the gauges are normal and the light is on, you can turn it off using the key. First, start your truck with the key in the “on” position. Turn the key off, then turn it back on. The warning light should be off. If your truck is showing that there are problems with its gauges, however, you’ll want to check them as soon as you’re able (and not drive any more than is necessary until then).
Now that we know how to deal with a check gauges light—how do we know what’s wrong?
What if the gauges are actually broken?
What should you do if your truck’s gauges are actually broken?
If the problem really is that the gauges themselves aren’t working, then it might be best to seek professional help. The procedure for repairing and replacing a single gauge can vary greatly from car to car, so unless you have a good repair manual and feel confident in your automotive skills, it will probably be more trouble than it’s worth. However, if this is something you want to try on your own, there are some general steps you can take:
First things first: find the circuit board(s) associated with each of your malfunctioning gauges. Depending on the year of vehicle and complexity of the electrical system, this could involve disconnecting a few wires here or there. When you think you’ve found all the relevant components, use an ohmmeter (a device for measuring electrical resistance) to determine which wires/connections in each circuit may be problematic. Once identified as faulty by the ohmmeter, these connections can either be replaced individually with new parts or resoldered together again (though keep in mind that soldering requires a certain level of skill).
Ultimately—as always—it’s up to you to decide whether or not it makes sense to repair anything yourself. If it seems like too much work or causes undue stress, remember that there are plenty of mechanics out there who would love nothing more than to fix those faulty truck gauges for you! Just make sure they’re someone whom you trust and have worked with before (or at least get a second opinion).
When to take your truck in for repairs
When to take your truck in for repairs
There are a few things you can do to try to fix the problem yourself. But, it’s best not to drive around with this light on. You can check the gauges yourself, and see if they read low or high. If so, the problem is probably with the gauge itself and not an issue with your vehicle. You may want to bring it in just so that you can be sure nothing else is going on though. Depending on what kind of vehicle you have, there could be more than one sensor that needs replacing as well. The instruction manual will tell you which ones they are and how to access them if you decide that you do want to try fixing it yourself.
If your gauges are working normally but the check gauges light won’t go off, most likely this means there is a short in either the electrical system or another area of your vehicle that needs attention from a mechanic or technician as soon as possible!
Finding out what’s wrong with your truck when you see a check gauges light can save time and money.
If you see a Check Gages light in your truck, the first thing you should do is check the gauges. If they’re all reading normally, then the problem might be that the light is stuck on. You can reset this by turning off your truck for about half an hour and then starting it again.
However, if your gauges are reading into dangerous ranges (for example, your temperature gauge is showing much higher or lower than normal) then it’s likely an issue with one of the sensors connected to that gauge. For instance, when your temperature gauge is at zero and not moving to indicate that your engine is running hot, it may mean there’s something wrong with the coolant temperature sensor or its wiring harness.
Finding out what’s wrong with your truck when you see a check gauges light can save you time and money in preventative maintenance. It may mean keeping yourself from breaking down on a road trip or avoiding paying for unnecessary repairs at a shop.
