Truck drivers: notice a light turn on in your dashboard? Wondering what that light means? It could be a sign that one of your truck gauges needs some attention.
If you neglect to check out the light on your vehicle, you could end up with more costly repairs later on. To avoid common truck problems, notice the flashing lights on your truck’s dashboard.
Today, we’ll show you what some of the most common warning flashing lights mean and how to interpret your truck’s dashboard gauges.
Equipment Experts, Inc. here. We know what it’s like to be on the freeway and see the “check engine” warning light turn on. We’re here to help you understand the most common truck gauges that show up on your dashboard, so you can stay ahead of the curve on your next long haul.
| 1. Speedometers 2. Fuel gauges 3. Truck temperature gauges (or warning lamps) 4. Tachometers 5. Oil pressure gauges (or warning lamps) 6. Charging system gauges (or warning lamps) |
The speedometer is historically one of the most-used gauges in a truck. Before our modern-day speedometers, we had speedometers that were driven by a cable inside a flexible tube.
Today, most trucks have gone without the old cable and electronic sensor that helps measure truck speeds. With that being said, many old trucks continue to drive on our roads.
If tires are larger in diameter than the original equipment, the speedometer will read as if you’re moving slower than you actually are. What’s more, the right speedometer gears must be installed in a new transmission.
Transmission shops are aware of the importance of installing the right gears inside a transmission, and truck technicians will make sure that the correct speedometer gear is in the new transmission.
Did you know that on vehicles with electronic speedometers, the computer inside the truck includes settings that a technician can adjust for more accurate speedometer calibration? Given that different trucks have different-sized tires, a technician can go into the truck’s computer and adjust settings as needed.
Surprisingly, fuel gauges aren’t as accurate as their interface displays. Your fuel gauge’s needle will remain on the full sign for a long time before dropping.
After dropping, the needle will move closer to empty faster and faster to give the driver the impression that their vehicle sustains better fuel economy. When the needle drops below the “E” empty sign, your truck usually has a few gallons of gas left in the tank.
To determine how many gallons are left in the vehicle, you can pull out your truck owner’s manual and discover the capacity of your fuel tank. Note that the difference between what the owner’s manual states and how many gallons your vehicle took at the gas pump is the true amount of gas your tank holds once you hit the empty sign.
With that being said, you could encounter problems with your truck if you allow its fuel tank to drop below ¼. The reason is that the fuel pump is submerged in fuel at the bottom of the tank.
What’s more, the liquid fuel helps to keep the fuel pump cool, so if the fuel level drops and uncovers the pump, the pump can heat up to temperatures that are dangerous for the vehicle. If frequently gone unchecked, a hotter-than-normal fuel pump can lead to a shorter life for the vehicle and eventually cause it to fail.
The temperature gauge is key. It measures the temperature of the engine’s coolant on a scale of cold (C) to hot (H).
When you first start a vehicle, the gauge will read cold. For example, if you turn the heater on when the engine is cold, the vehicle will blow cold air.
When the gauge starts moving away from cold, you can then turn the heater on, and you’ll feel warm air. With that being said, monitor the temperature gauge so that your engine doesn’t overheat.
One reason for a temperature gauge acting out could be the cooling system. For example, if you notice that the gauge is reading hotter than normal, and the outside temperature isn’t blistering hot, you could be experiencing issues with the cooling system.
Also, if you notice the temperature gauge moving to H, or your “check engine” light turns on, the engine could be overheating. When safe, and if driving, pull over to the shoulder of the road, and allow your engine to cool down.
In sum, your temperature gauge is key in ensuring you don’t cause serious damage to your engine.
There’s nothing tacky about a tachometer. The tachometer indicates how fast the engine is turning in revolutions per minute (RPM). This information is very helpful if your truck has a standard shift transmission.
Ultimately, you want to shift at the optimum RPM to make the most of your fuel economy.
With that being said, you should never rev your engine so fast that the tachometer moves into the red zone. Doing so can cause damage to your engine.
For newer model trucks, the truck’s internal computer will protect the vehicle’s RPM gauge from moving into the red zone.
You can determine how fast your vehicle is going by looking at the RPM gauge. The gauge will include single-digit markings like 1, 2, 3, and above. The “RPM x 1000” lettering near the gauge shows you how to calculate the RPM. You multiply the number in the RPM gauge by 1,000 to calculate the total revolutions per minute.
The oil pressure gauge measures the pressure of the oil in your vehicle in pounds per square inch. So, for example, if you run an engine with no oil pressure, your engine can be destroyed.
Most vehicles have an oil lamp warning light that indicates when oil pressure is at low levels that could be dangerous for drivers.
If you notice that your oil pressure warning light turns on while driving, stop your vehicle as soon as possible, and check the oil level. If you’re without engine oil, we recommend calling a mobile repair technician to top off your engine’s oil levels.
Driving on low engine oil can be dangerous for you, other drivers, and most importantly, your beloved truck.
The charging system provides the electrical current needed to power your vehicle. Without the charging system, your battery will be depleted, and your vehicle will shut down.
The charging system gauge and warning light monitor the health of your system before potential problems become catastrophic issues.
When a charging problem occurs, you can still drive a short distance to find help, but you should seek help as soon as possible.
What’s more, a charging system light is not always the best indicator that a problem exists, as the light won’t always recognize all problems related to charging.
The most common cause of a charging system not working is a broken alternator belt.
Also worth noting as part of the charging system is the ammeter. The ammeter will show a negative reading when the battery is supplying most of the current and losing charge.
The ammeter will also show a positive reading when the charging system is providing the majority of the current.
Why are these details important? You might ask.
Because if the battery is fully charged and not using tons of electricity, the ammeter should read close to zero. The ammeter should always read above zero, but not below it.
If the ammeter reads more than 10 or 20 amps, even though the lights, wipers, and other electricity-powered devices are turned off, you could face problems. You’ll know that you have a weak battery and should have your charging system and battery checked for possible issues.
To avoid problems with your charging system, we recommend taking a proactive approach. Bring your vehicle in for preventive maintenance and battery service at least every six months.
Doing so will ensure your charging system and battery are in working condition. That way, you can ensure your truck keeps trucking for the long haul ahead.
Did you know that vehicle downtime cost fleets an average of $448 to $760 per day per vehicle in 2015, according to FleetMaintenance.com. And those figures are from a decade ago; imagine the price today!
Downtime isn’t always an option. So, who do you call?
From forklifts to fleets, we’ve got you covered. We’re the go-to maintenance provider for businesses across Puget Sound. Tacoma, WA, trusts us to keep their vehicles hauling, rocking, and rolling.
Give us a call today at (253) 999-9147 or check our Instagram page for more about our comprehensive diesel truck service.
The most common truck gauges that indicate key system issues include the following:
But, when your vehicle is acting up, and you’re still not sure what’s causing the issue, you’re best to bring your vehicle into a licensed diesel repair shop. A diesel truck repair shop has the tools, experience, and education to keep your truck operating at its best.
If you live in the Puget Sound or Tacoma, WA area, give us a call. Whether you have a fleet of one or 100, our 12,000-foot, 7-bay facility is stocked with the latest fleet service equipment.
Can’t make it to our Lakewood, WA facility? No problem.
One of our 15 fully equipped mobile service repair trucks can come to you. Plus, we offer late-night service from 2 PM to 10 PM if you’re in a pinch.
Whether your truck’s gauges indicate something’s off — or if you need a little help managing your fleet and tracking KPIs — our fleet repair and management team has what it takes to get you in tip-top shape.
Contact our Experts today for comprehensive, quick, and reliable service.
