Brake and battery lights, what should I do?

I sometimes think they should re-name Brake and Battery lights and the Engine light and other warning signals on the dashboard ‘idiotic‘ lights instead of just ‘idiot lights’. Because while they tell you something, maybe, they—at the same time—tell you nothing.

So what do you do if your engine light is on, then it’s off? My mechanic doesn’t even know. Well, he knows. But sometimes there’s a ghost in the machine. If it stays on, obviously, take it in and have him check the code. You probably need an oil change or inspection or tires or a new drive train anyway. I always seem to.

But if you see your brake and battery lights on at the same time skip the next errand and drive—without stopping for coffee—to your mechanic. This is a pretty good indicator (not always, but mostly…playing the numbers here) your alternator is shot and your battery won’t hold a charge without the engine running. Which means if you stop, you not only have an engine problem, but when you try and start back up you have a towing problem, too.

Don’t tempt the fates. Or the ghost in the machine.