What Does Check Gauges Mean on a Jeep?

Every Jeep owner has probably seen the indicator check gauge light on the dashboard at one point. 

When this happened to me for the first time, I was confused and didn’t know what to do. 

I then decided to find out more about this warning, and this is what I gathered. 

On the Jeep dashboard is a complete list of symbols and warnings that appears once in a while. 

Some indicate severe issues, but others are just a precautionary warning that your car needs attention. 

One very common indication that you will encounter is the “Check Gauges” light.

What Does Check Gauges Mean on a Jeep?

When the check gauge light illuminates in your Jeep, it means the systems that your vehicle’s gauges are monitoring are malfunctioning. This may be due to an issue with the electrical system, low engine oil, or other fluids monitored by the gauge. 

What Should You Do When the Check Gauge Lights Illuminates?

If the Check Gauge Light illuminates while you’re driving, do not panic. 

Instead, get to a safe spot, pull over and park your car. 

Look at the other gauge lights on the dashboard as the engine is running to determine which one is out of range. 

Sometimes this can happen due to an overheated engine, loose fuel cap, charging system issues, or you could be running out of fuel. 

If you hear a rattling sound besides, the issue could be with the oil pressure gauge. 

Remember also to confirm if the gauges provide the correct information. 

For instance, your battery gauge could indicate low voltage, or the speedometer may fail to tell the accurate speed you are driving at. 

The problem could also be as simple as running out of gas, so you need to refill, but if it’s a complex warning like engine malfunction, have a mechanic inspect and fix the issue. 

Also, if the problem involves multiple components, your car needs thorough inspection since this signifies an underlying issue that needs attention. 

You can prevent this by keeping up with regular maintenance. 

Check your engine oil and other fluids regularly, at least once per week. 

If you neglect the engine oil, it gets so low to even register on the dipstick, which can reduce your engine’s lifespan. 

What Are the Different Warning Gauges in a Jeep?

Jeeps are usually very communicative, and there are various indicator lights in the instrumental cluster to assist the driver in monitoring multiple gauges in the car. 

Sometimes the lights can give you mixed signals, especially if you don’t know what they mean. 

Here are the lights, warnings, and indicators found in Jeeps.

Charge System Trouble Light

The battery light warns the driver that there is a problem with the charging system. 

Once the battery light illuminates, the vehicle might shut at any time. 

So, get a safe stopping spot as quickly as possible. 

In most cases, the battery light turns on when you have a failing alternator or a bad battery that won’t charge. 

If you see the word MAIN below the battery image, the hybrid battery has issues, so have a professional service it soon. 

Oil Warning Lights

If the car lights up a symbol similar to an oil can, this is an oil pressure warning. 

But, if you see a wavy line under the can, the oil level is low, so you need to refuel. 

Some vehicles indicate low oil pressure or level in writing. 

If the can symbol has a thermometer above, this is an oil temperature indicator, and you need to pull over and shut down the engine immediately. 

Engine Temperature Indicator

The engine temperature is very high if your Jeep lights up a red symbol that looks like a thermometer in the water. 

Stop and turn off the engine immediately. 

Allow it to cool down, but if it continues to overheat, call a mechanic or tow your Jeep to the nearest repair shop. 

A blue thermometer signifies that the temperature is way below the optimum required. 

But, if it blinks from red to blue, this indicates an electrical malfunction in the cooling system. 

If it’s yellow or amber, the fuel has entered the engine oil. 

Run the engine until warm to evaporate the fuel. 

Brake Troubles Warning

When the brake light turns on, there could be issues with the braking system. 

Sometimes it might be due to low brake fluid level or malfunctioning brakes. 

Do not drive your vehicle in such a condition. 

Bring your Jeep to a stop and call your dealer immediately. 

Low Coolant Indicator

If the low coolant symbol lights up, it simply means that the engine’s cooling system is low on fluid. 

Pull over, wait for the engine to cool so you can resolve this issue. 

Transmission Fault Indicator

The powertrain trouble light turns on when the system detects a problem with the automatic transmission, shift system, or transaxle. 

You might experience an erratic shift, or the transmission will get stuck if the light stays on. 

Driving in such conditions will cause more problems to the transmission. 

Have a professional evaluate and fix the issue. 

The transmission fluid is overheating if the transmission symbol has a thermometer inside rather than the usual exclamation mark. 

Mostly this issue comes up while you are towing with your Jeep. 

Pull over and let the transmission cool down. 

Power Steering Trouble Light

If a steering symbol with an exclamation lights up, there is an issue with electronic power steering. 

When you ignore this, it will get harder to steer the wheel. 

The warning symbol might appear in red or yellow. You can reset the electronic system on your own. 

So, pull over, shut down the engine, and restart the car. 

If the warning light doesn’t go out, take your vehicle to a specialized dealer for repair. 

Check Engine Light Symbol

While driving your Jeep and you see the check engine light, there is an issue with the engine, emission system, or transmission. 

The engine light indicator can light up when there is a missing or loose gas cap. 

In this case, check the cap and install it properly. 

It can also happen due to dirty mass airflow or faulty oxygen sensors. 

With such issues, your car will begin to experience increased emissions, impaired gas mileage, and frequent stalling. 

Have it serviced to avoid such problems. 

Tire Pressure Monitor Indicator

When the tire pressure indicator light illuminates, there is low pressure in one or more tires. 

Driving on low or high-pressure tires is very dangerous. 

Bring the pressure to the recommended 35psi.

Why Are My Jeep’s Gauge Lights Not Working?

If your dashboard warning lights break down, you might not be able to tell when your car begins to experience problems until it’s too late. 

Once they cease to operate, you should try to locate the problem and find a solution as soon as possible since this can pose a safety hazard. 

Start by checking the dimmer switch. 

You could have pressed it by accident, or another person made some adjustments that switched it off. 

Turn your vehicle on. Then, locate the dimmer switch on the console near the steering or as part of the headlight switch. 

If you can’t find it, refer to the user manual. 

Once you locate it, turn the knob to see if the lights on your dash will get brighter. 

If this doesn’t help, the issue could be the fuse. 

Look for the fuse powering the dashboard lights, usually under the hood near the engine or below the dashboard. 

Once you find it, take out the lid, inspect the fuse to see if it’s blown. 

Before taking out the fuse, ensure that you cut power to the fuse box on the ignition.

If you notice broken metal strips, filaments, or blackening, replace the fuse with a similar one with the same amperage rating. 

Return the fuse cover, turn on the Jeep to see whether the dashboard might. 

At times you may need to replace the faulty light bulbs. 

Take off the faceplate covering the dashboard gauge panel, disconnect the switches, controls, and cables. 

Remove the bulb at the back of the instrumental panel and replace them with new ones of the same model and size. 

Put on gloves to avoid touching the new bulb with your bare hands. 

Replace the faceplate, reconnect the connections, start your vehicle, turn the headlights and see if the dashboard lights. 

If you find the steps quite confusing or the dashboard fails to light even after trying all the methods, seek professional assistance. 

Jeep “Check Gauges”

Check gauge light indicates a problem within the system. 

To diagnose the exact issue, you need to familiarize yourself with various warning signs and symbols in a Jeep. 

The best way to prevent such issues is by keeping up with regular vehicle servicing and repairing minor issues once they appear. 

This way, you will enjoy smooth and safe rides, and your Jeep will serve you long enough.