Most drivers are familiar with the common warning lights that show on the dashboard. However, with more people now switching to hybrid and electric cars, you might notice symbols illuminating on the dashboard that you don’t recognize. One of these is the ready-to-drive warning light. What does this light mean, and what do you need to do about it? Read on to find out more.
Why is My Ready to Drive Warning Light On?
Since there is no engine under the bonnet in an electric vehicle, there’s no audible sign of when they are switched on and ready to be driven. Instead of listening out for the engine revs as you would in a standard petrol or diesel car, a light illuminates on the dashboard to let you know.
What is the Ready to Drive Warning Light?
The ready-to-drive light is not really a warning light. It is a light featured on the dashboard of electric cars to let the driver know when it is safe to start driving and the car is switched on. Some manufacturers use a symbol, which is usually shown in green and features a car with a double-sided arrow underneath. But to avoid confusion, some manufacturers have done away with the symbol altogether and simply show ‘Ready’ or ‘Go’ on the dashboard.
What Does it Mean When the Ready to Drive Warning Light is Flashing?
The ready-to-drive light should be a steady light on the dashboard in the majority of electric or hybrid cars. However, if you notice that the light is flashing, this could be an indication of an error code or an electrical glitch. It can sometimes happen after a battery or battery cable has been replaced. You may not be able to drive the car in this case. A flashing ready-to-drive light should be checked by a professional electric vehicle mechanic who can complete a warning light inspection and determine if the code causing the alert simply needs to be cleared, or if a repair is needed.
How Does the Ready to Drive Warning Light Work?
The ready-to-drive light switches on when the electric car is turned on and ready to drive away. When you get in your electric vehicle and switch it on, there is no audible engine noise to let you know that it is ready to start driving. This light shows up on the dashboard to let the driver know that the car is running and can be driven.
What are the Common Reasons the Ready to Drive Warning Light Will Come On?
The ready-to-drive light comes on when your electric car has been started and is ready to drive. If the light does not turn on when you start the car, there may be a problem. This could be that your electric car does not have enough battery power to start, for example. Look out for other warning lights on your dashboards, such as the charging symbol which reminds you to disconnect the charging cable before you drive away, the general fault symbol, which might stop your car from being ready to drive, or the limited power symbol, which could indicate a problem with your car’s battery that is preventing it from starting.
Is it Dangerous to Drive with the Ready to Drive Warning Light On?
No. If your ‘ready to drive’ light is showing on the dashboard and there are no other warning lights displayed, this means that the car is safe to drive. The purpose of this light is to indicate to the driver that they can start driving the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
If the ready-to-drive light does not come on, however, you may not be able to drive your car. Since the purpose of this car is to indicate to the driver that they can pull away from their parking space, no light usually means that the car will not move if you try to drive it. If you turn your electric car on and the ready-to-drive light does not show up on the dashboard, you may need to book a diagnostic test to figure out why this is happening. Check that your car is charged, and the battery has power. If the battery is charged, your ready-to-drive light might not be showing due to a fault with the battery or electrical system that will need to be repaired in order to get your car back on the roads again.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix the Ready to Drive Warning Light?
If the ready-to-drive light is not showing up as it should when you start your electric car, this could be down to a problem. Usually, other warning lights will show up on the dashboard to let you know what might be causing the car to be unable to start. Sometimes, it might be a simple and easy fix like charging your car if it has run out of battery power. However, in the case of more serious problems like electrical faults and battery issues, you will need to take your car to a specialist who can diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. This can get expensive depending on the make and model of the electric car and the severity of the issue.
Will My Car Fail its MOT if the Ready to Drive Warning Light is On?
Just like petrol and diesel vehicles, electric cars need to have an MOT test annually once they are more than three years old. The ready-to-drive warning light will not cause an MOT failure at it demonstrates to the mechanic that the car is working correctly and is safe to start driving once turned on. However, if other warning lights show alongside the ready-to-drive light, this could cause an MOT failure depending on the reason. If the ready-to-drive light is not showing on the dashboard when it should, this could be an indicator of a problem that might cause an MOT failure such as a serious electrical or battery fault.
About Fixter
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