‘I’m a car expert - never ever ignore this dashboard light’

A top motoring expert has pointed out one petrol and diesel car dashboard warning light that should never be ignored, with drivers at risk of serious consequences. Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at Ovoko, suggested drivers should never ignore the engine management light.

He claimed this was every car’s "most serious warning" and suggested vehicles could be developing a major issue. This will appear on the car dashboard as an orange or red engine shaped symbol and inform drivers there is an issue with the engine or emission control systems. Ovoko warns it could indicate a range of issues, including potential damage to the catalytic converter, complete engine failure or cumulative damage.

With a replacement engine costing anywhere from £2,500 to over £5,000 in standard vehicles, it could be a serious blow to cash-strapped drivers.

Mr Urbonas said: "The engine management light is effectively your car's cry for help.

"Unlike some advisory warnings, this light indicates that your car's onboard computer has detected a fault that needs addressing right away."

Replacing a catalytic converter is also a major issue for drivers, with bills likely to set many back between £800 and £1,500.

Meanwhile, costs will be substantially higher for some high-end luxury models, with fees upwards of £3,500.

Prevention is always better than repair and a small issue can quickly develop into a costly one.

Something that may have started as a simple sensor issue costing £100 to fix can quickly cascade into multiple component failures.

This could see motorists having to pay out for bills exceeding £4,000 to keep their cars on the road.

Kazimieras added: "Through our network of parts suppliers, we see the consequences of ignored engine lights daily. What usually starts as a minor sensor issue can escalate to customers needing complete engine assemblies when early intervention would have saved them thousands.

Ovoko stressed drivers who notice the dashboard warning light should get their car checked out at a garage immediately.

They also encouraged road users to consider a second opinion after being quoted thousands of pounds for any repair work.

Kazimieras concluded: "Modern engines have sophisticated monitoring systems that rarely trigger warnings without cause. The data is clear: repairs made within 72 hours of the light appearing typically cost 70% less than those delayed for weeks.

"As someone who works with quality control daily, I can confirm that prevention beats the cure, every time."