Warning lights are designed to alert you when something is malfunctioning on your vehicle. If you notice that the door/boot warning lights on your car or van are illuminated, it’s important to take action swiftly. With investigation and diagnostics, you can find out what’s causing the issue and resolve it before any additional damage occurs.
Why is my door/boot warning light on?
When the door/boot warning light is on, it means that there’s something amiss with either of these parts of the vehicle. However, it doesn’t tell you exactly what the problem is. There can be a variety of issues that cause the door/boot warning light to come on and until the exact problem is diagnosed and fixed, it may be unsafe to drive the vehicle.
What is the door/boot warning light?
Modern vehicles are fitted with an array of technology, much of which helps to increase road and vehicle safety. When the vehicle’s computer identifies a malfunction, it illuminates a light on the dashboard. Most vehicles have a number of warning lights so that the driver is aware of what type of malfunctioning is occurring.
The door/boot warning light, in particular, relates to the functionality of the vehicle’s doors and/or boot. This may be because doors aren’t fully closed, for example, or because the electrical connections in the door or boot have failed.
What does it mean when the door/boot warning lights are flashing?
When the door/boot warning lights are flashing, it’s a sure sign that further investigation is needed urgently. If warning lights are flashing, as opposed to constantly illuminated, it typically means that a serious malfunction has occurred. Due to this, you should assume that the vehicle isn’t safe to drive and arrange for a diagnostics test to be carried out as soon as possible.
How do the door/boot warning lights work?
The door/boot warning lights work by alerting you to a potential issue with the vehicle’s openings since they are not working correctly. However, the exact functionality of your door/boot warning lights will depend on the make and model of your car or van.
Some vehicles have two separate door and boot warning lights: one that relates to the doors and one to the boot. In contrast, some cars and vans have just one door/boot warning light that tells you there is a problem with either the doors or the boot (or both!)
Similarly, the door and/or boot warning light may also represent the bonnet on some vehicles. If your car or van isn’t fitted with a separate bonnet warning light, it’s worth assuming that the door/boot warning lights could indicate a problem with the bonnet too.
What are the common reasons the door/boot warning lights will come on?
Although the warning lights on your vehicle’s dashboard tell you where the problem is occurring, it doesn’t tell you exactly what the issue is. If your door/boot warning light is on, it could be because:
The Doors Aren’t Closed
If you’ve accidentally started driving without fully closing the doors and/or the boot, the warning light will switch on. When this happens, safely stopping the vehicle and checking that all the doors (and the boot) are firmly closed is the first step to take. If the light remains illuminated, you may also want to confirm that the bonnet is closed properly.
Faulty Door Switch
A door switch tells the vehicle’s control system when a door is open or closed. If it fails, however, it could send an incorrect message to the car’s in-built computer, which will cause the door/boot warning lights to come on. A faulty door switch can occur due to damage, but it could also be caused by degradation over time.
Malfunctioning Door Latch
The door latch keeps the door secure when it’s in the closed position and prevents it from falling open. Typically, this is a mechanical issue which the latch itself and it means that your door (or boot) can’t be closed reliably and could swing open at any time.
Electrical Short in the Anti-Theft System
If your vehicle is fitted with an anti-theft system, an electrical short could cause the door/boot warning lights to come. Anti-theft systems are designed to respond to movement in or around the vehicle via sensors. When these sensors are over or underactive, they can send incorrect messages to the car’s control centre, which, in turn, causes the warning light to switch on.
Is it dangerous to drive when my door/boot warning lights are on?
Yes. Driving when any type of warning light is illuminated can be dangerous. If one of the doors isn’t securely closed, for example, it could open without warning while the car is in transit. However, electrical faults are the most likely cause of door/boot warning lights coming on and these do not usually pose an immediate safety risk. To find out exactly what’s causing your door/boot warning light to switch on, arrange for your vehicle to be checked by a mechanic as soon as possible so that any potential issues can be fully resolved.
Although door/boot warning lights may not indicate an immediate safety risk, a malfunction can affect how your vehicle functions. It may not be possible to lock the car or van while the light is on, for example.
Is the door/boot warning light flashing? A flashing warning light can indicate that a serious issue is present.
What colour are the door/boot warning lights? In some vehicles, an amber warning light indicates an issue, while a red warning light tells you that you should pull over straight away.
How much does it cost to fix door/boot warning lights?
The cost of fixing door/boot warning lights can vary, depending on the underlying cause of the issue. However, running a diagnostics test is the quickest and most cost-effective way to determine the problem. Once you know why the door/boot warning lights are illuminated, you can obtain an exact quote and arrange for the problem to be resolved.
Will my car fail its MOT if the door/boot warning lights are on?
If any warning light is on when an MOT is conducted, it will be noted as an advisory. However, there are some warning lights that will lead to an automatic MOT fail, including warning lights for safety restraint (seatbelt) systems, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring systems and anti-lock braking systems.
Typically, door/boot warning lights won’t result in an automatic MOT fail but the underlying issue causing the light to come on could be a reason to fail the vehicle. Due to this, it’s important to have your vehicle checked by a professional mechanic if the door/boot warning lights are flashing or constantly illuminated.
About Fixter
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