Why do people ignore warning lights?

[timwilky]

My lad killed his last van by driving it with a bright red oil warning light.

Tonight he has phoned me. "The ignition light came on, then the temperature then stop light and the steering was heavy". "OK where are you, sounds like a belt has gone", "At home", "Where did this happen", "On the way back from liverpool an hour ago".

The sod has driven 20 miles without a fan belt cooking his engine. I paid £3500 for the damm van 4 weeks ago. I am not looking forward to tomorrow when I inspect the damage. I cannot get him to explain why when the big red light said STOP that he ignored it. Yes I can, bank of dad time again

[anna]

so lets get this straight.. red lights are bad to ignore? but what about amber ones??? ;)

[Razor]

I'd make him walk...

[Ed]

Because people can't be arsed to stop and investigate, they think they know better than the idiot lights. They're called that for a reason.

[BernardBikerchick]

i just get treacle on the case when any of my lights start flashing !! :p ;) ;)

[gettin2dizzy]

my FI light came on so often today, it needed the ignition turning off and on again to get the light to go off, got sick of pulling over so just did it on the motorway :) (but i know it didn't cause any harm :P )

my bro has run 2 cars in to the ground this way too. he drove for a few weeks with a low oil warning until a conrod said hello to the tarmac! i really don't understand how little mechanical knowledge some people can have!

[timwilky]

Right, now the sun is shinning I have had a look.

The altenator pully is smashed to bits. the belt is missing and feels like the water pump pully is dry. Damm it is going to cost him just to find out if he needs a new engine

[scarlett]

The sod has driven 20 miles without a fan belt cooking his engine. I paid £3500 for the damm van 4 weeks ago. I am not looking forward to tomorrow when I inspect the damage. I cannot get him to explain why when the big red light said STOP that he ignored it. Yes I can, bank of dad time again

Whilst ever you keep forking out the cash, he is going to keep doing daft things. Make him pay for the damage himself.

[hovis]

Damm it is going to cost him just to find out if he needs a new engine

him or YOU?

[Tris]

Right, now the sun is shinning I have had a look.

The altenator pully is smashed to bits. the belt is missing and feels like the water pump pully is dry. Damm it is going to cost him just to find out if he needs a new engine

Is it in your interest for him to have a van? If not - let him walk.

Thats my opinion for what is worth

[600+]

I remember he did something else on his van a while back

If that was a different van - which I assume it is - I'm sorry but you're being taken for a ride here Tim!!

[northwind]

Everyone thinks that there must be loads of failsafes, there's no way that little light can be serious, the manufacturers have big margins of error, etc. The Seven I occasionally help with has just 3 idiot lights, each about 2 inches across and marked "NO FUEL?" "NO OIL!!!" and my personal favourite "ON FIRE"

[kwak zzr]

i hate cars with lots of electronics:( when them lights come on its gonna cost!