Ford F-150: Check Gauges – What Does It Mean?

Whenever a light or a message appears on the F-150 dashboard, numerous things can cause it, creating panic and stress.

Don’t worry, Check Gauge light is not a severe problem, or at least it won’t be if you deal with it correctly.

In this article, find out what causes the Check gauge light to turn on and how to fix it.

F-150 Check Gauge: Key Takeaways

1. Issues with gas, oil, engine coolant temperature, and battery gauges trigger the Check Gauge light in a Ford F-150.
2. The gas gauge indicates the remaining fuel in the vehicle, and the light may come on when the gauge is near “E” (empty).
3. The oil gauge displays oil pressure, and the light might activate if the pressure is too high or too low.
4. The engine coolant temperature gauge shows how hot the engine is operating, with the light coming on when the temperature is dangerously high.
5. To diagnose and fix the Check Gauge light, enter the Engineering Mode, perform the Gauge Test, and then address the issue or consult a mechanic.

What Does Check Gauges Light Mean On A Ford F-150? 

A Ford F-150 has multiple gauges, but the gas, oil, coolant temperature, and battery power gauges are the most noticeable.

Your “Check Gauges” light may turn on to notify you if any of these gauges are not reading regularly.

In the following paragraphs, read about the important gauges in your F-150 and what can cause the “Check gauge” light to come on.

Gas Gauge

You can determine how much petrol is left in your automobile by looking at the gas gauge, often known as the fuel gauge. This gauge’s depiction of a petrol pump makes it easy to recognize.

When you f your gas tank, the gauge’s arrow will point toward “F,” which stands for “full.” However, if you run out of gas, the arrow will go toward “E,” meaning “empty.”

Your “Check Gauges” light can turn on if your gas gauge is too near to the “E.”

Oil Gauge

It’s simple to believe that the oil gauge in your F-150 displays the amount of oil in your automobile, similar to the gas gauge.

Even yet, this indication genuinely gives you the oil pressure even though the oil amount may alter the oil gauge reading. Maintaining a healthy oil pressure is important since low pressure deprives your engine of the lubrication it needs.

Simple oil gauges are used in F-150s to indicate whether the oil pressure is sufficient immediately. The oil may recognize this gauge can design on it. You can see a “H” for “high” on one side of the gauge and a “L” for “low” on the other.

If your oil pressure gauge is excessively close to the “L” or the “H,” which suggests an issue with your oil pressure, your “Check Gauges” light can turn on.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge

The coolant temperature indicator on your F-150 will show you how hot the engine is operating. The thermostat graphic on the engine coolant gauge serves as a visual cue.

The coolant temperature gauge on the F-150 features the conventional “C” for “cold” at one end and “H” for “hot” at the other. Your thermometer should typically read somewhere close to the center of the range.

However, if it’s pointing towards the “C,” this often isn’t an issue, and your automobile will automatically fix itself. But your car is in danger of damage as the arrow approaches the “H,” and the “Check Gauges” light will probably come on.

Battery Gauge

You can be certain that your automobile is receiving the right amount of electricity thanks to the battery gauge, which measures the voltage of your battery.

The battery power gauge may be identified by its representation of a battery.

Older F-150 models include a battery gauge that is located on the dashboard with the other gauges and has an “L” for “low” and an “H” for “high.”

If your battery functions correctly, your gauge should display a reading around the center.

If not, a “Check Gauges” light can appear.

How To Run A Gauge Check In Ford F-150? 

To find out why your F-150 has a Check Gauge light on, you must take it to a mechanic or inspect it yourself. 

Here is a quick guide you can use to navigate yourself through the process. 

Step 1. Enter Engineering Mode 

As a starting point, we’ll show you how to use your Ford F-150’s engineering mode to do a gauge check on the truck. This will enable you to identify your vehicle’s problems and do multiple tests.

To start your Ford F-150 in engineering mode, press the “OK” button in the center of the directional dial on your steering wheel.

You must switch your Ford F-150 into accessory mode while holding the “OK” button. Simply depress the power button while keeping your feet off the brake to do this.

When the accessory mode is on, you should notice “Engineering Test Mode” on your controls module in the center. If this does not show up on your dashboard, you may have prematurely released the “OK” button.

Step 2. Do The Gauge Test 

You may remove the “OK” button now that you are in engineering mode to see the “Gauge Test” display on your dashboard in its place.

The gauge test is only one of the numerous tests you may perform in Engineering mode; once you start it, it will run automatically.

Your test will let you know if there are any problems. If not, it will proceed to the other tests and configuration choices, including your LED lights, different meters, battery, fuel info, etc. 

Using the directional pad on the wheel, you can go on to another exam if there is one here that you would like to skip.

Step 3. Fixing The Light

The next thing to do is to determine how to turn the indicator light off after running the gauge’s test and discovering a problem or if you ever see the “check gauges” light come on while operating your Ford F-150.

In the end, there are two ways to turn off the “check gauges” light:

1. Fix the Ford F-150 problem causing the warning light to come on.
2. Turn off the warning light manually.

We advise you to fix the problem causing the Check Gauge light to turn on because avoiding the problem won’t do you any good. Check in with your mechanic for a proper checkup.