# A Prettier light on the dash

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prettier-light-on-the-dash/262958>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prettier-light-on-the-dash/262958 "2004-09-03T14:47:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prettier-light-on-the-dash/262958/1 "2004-09-03T14:47:38Z")

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I thought this was going to be in

> **[Quick car question (OOOH, pretty light on dash!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274247)**
>
> So, as will become quite clear, I know nothing about cars– My beautiful blue 100,000+ mile '93 Ford Escort \[sub\]shut up\[/sub\] has served me faithfully for many years, but it has now started to worry me. The idiot light that seems to exist to remind...

but it is not.  
But it reminded me of the question I had.

On newer cars, there is a blinking red light that can be found when the car is parked and key is out of ignition. It shows up better (only) at night, and is just a simple pimple type light.

What does this do, what is its purpose?

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prettier-light-on-the-dash/262958/2 "2004-09-03T14:50:20Z")

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On my car, such a light indicates that the security system is on. True, it doesn’t really have a security system, but car thieves don’t know that… 😃

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**Author:** ![Kymodoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@Kymodoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kymodoce)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prettier-light-on-the-dash/262958/3 "2004-09-03T15:27:59Z")

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Seconded. My Landrover and Mitsubishi both do this… keys out, alarm on… flashing red light appears on dash to warn those thoughtful cautious lads with bricks that my car is alarmed.