Is my engine overheating light on?

I noticed the engine overheating light on my 2003 Tacoma dash is lit up on my dashboard during a long highway drive at night three days ago. It's on the far left side of my dash so not sure when/if it's always been there. I had my water pump replaced at 130,000, and now have 190,000. I also have a check engine light on (separate issue but important for this topic).

My question is: When I turn my headlights on and off, all the lights on my dash including the engine overheating light go on and off EXCEPT for the check engine light. I'm trying to determine if the engine overheating light is actually on, or if it just lights up normally when my headlights are on and I haven't noticed it because it's located on the far left of my dash. I would imagine it should stay on when my headlights were off like the check engine light if there was an actual problem? I change my oil often (done just last week) and the oil level and coolant levels are fine.

 

Which Gauge? The one that points between H and L like in the picture below? It was pointing right in the center between the two where it normally does. Oil is full, Coolant is full. Why would toyota make the engine overheating light come on with the lights? I'm believe you, but that concept doesn't make sense to me, even if there is another light to warn of over heating. Thanks for the response

 

my engine overheating light does not come on with my lights.

was the gauge itself redlining? my guess is no because you didn't mention both (that'd kind of be a no brainer). follow up assumption would be that your radiator did not boil over.

my guess, is that there's something fishy with your light. but, i wouldn't really want to risk overheating the engine either. that can be a kiss of death for these if it's severe. do you have a port reader? that should be one of the live values you can read.

 

Awesome! I didn't know that. Thank-you, that's a relief

 

Mine doesn't come on with the lights either, never has All of my other lights work fine. I always assumed it was a warning light if the temp gauge ever hit the red zone.

 

Just a universal icon printed on the gauge face, showing that gauge as the engine temperature gauge or coolant temp gauge.

 

Now that I think about it, it does "illuminate" with the lights on (like the speedometer does, for instance) but it never 'glows' like the check engine light will...I think I had the two confused in thinking that it was a warning light when it's not. Thanks for the clarification

 

What mine looks like with lights on. You shouldn't need to be concerned.

 

Buy an Ultragauge and you won't have to worry about engine temps going unnoticed. you can also set alarms for higher temps. Best $60.00 I spent concerning money I've spent on my truck.

 

today i learned something new.

 

it means your about to hit a buoy