idiot lights

can anyone point in the right direction to find a description of the idiot lights on my 90 Lumina. I find some vague. I know, sounds like a dumb question, but am unsure of where to look next?
Thanks in advance

do you have an owners manual? Maybe check ebay for one. I know my 1990 lumina owners manual explained the idiot lights. Not sure. What light(s) are on that you are in question of?

Idiot lights are all lights that operate things such as oil pressure battery temp. anything that in some cases has a gauge,,thats why they are called idiot lights because they dont give an exact temp or volt or oil pressure reading they just come on when the system of oil pressure or temp or charge is not functioning.

I have a Chilton's manual but am unable to find anything of any use in it. Also the light in question is in the bottom left hand corner of the group of lights. It shows a couple of horizontal lines across the bottom with what looks like a thermometer in the vertical position. I thought it was the temp light but cannot seem to fix the problem.

bring the car to autozone and have them hook it up to a computer, they should be able to pinpoint to you what is malfunctioning, or what is wrong. Yes, sounds like temp to me. Or maybe coolant level. I really dont know. good luck.

I really don't want to take it somewhere if at all possible, money issues and all. I too thought about coolant level but have eliminated that through inspection as well as topping up all levels. I'm also wondering if it is the temp light and it is a wiring problem somewhere, how would it affect the health of my car by ignoring it. assuming of course that I'm receiving a false warning?

what I beleive you are looking at is a coolant level light,,easy way to find out is in the upper passenger side of the radiator there should be a single wire going to a little sensor in the radiator,unplug this sensor and see if the light goes out ,,if not then jump a ground to the wire and see if light goes out,,that will eliminate the coolant level. If it doesnt do anything it will at least show you wear the coolant level light is,,then move to the temp sensor in the water jacket area of the intake and try that.