The car has hidden buttons and other devices that are not always known to drivers.
After purchasing a new car, not all motorists thoroughly read the instructions, and many important devices are overlooked by them. Few people use a number of functions , the buttons of which are placed inconspicuously. Therefore, motorists learn with interest and surprise about some hidden devices that help to significantly simplify the use of a car.
Grille under steering wheel
Many have noticed that in cars with automatic climate control on the dashboard or on the central tunnel there is a small grill that hides the cavity in the panel. Some believe that this is a stub for some missing button or just a design element, which is why they hang a smartphone mount on it or stick it with icons, but this use is not always correct. Under the grille are placed the temperature sensor in the cabin, as well as humidity sensors. With their help, the climate control system controls the air quality and adjusts the operation of the air conditioner . In some machines, there may be several such gratings. A small fan pumps air through the grille and delivers it to the sensitive elements of the sensors.
If the grille is covered with foreign objects, then the operation of the air conditioning system will be distorted. In general, there is nothing unnecessary in the car.
Interior mirror function
If you look closely at the interior mirror, you can see an inconspicuous lever or a button for turning on some device on it. The lever controls the light filter inside the case. With it, the internal prism that reflects the image from behind is rotated in such a way as to absorb some of the bright light. That is, the light no longer goes directly to the mirror, but through the filter. This was done to prevent the driver from being blinded at night by the bright beams of car headlights. The lever is not visible from the driver’s seat, so not all novice drivers immediately notice it. And since driving schools do not teach such subtleties, the button is not used.
On more expensive cars, this device has an electric drive, which is activated automatically at the command of an electronic control unit that responds to signals from photocells. The first sensor analyzes the degree of illumination in the direction of the car. The second catches the light from the headlights of passing cars driving behind. In the event of a significant difference between the illumination from the front and bright light sources from behind, the electronics rotate the filter and darken the mirror.
However, to turn on the auto-dim function, there is a tiny inconspicuous button that you need to press and hold for 2-3 seconds.
Shift lock
Another inconspicuous button is next to the automatic transmission selector . This is a shift lock key, located in front of the lever and covered with a plastic cover to prevent accidental activation. No one ever uses it, but in vain. Using the shift lock function, you can unlock the “machine” when the car is parked with the engine off.
This is necessary in the event of a breakdown of the machine. For example, let’s imagine a situation where a car won’t start and needs to be taken to a workshop for repairs. When the engine is off, the selector is blocked by a special lock. To load the car onto a tow truck, you need to remove this constipation, which is what the shift lock button helps with. To do this, remove the small plug and press the button, after which we move the lever to position N.
After switching to neutral speed, even without a running engine, you can roll the car to the right place or pull it onto the loading platform of a tow truck.
Overdrive
On the old 4-speed automatics there is another button that is not very noticeable and sometimes almost never used by the owners. This is an OD (Overdrive) function. It allows you to increase the threshold for switching speeds. If in normal operation the gearbox stages change at 2 thousand engine revolutions, then with Overdrive they switch already at 3.5-4 thousand. The box, as drivers say, “hangs” in third gear and allows you to keep the engine at its peak performance.
The OD mode is recommended to be used in winter when the roads are littered with snow. In snow porridge, additional Newton meters will not hurt. High speeds also help to effectively brake the engine when releasing gas.
Rear door lock
Carriage of children in a car is associated with a number of dangers. There is a risk that the baby will start playing with the lever on the passenger door, which may cause it to open while driving. The same story often happens with the power window open button. Not all drivers know that the window and door lock can be blocked . This is done with the help of an inconspicuous lever at the end of the door. To access it, you need to open the door and inspect the area next to the castle.
Sometimes the lever is hidden under a rubber plug, and its appearance resembles a slotted bolt head. To activate, you will need to insert the sting of the car key into the slot and turn it clockwise.
On many premium cars, the “child lock” is electrified. It can be activated using a button located on the power window control unit. You can recognize it by the graphic symbol. The button shows a doll in a crossed out circle. There is also a window lock