Do you know what all the controls do?

_Kaiser_

Just listening to Newstalk here and an interesting (but not entirely surprising) item mentioned at the end of the news..

Apparently up to half of drivers don't know what many of the controls in their car do, what warning lights or sounds mean, how to access various settings such as resetting the clock, where the fog light switch is, or have done things like accidentally turning on full beams during daylight hours.

The presenters themselves went on to admit they themselves would fit into this category.

That's ridiculous IMO (but as I said, not surprising either!). The first thing I do when I get into a different a car (especially if it's a loaner/temp) is familiarise myself with where everything is, especially things like the fuel door release, lights etc. By the time I give it back I've reset all the radio presets too 😁 I've even read the owners manual! Joking aside though it strikes me as incredibly dangerous to not to know what all the controls do and messages/dash lights mean.

So, be honest... Do you know where everything in your car is and what it means or does?

Borzoi

No, life's too short

Allinall

Lights, indicators and wipers.

All the rest are peripheral.

magicbastarder

i only recently found out that the storage box behind the handbrake is my car is vented so you can keep it cool with the A/C.

Miscreant

Most people don't particularly care about most of the features in their vehicle. As long as they know how to work the main controls, that is usually enough. I have a sister in law who didn't know her car had cruise control, despite having owned the car for 2 years. The hilarious thing is that she does a lot of long trips regularly and it made such a difference to get to use the cruise control afterwards.

Linking up a phone to Bluetooth in the car is another one that a lot of people are clueless about, but like I said, as long as they can drive safely then that is what matters.

cml387

The amount of people you see holding mobiles while driving cars that have Bluetooth installed demonstrates the truth of this.

I know the majority of the controls in my car. But honestly I wouldn't be entirely sure about the fog lights.

And if I saw a warning on the dashboard I would probably Google what exactly it means. If it's red or flashing red id pull in.

Alun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119079186#Comment_119079186

Agree about the fog lights. I can never remember which symbol is which for the front and back lights, but then again I probably only use them once or twice in the whole lifetime of any car I've owned anyway.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058246315/do-you-know-what-all-the-controls-do

I have adapted the new EU rule for years... my car is on continual summer time...

Hellrazer

Id say I probably take 5-10 calls a day from people who have either

1. Turned something on by mistake and a "new" light has appeared on the dash.
2. Turned something off and theres a "new" light on the dash.
3. Cant figure out how to turn something on or off. In a lot of cases the fault is with the manufacturer - for example on one model its easy to hit the speed limiter when answering the phone with the steering wheel controls. Im forever getting calls with cars not going above 60kmph. On the new civic you can turn off the lane assist with your knee getting in and out of the car especially if you are one of those drivers that drive with your chest up against the steering wheel. Puts a light on that panics people. Theres way too many buttons in cars these days especially if you are coming from a model that was a bit more basic!!

Hurrache

Even before I pick up a new or change of car I'll have read the manual, they're al online these days.

creedp

Normally I read the manual when I change car but it took me 15 months to learn that my car has android auto which is very handy for Google maps.

kirving

You can't necessarily blame the driver either IMO. Manufacturers cannot even standardise basic dashbaord symbols.

Case in point, you get into a rental car, turn it on, and see this symbol. Are your dipped headlights lights on?

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119079877#Comment_119079877

Trick question. It's the Spidey Sense activated symbol

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058246315/do-you-know-what-all-the-controls-do

where the fog light switch is,

Was asked this in one of my driving tests. Hadn't the, erm, foggiest...

[Steve]

For my own car I know what all the controls do - I'd just read through the manual, sit in the car and made sure everything did what it says it's meant to do. If the manual isn't clear on it then just press the button and figure it out. Not rocket science really. Mostly checking that it actually works as designed. I wouldn't expect average person know bluetooth or any tech stuff but fog lights, wheel adjustment, seat adjustment etc should be obvious must-know for your personal car.

For family/friend/rental cars I'd spend about 15mins getting familiar with locations of the important stuff if I wasn't familiar with the car already. I wouldn't care about in-car entertainment or other non-essential stuff unless it was my own car or a car I'd have to run for a while.

mikeecho

One of the in-laws was complaining that the car was foggging up.

I asked did they turn on the a/c, they didn't know how .

Asked if the air was reciculate, they didn't know how to check.

Transpired that they set the air to either Max cold or max heat, and set the fan to either, off or max.

So they would just blast either hot or cold air for a few min, then turn it off, then back on at max, then off, then max, then off... You get the picture.

Not a hope would they know what any symbol would mean.

(Female mid 30's, vegan)

Atlantic Dawn

Everything except the full features of radio and sat nav, can do all I really need on them, store channels, set directions and add points of interest.

mikeecho

I know what all the symbols and buttons do, but there are some features i never bothered to use, like the harddrive for storing CDs and using the radio station preset buttons as idrive short cuts.

... Just don't put me into a Merc. I get confused with the one stalk that does everything, and the little stalk for cruise control..

On that note, wife's car has cc on the steering wheel, just like my car, but on the opposite side, so when I want to set a speed in her car I change the radio, and when I want to change the radio I make a phone call... But that's more to do with muscle memory.

Hurrache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081405#Comment_119081405

You see so many people in wet weather driving around with all their windows fogged up, it's so dangerous.

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119082057#Comment_119082057

I just leave there climate control on auto, and a/c on all the time.

One symbol that can be confusing is the DPF left, it seems to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119079877#Comment_119079877

Every rental I've gotten in the last few years has had auto lights, the first thing I do with a rental is flick to auto lights. But since there's thousands of drivers in their own cars only with only DRLs on in the dark most people don't even know how their own car works never mind a rental.

ba_barabus

I love sitting into a car and doing a 30 minute Doug DeMuro quirks and features press of all the buttons.

Yep, I'm sad enough to go through everything just for the fun of it.

hayse

I hit cruise in the fast lane.

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119079297#Comment_119079297

We always got people freaking out over lights coming on for service,tyre pressure,lane assist, people changing the language,not being able to set the clock,can't use bluetooth and the list goes on and on

standardg60

Mostly these drivers will be found in the middle lane of the M50 when the left lane is empty

Lewis_Benson

The majority of drivers havnt a clue.

Should be part of the driving test

johnayo

And then of course you have the Audis and BMWs that dont have any indicators.😂

whippet

I'm a bit anal in making sure I know what everything does in the car. My wife on the other hand - just knows how to drive. The panic from her when she first needed to charge the EV when out and about. I had a timer set on the car for only charging at night rate at home. Of course I may as well asked her to build a space shuttle when explaining how to turn the timer off.

seamus

Don't think it's necessary to know what all the warning lights mean off the top of your head. Keep the manual in the car and if a light pops up, you look it up.

I kind of have a need to know how things work though so when I get a new car you'll find me spending an hour outside pulling on every handle and looking into every compartment.

Tazzimus

I like to know how my car works, so yes.

It's really not hard to get into a new car and spend a few minutes seeing what everything does, as it most likely will be different to the previous one you were in.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083497#Comment_119083497

It is part of the test

DaveyDave

Honestly doesn't surprise me people haven't got a clue about their cars.

Every half decent car has Bluetooth and many cars have CarPlay and Android Auto yet everyone has their phone on loudspeaker in front of their chin while driving even though anyone who uses it will tell you it's a fantastic feature. A colleague got a new Corolla and when I ask her about any new tech it has over their previous 15 year old car they always seem to avoid the question as they obviously haven't messed around with it.

I've had to explain to 3 people what auto climate is. One of these is someone who specifically drives premium executive saloons. Got into the Golf after the girlfriend was driving it, her colleage was cold so turned up the driver temperature too and manually changed the fan controls. Had to get into the car with the girlfriend and go through all the climate controls. My sister drives with her fans off and complains about the car always being fogged up...

First thing I did when I got home with my car was go through all the menus and read the manual. I'll do it again with my next car. I'm driving a different car at the moment and apart from having to figure out the fog lights being on the indicator stalk and the cruise control being a stalk below that it's not hard to figure out.

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119086726#Comment_119086726

I haven't a clue what CarPlay or Android Auto are nor am I particularly interested in finding out. Many of us just don't have any interest in IT gadgets or whatever they are. Life's too short. Once I can put on RTE Radio 1, I don't need anything else.

Hurrache

If you used them it'll open a far wider world of RTE you at your convenience, whenever you want.

And if you use Google maps or similar, you won't have to stick your phone to your windscreen to do so.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119086726#Comment_119086726

one conclusion that could be reached from your post is that cars are clearly over-specced for many people.

my (10 year old) car has built in satnav. i never use it; it's yet another user interface i'd have to learn. and i suspect that's the problem for many people, learning yet another user interface.

DaveyDave

You don't have to have an interest in IT/gadgets, I'm talking more about using it for calls/hands free voice messaging. Every car has Bluetooth and a lot have CarPlay/Android Auto so no excuses for the increasing amount of people holding their phone to their chin on loudspeaker like a fashion statement. Funny how it's a trend to hold your phone in front of your face when everyone was wearing EarPods as a fashion statement a few years ago which meant hands free calls...

CarPlay/Android Auto are a universal interface that is the same for every car so you don't need to get used to anything. On top of that it's an improvement over the usually crap, outdated or slow car systems.

NickNickleby

Bought a Toyota Corolla this year (a 2020 one). I thought the owner manual was absolutely crap. So, I just sat in it for 30 minutes and played with all the settings and buttons. However, I've yet to master the satnav. I can get it to give me directions. But.... couple of weeks ago was heading for Blainroe near Arklow, from Artane. The bloody thing kept telling me to head for the Malahide Road, even as I drove up Oscar Traynor towards the M1/M50.

I may have to consult the manual 🤣.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119087426#Comment_119087426

yeah, no excuse for not learning how to pair your phone with your car. my car is a 2012 model and it was easy.

Turbolounge

Some of these people can barely work the climate/ infortainment, I'm always shocked how they have managed to get this far in life with a job, mortgage, kids etc.

Wishbone Ash

A work colleague had a car for 4 years before he realised it had a sixth gear.

brokenangel

I don't give a crap about a lot of features. I have had cars for years and then figured out some features. Only found out recently the car I have for 3 years has a cooled glove box

Like lots of features we don't use, like apple car play etc.

Also some of the features are hidden, like on VW the heated mirror function is on the button and not really noticeable. I had a VW for years and never realised I could heat the mirrors :-)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091741#Comment_119091741

How? the gear are written on it?

sudocremegg

Newstalk listeners. Absolute dinosaurs.

CFlat

Bought a car last July. Gf was out in it the other day. She came back and said, do you know there's a charging pad in your car? Just pop your phone on it and it charges, no leads required.

I did not know that.

Damien360

Judging by the comments so far, I guess I’m the weird one. I actually always read the manual for the car, cover to cover within the day of getting it and spend time figuring out what is actually present in the car.

Every time I get a rental I spend 10-15mins figuring out the important stuff before driving off. Manufacturer navigation systems defeat me always, but thankfully I can use google maps in nearly every car including the rentals.

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119093038#Comment_119093038

I’ve only ever been stumped by a car once, facelift Nissan Almera. Couldn’t figure out how the heater was supposed to work. You need to press the right hand knob to go from radio to heater controls using the same buttons

Other than that I will press every button until I figure everything out

Wishbone Ash

How? the gear are written on it?

Yes, but on his car the gear numbers were presented as indentations in the plastic/resin knob rather than actually labelled as such i.e. same colour. It was only when another work colleague borrowed his car and later asked him if he got to use 6th gear much that the penny dropped. (This was a few years back when six gears weren't that common).

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119078970#Comment_119078970

My old wagon had this, you could store exactly one can of coke in it at a time and it was ALWAYS icy cold. My new wagon, same car, few years younger doesn't have it. Gutted.

John_Rambo

I had a work colleague that was obsessed with buying a BMW. When he eventually got one he was raving about it, how it drives, the power delivery etc... I asked him if it was his first rear wheel drive car and he said it wasn't rear wheel drive.

Not knowing how to turn on & off your fog lights on your own car is just stupid by the way.

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119087186#Comment_119087186

You've missed the point. I don't want a wilder world of RTE. I've no interest in Lyric, Gold. 2FM etc. or whatever else this wider world involves.

kirk.

Just wanna get from a to b without breaking down

Wipers lights and demister is all I use