Driving the car is something many people do everyday without giving it much of a second thought. But there are actually a number of features within the vehicle that many drivers aren’t even aware of or just take for granted.
For example, have you ever wondered what that little arrow next to the fuel light on the dashboard is for? Or the real use of the grab handles that are found inside the car above each door. Experts have explained an array of helpful car features and signals that you may not even know about.
Ever found yourself at a petrol station in a hire car, suddenly realising you haven’t the foggiest idea which side the fuel tank is on?
Getting it wrong is more than just a nuisance – you’re either left performing an awkward three-point turn or attempting to stretch the hose across to the other side of the vehicle.
Even if you’ve clocked up many years of driving experience in your own cars, borrowed motors or rental vehicles (let’s not even mention the nightmare that is rented moving vans), you might be surprised to discover there’s a tiny arrow next to most fuel gauges indicating which side the tank is on.
This handy feature has been a standard inclusion in new cars for nearly ten years, so next time you’re about to fill up a new motor, take a quick glance at the dashboard.
Above each car door, there’s typically a handle. You’ve likely always thought these were designed to give passengers something to cling onto when the driver takes corners a bit too enthusiastically.
However, according to cars.com, these handles serve a far more practical purpose for individuals with limited mobility trying to enter or exit the vehicle.
Whether it’s a wheelchair user or someone with reduced leg strength, these handles provide stability while manoeuvring into a comfortable position. They function much like the grab bars found in bathrooms, reports the Express.
If you pay attention to the dashboard of a new car, you’ll find more than just the gas cap location. For instance, during cold weather, you might notice an unusual dashboard light that resembles a road with a snowflake on it.
This is a warning sign indicating that the outside temperature is low enough for roads to freeze, as explained by mycardoeswhat.org, a website established by the US National Safety Council and the University of Iowa.
When driving on wet or icy roads, you may occasionally see a dash light flash depicting a small car skidding. This is an indicator that your stability control feature has been momentarily activated to keep your vehicle on track (literally).
According to mycardoeswhat.org, all cars sold in the United States since 2011 are required to have stability control. Sensors can detect if the car is turning too much (risking a spin out) or not turning enough (with a chance of veering off the road), and it applies the brakes on one or more wheels to manage the turn.
If your car has a button that allows you to switch off stability or traction control, it’s best to ignore it. The only time you would need to deactivate this feature is when attempting to free the vehicle from deep snow, as per mycardoeswhat.org..
Since 2008, all new cars have been equipped with sensors that monitor your tyre pressure and alert you if you’re running low on air by illuminating a dashboard light, typically shaped like a cross-section of a tyre with an exclamation point in it. Some modern vehicles even indicate which tyre is losing pressure.
It’s always best to consult your car’s manual for the ideal tyre pressure for your specific model.
Front fog lights are another feature designed to enhance visibility during poor driving conditions. These small additional lights, located below the headlights and tail lights, are intended to illuminate the immediate vicinity around the vehicle.
While almost all vehicles are fitted with rear fog lights, not all have them at the front, where they can be most beneficial to the driver by providing extra visual reference in foggy or snowy conditions when the road ahead is difficult to see.
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