"Secret" car features.

[threadlock]

driverrob said:

While first gear crawling in a traffic jam in my old Mitsubishi GTO TT, I discovered that it senses extra demand for the air-con by increasing the idle revs slightly. A handy low speed control: air-con off, economy mode, full auto = 3 diff speeds.

I like this one.

On my 2010 Audi A6:

Wiper motor is direct-drive, and it's possible to move the wiper blades manually across the screen (i.e. without using the ignition + stalk). Handy when washing the windscreen. The technology Audi used means the car can 'park' the wipers with the blade folded in the right direction for the first sweep, which means the blades never judder. Lots of people don't "get" Audi quality, but this is one of the small things that I like about mine.

The indicators have the common one-press feature that flashes three times for lane-changing, but on my Audi I can hold the stalk for slightly longer than a tap and the indicators still flash just once. Handy when I want to thank someone behind me without forcing the three-flash mode.

With VAG-COM I enabled -
- a previously-hidden visual parking aid mode, that uses the normal rear sensors to show a diagram of the car in the middle screen. When I bought the car, Audi wanted IIRC £400+ to include this feature from the factory (although the factory option did add front sensors too).
- (LED) DRLs all round, so no need to put the lights on when driving in low sun, strong shadow or misty conditions.
- an extra "sporty" page in the screen between the gauges, which shows oil temp, turbo pressure and a lap timer controlled with the RH stalk. Pointless in a TDI A6, but somewhat cool nevertheless.
- needle-sweep on ignition on.

[threadlock]

Justin Cyder said:

Couple of my Audis: hold the key fob down & the windows close. Not sure if that is particularly secret though.

Have you tried holding the Unlock button too? On my A6 this opens all the windows. Handy on a hot day when I want to ventilate the car without going outside and faffing with the ignition.

[Justin Cyder]

threadlock said:

Have you tried holding the Unlock button too? On my A6 this opens all the windows. Handy on a hot day when I want to ventilate the car without going outside and faffing with the ignition.

Sold the car now.

[Paul v8]

On our mk 5 Golf GTI, if the windows and sun roof are left open, holding down the lock button on the fob shuts them.

Another one is if you turn off the ignition, and tap down on the wiper stalk, it parks the wipers in a vertical position.

My old cavalier would do this aswell ,actually if I think my previous vauxhalls all could do this

[topalwaysdown]

James_N said:

Honda S2000 secret compartment

Exactly what I thought of when I saw the thread title. 90% of owners know about it, 10% of owners, most likely those who bought the car in the last six months will now spend hours looking for it

[AJordan]

wildcat45 said:

Does anyone know of any hidden features on the 2013 Freelander?

Not so much a 'secret feature', but when starting the car, the satnav will display the warning about not entering data whilst driving, with an 'accept' or 'close navigation button'.

If you ignore this and just drive off the Nav starts up anyway!

[heisthegaffer]

mat777 said:

3 that I know of in my Discovery, all concerning the SLABS unit (body control ecu)

3. it is also possible to change the settings on the computer controlled antiroll bars to make the car lean in when cornering, like a motorbike

I wonder what this would feel like as both a passenger and a driver. I'm surprised they don't do use this tech on these types of vehicles.

[Baryonyx]

Mr Gearchange said:

In the recent warmish weather I have discovered that the solar panels in the sunroof of my A8 run the air con when the car is parked up so i never return to a hot vehicle.

It's also one of the first things to pack in, either the relay to operate the solar panel switch on, or packing up the blower motor or fan brushes through overuse. Some people disconnect it for that reason.

[JG93]

Mine has a shark in the glove box (no seriously)

[Waugh-terfall]

C6 Audi A6 and probably any other Audi with Climate Control. Press and hold the ECON/OFF button after running the car and it'll turn the unit on for ten minutes to either keep the car cool or warm as you nip into the shops.

[AJordan]

JG93 said:

Mine has a shark in the glove box (no seriously)

Damn beat me to it!

[Caddyshack]

If I pinch the bum of any other woman my wife slaps me.......

[rehab71]

topalwaysdown said:

James_N said:

Honda S2000 secret compartment

Exactly what I thought of when I saw the thread title. 90% of owners know about it, 10% of owners, most likely those who bought the car in the last six months will now spend hours looking for it

Or just Google it

[Cyberprog]

mat777 said:

3 that I know of in my Discovery, all concerning the SLABS unit (body control ecu)

1. Hidden in a submenu is an option for "police mode". I gather that when teamed with the appropriate configuration of relays, it enables the alternating strobing of headlights seen on trafplod cars

2. Normally when SLABS senses the centre difflock is engaged, it disables traction control. No idea why, but cutting the appropriate wire (or putting a switch inline) prevents this

3. it is also possible to change the settings on the computer controlled antiroll bars to make the car lean in when cornering, like a motorbike

1. 1 is a BCU option, not SLABS ECU, and as far as I know all it does is tell the car it has a special, calibrated, speedo/dash unit. Flashing headlights is done using a separate unit.

1. 2 on later SLABS ECU's, when the difflock was re-fitted, there's no need for this Also if you engage while the engine is running, it stays in the current mode.

1. 3 not heard about this one, but I guess it may be possible, though not all D2's have ACE.

[2cars4me]

AJordan said:

JG93 said:

Mine has a shark in the glove box (no seriously)

Damn beat me to it!

If only the designer responsible stopped at amusing design inclusions. Naming a car after himself is a step too far.

Or as the press quote stated, "Mark ADAMS, Vauxhall Vice President of Design, summed up what makes ADAM unique ... it’s very unlikely that you’ll find two identical ADAMs out there"
http://media.vauxhall.co.uk/media/gb/en/vauxhall/v...

However, the new ADAM carries on the "secret" shark in the cupholder strap -



And if that amuses, then the new Zafira has a secret shark too:

Edited by 2cars4me on Thursday 9th May 21:41

[RadoVR6]

molineux1980 said:

Another one is if you turn off the ignition, and tap down on the wiper stalk, it parks the wipers in a vertical position.

That is so you can change the wiper blades. Its called the service position I think.

[David A]

red_slr said:

Porsche Boxster / Cayman / 911 front boot release cable is quite cool and very few people seem to know about it.

As is their left hand / right hand drive light switch for driving in France etc. Again few people seem aware.

???

[ModernAndy]

Had to laugh at the Audi secrets. I worked for Audi a few years ago and there are so many extras that 95% of drivers have no clue about. Here's a new one to the thread; you can open and close the roof on some cabriolet models just by using the key in the door lock. I forget the exact procedure but its something along the lines of turn the key one way for a couple seconds then the other way and hold.

[FarmerJim]

threadlock said:

...

With VAG-COM I enabled -
- a previously-hidden visual parking aid mode, that uses the normal rear sensors to show a diagram of the car in the middle screen. When I bought the car, Audi wanted IIRC £400+ to include this feature from the factory (although the factory option did add front sensors too).
- (LED) DRLs all round, so no need to put the lights on when driving in low sun, strong shadow or misty conditions.
- an extra "sporty" page in the screen between the gauges, which shows oil temp, turbo pressure and a lap timer controlled with the RH stalk. Pointless in a TDI A6, but somewhat cool nevertheless.
- needle-sweep on ignition on.

Most of that is standard equipment on my Skoda Superb and was enabled when it left the factory. There are a lot of people who don't 'get' Skoda quality either.

[petrolsniffer]

Heres one for some ford owners I think it works on most late 90s-2000s fords mk1 focus,puma mk5 fiesta might work on others quite cool ive used the digi rev counter a few times on a hoon

Ford Puma Digital Dash Unlock: A. Insert Key but do not turn on. B. Press and hold Trip Meter Reset Button. C. Holding the Reset Button, start car and continue holding Button. D. Within 10 seconds, display should change to "Test" in LCD Screen and Dial Needles will do a full sweep. Release Button. Pressing Button will now cycle through different modes: 1. Shows Gauge Sweep. 2. Shows all 8's on LCD (LCD Test). 3. Illuminates Dash Bulbs. 4. Displays hexadecimal value for ROM level. 5. Displays hexadecimal value for EE level. 6. Shows DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). 7. Digital Speedometer – Mph. 8. Digital Speedometer – Kph. 9. N/A. 10. Digital Tachometer. 11. Fuel Volume. 12. Engine Coolant Temperature. 13. Battery Voltage. 14. ABS Fail. 15. Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) Failure. 16. Illumination. 17. Crank Sensor.

When you switch off the ignition, everything reverts to normal.