"Secret" car features.
Discussion
JordanTurbo said:
The "feature" is a bit less technical on the Discovery 2 though.
In short it involves turning the engine on using the ignition, and then yanking the fob. At which point it detaches and leaves the key blade behind in the barrel
It worked at the time, but now with the vehicle and keys getting old the blades are almost always too loose in the fobs. Meaning they have a tendacy to fall out and get lost.
How many keys!!! I expect the weight of all those other keys constantly swinging around has weakened your ignition key.In short it involves turning the engine on using the ignition, and then yanking the fob. At which point it detaches and leaves the key blade behind in the barrel
It worked at the time, but now with the vehicle and keys getting old the blades are almost always too loose in the fobs. Meaning they have a tendacy to fall out and get lost.
Freelander 2, door unlocking. You may have multiple drivers where one prefers to have all doors tailgate and fuel flap unlock with a single press. Another driver for security may prefer just to unlock drivers door with the first press, and all the rest with second press.
You can programme individual remotes to how you want it. Lock the vehicle with the fob, press and hold both lock and unlock buttons for 3 seconds, indicators flash and you have altered the setting. Repeating the procedure toggles it back and forth. Some dealers say you need to programme it with the JLR computer, at a cost obviously.
Maybe works on other Models?
You can programme individual remotes to how you want it. Lock the vehicle with the fob, press and hold both lock and unlock buttons for 3 seconds, indicators flash and you have altered the setting. Repeating the procedure toggles it back and forth. Some dealers say you need to programme it with the JLR computer, at a cost obviously.
Maybe works on other Models?
Jimmy Recard said:
M4cruiser said:
This indicator thing reminds me of the Corsa (2007-2015) and the similar age Astra which had indicators with a secret "off" switch you just couldn't find. So after indicating you would be going left left left right right right left etc for the rest of your journey.
The system was so good that BMW added it to the 1 series and the Mini mark 2.
I hate it ...
Imagine the left indicators are flashing. Flick the stalk as if to activate the right indicators.The system was so good that BMW added it to the 1 series and the Mini mark 2.
I hate it ...This will cancel it. I know it's very difficult to work out, but it's really the same as cars that hold the indicator stalk in place.
I like it. Very easy and no clicking stalk.
Yesterday in my non-Vauxhall car I joined a motorway with the window slightly open so I couldn't hear the clicking, and I needed to change lanes again quickly for the next junction (stupidly it's positioned immediately after the other junction), and I did it all without taking my eyes off the road, didn't need to look down at the green lights on the dash and didn't need to hear the clicking, but gave the correct long and short signals - it was all done by the feel of the indicator stalk position. Can't do that in the Corsa/Astra. They've lost the tactile information, and the tekkies who design these things just can't understand that.
graham22 said:
Gav147 said:
The auto dipping passenger side mirror on E92 BMW when you put it in reverse, great little idea but annoying at times.... Over 6 months before I realised you can switch it on and off by moving the wing mirror adjustment button, if it is set to adjust the passenger side mirror will dip, move it to adjust drivers side and it doesn't
Isn't it the other way, leave in on driver's side & it auto dips, leave on passenger side & it doesn't?M4cruiser said:
Jimmy Recard said:
M4cruiser said:
This indicator thing reminds me of the Corsa (2007-2015) and the similar age Astra which had indicators with a secret "off" switch you just couldn't find. So after indicating you would be going left left left right right right left etc for the rest of your journey.
The system was so good that BMW added it to the 1 series and the Mini mark 2.
I hate it ...
Imagine the left indicators are flashing. Flick the stalk as if to activate the right indicators.The system was so good that BMW added it to the 1 series and the Mini mark 2.
I hate it ...This will cancel it. I know it's very difficult to work out, but it's really the same as cars that hold the indicator stalk in place.
I like it. Very easy and no clicking stalk.
Yesterday in my non-Vauxhall car I joined a motorway with the window slightly open so I couldn't hear the clicking, and I needed to change lanes again quickly for the next junction (stupidly it's positioned immediately after the other junction), and I did it all without taking my eyes off the road, didn't need to look down at the green lights on the dash and didn't need to hear the clicking, but gave the correct long and short signals - it was all done by the feel of the indicator stalk position. Can't do that in the Corsa/Astra. They've lost the tactile information, and the tekkies who design these things just can't understand that.
As you don't see millions of s
tty Vauxhalls crashed and burning at these junctions, I can only assume you're one of those people...If I were a gambling man, I'd bet you're also "blinded" by brake lights when stopped at traffic lights also
The Moose said:
I've personally never had an issue remembering what setting I stuck the indicator on during a move such as you describe (junction briefly after another junction).
As you don't see millions of stty Vauxhalls crashed and burning at these junctions, I can only assume you're one of those people...
If I were a gambling man, I'd bet you're also "blinded" by brake lights when stopped at traffic lights also
Then you're probably one of those tekkies who can't see the problem!As you don't see millions of s
tty Vauxhalls crashed and burning at these junctions, I can only assume you're one of those people...If I were a gambling man, I'd bet you're also "blinded" by brake lights when stopped at traffic lights also
I see plenty of Vauxhalls signalling weirdly.
(No I'm not blinded by brake lights. I stop far enough back to avoid that!)
M4cruiser said:
The Moose said:
I've personally never had an issue remembering what setting I stuck the indicator on during a move such as you describe (junction briefly after another junction).
As you don't see millions of stty Vauxhalls crashed and burning at these junctions, I can only assume you're one of those people...
If I were a gambling man, I'd bet you're also "blinded" by brake lights when stopped at traffic lights also
Then you're probably one of those tekkies who can't see the problem!As you don't see millions of s
tty Vauxhalls crashed and burning at these junctions, I can only assume you're one of those people...If I were a gambling man, I'd bet you're also "blinded" by brake lights when stopped at traffic lights also
I see plenty of Vauxhalls signalling weirdly.
(No I'm not blinded by brake lights. I stop far enough back to avoid that!)
I guess when I'm not texting and driving I can think about what I'm doing!
The Moose said:
Or I have an IQ in the triple digits and pay attention when I drive.
I guess when I'm not texting and driving I can think about what I'm doing!
That's the problem though, the indicator stalk in these Vauxhalls (can't speak for other makes) doesn't give enough tactile feedback for you to know if you've flicked it to get three/four flashes for a lane change, or switched it fully on. It requires active thought and attention and so distracts from the more important bits of driving. And yes, when you go to cancel the indicator often it has auto-cancelled so you end up indicating in the opposite direction. I see lots of Vauxhalls of this era manically indicating left/right/left/right. Maybe it's not a bad idea in itself but it was terribly executed.I guess when I'm not texting and driving I can think about what I'm doing!
Yours, underwhelmist (IQ 14 3/4)
Apparently I'm really fick too as I actually like knowing where my indicator stalk is. Nae bother, I'm obviously too dumb to drive because I like tactile feedback.
At the risk of repeating a feature, I've been driving around in a new Focus for the past few weeks. When you engage the wipers, they park themselves after a sweep slightly proud of where they rest. If you deactivate the wipers while they're parked, they move back down about an inch to keep clear of the windscreen. I tested this a few times and noticed how the wipers, on intermittent, would park themselves in view of the driver, but as soon as I flicked the stalk down, they'd also retreat into the cavity between the bonnet and the windscreen.
At the risk of repeating a feature, I've been driving around in a new Focus for the past few weeks. When you engage the wipers, they park themselves after a sweep slightly proud of where they rest. If you deactivate the wipers while they're parked, they move back down about an inch to keep clear of the windscreen. I tested this a few times and noticed how the wipers, on intermittent, would park themselves in view of the driver, but as soon as I flicked the stalk down, they'd also retreat into the cavity between the bonnet and the windscreen.
sebhaque said:
...At the risk of repeating a feature, I've been driving around in a new Focus for the past few weeks. When you engage the wipers, they park themselves after a sweep slightly proud of where they rest. If you deactivate the wipers while they're parked, they move back down about an inch to keep clear of the windscreen. I tested this a few times and noticed how the wipers, on intermittent, would park themselves in view of the driver, but as soon as I flicked the stalk down, they'd also retreat into the cavity between the bonnet and the windscreen.
IIRC the Montego wipers did this, circa 1987. Helps with aerodynamics (because the Montego was so cutting edge in general it had to have 'parking wipers too').The Don of Croy said:
sebhaque said:
...At the risk of repeating a feature, I've been driving around in a new Focus for the past few weeks. When you engage the wipers, they park themselves after a sweep slightly proud of where they rest. If you deactivate the wipers while they're parked, they move back down about an inch to keep clear of the windscreen. I tested this a few times and noticed how the wipers, on intermittent, would park themselves in view of the driver, but as soon as I flicked the stalk down, they'd also retreat into the cavity between the bonnet and the windscreen.
IIRC the Montego wipers did this, circa 1987. Helps with aerodynamics (because the Montego was so cutting edge in general it had to have 'parking wipers too').M4cruiser said:
It's not quite that simple. Sometimes you flick right as you describe but the system decides to cancel the left one anyway just before you flick it right, so that puts the right hand one on, not turns the left one off. It's called poor ergonomics.
Yesterday in my non-Vauxhall car I joined a motorway with the window slightly open so I couldn't hear the clicking, and I needed to change lanes again quickly for the next junction (stupidly it's positioned immediately after the other junction), and I did it all without taking my eyes off the road, didn't need to look down at the green lights on the dash and didn't need to hear the clicking, but gave the correct long and short signals - it was all done by the feel of the indicator stalk position. Can't do that in the Corsa/Astra. They've lost the tactile information, and the tekkies who design these things just can't understand that.
It's actually just that simple and you set it by the tactile feedback from the indicator stalk. I don't think I've once had difficulty with using it to indicate just like I would when driving any car.Yesterday in my non-Vauxhall car I joined a motorway with the window slightly open so I couldn't hear the clicking, and I needed to change lanes again quickly for the next junction (stupidly it's positioned immediately after the other junction), and I did it all without taking my eyes off the road, didn't need to look down at the green lights on the dash and didn't need to hear the clicking, but gave the correct long and short signals - it was all done by the feel of the indicator stalk position. Can't do that in the Corsa/Astra. They've lost the tactile information, and the tekkies who design these things just can't understand that.
underwhelmist said:
The Moose said:
Or I have an IQ in the triple digits and pay attention when I drive.
I guess when I'm not texting and driving I can think about what I'm doing!
That's the problem though, the indicator stalk in these Vauxhalls (can't speak for other makes) doesn't give enough tactile feedback for you to know if you've flicked it to get three/four flashes for a lane change, or switched it fully on. It requires active thought and attention and so distracts from the more important bits of driving. And yes, when you go to cancel the indicator often it has auto-cancelled so you end up indicating in the opposite direction. I see lots of Vauxhalls of this era manically indicating left/right/left/right. Maybe it's not a bad idea in itself but it was terribly executed.I guess when I'm not texting and driving I can think about what I'm doing!
Yours, underwhelmist (IQ 14 3/4)
May already have been posted but if you start the engine on an BMW E87 1 series and immediately turn it off again, you can remove the key and start the car provided you do within 10 seconds or so. Allows you to set the heater/fans to full demist, leave the car and lock it. Handy if you don't have it parked outside your house.
Not exactly weather appropriate today!
Not exactly weather appropriate today!
ModernAndy said:
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.
Not sure about opening them, but my 1990 E34 BMW used to let you close all windows and the roof by holding the key in the lock position for a few seconds in the drivers door. Handy if you had left a window / roof open and couldn't be bothered to get back in the car to close them. Triumph Man said:
We have a 1 series pool car at the office. Within perhaps 10 seconds of driving it I mastered the indicators. Although a little unintuitive, simply tapping the indicator stalk in the same direction you just moved it to signal will cancel it. Unless of course Vauxhall messed theirs up and that doesn't work.
It works perfectly in every BMW and Vauxhall I've driven. Exactly as instructed and described.It's such an easy thing to do but so many seem to struggle with it
E92 BMWs have a feature I stumbled across by accident, whereby when you give the open button on the key two quick presses, the relevant window drops when the door handle is pulled, then closes again when the door shuts. This is useful for gaining entry in tight situations
Also, the CD player goes back to the start of the track that was playing when you get back into the car. This is less useful IMO
Also, the CD player goes back to the start of the track that was playing when you get back into the car. This is less useful IMO
Digby said:
Not sure about opening them, but my 1990 E34 BMW used to let you close all windows and the roof by holding the key in the lock position for a few seconds in the drivers door. Handy if you had left a window / roof open and couldn't be bothered to get back in the car to close them.
Also E34s are the only car I know of that have front fog-light washersGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff