"Secret" car features.
Discussion
Crafty_ said:
mk5 astra has a diagnostic screen, hold settings for 5 sec (until it beeps) then press BC to cycle through the screens.
Key out of ignition, drivers door open if you pull the left stalk back (high beam control) the headlights stay on for 30 seconds so you can see to the door or whatever. Vectra C does the same thing, but can't remember how to do it.
Neither of these are in the manual.
Didn't know that about the Astra (and I've had one for 5 years!), not sure if this is irrelevant with that diagnostic screen, but if you push the accelerator and brake to the floor and turn the ignition on, the engine warning light will flash any error codes.Key out of ignition, drivers door open if you pull the left stalk back (high beam control) the headlights stay on for 30 seconds so you can see to the door or whatever. Vectra C does the same thing, but can't remember how to do it.
Neither of these are in the manual.
alangla said:
wildcat45 said:
A lot of Volvos I owned had the ability to fold the front passenger seat flat and then move it forward tucking the headrest under the glove box.
Useful for very long loads.
Not particularly secret, but the front seats on the Skoda Estelle were set up so you could remove the headrests, run them forward to the front of their travel then recline them flat, the seat becomes a single bed & the read seat cushion was your pillow!Useful for very long loads.
Although check out the Nissan President front seat...
Passat W8, little switch in the glovebox.... turn it and the glovebox becomes a fridge! The front armrest compartment is also cooled. W8's also have the solar panels (1st car it was fitted to in the VAG line up I believe). Also when reverse is engaged all the side mirrors drop so you can see the kerb.
when getting out of the car if you hold up the drivers side window it closes all windows...... when you get back in if you press the drivers side down - all windows will now go down. Handy in summer- probably on all later VAG cars I would have thought.
Apparently on some there is a secret compartment - if you press in either side of the emergency hazard light switch- a new compartment opens in the glovebox. - Havent tried it myself yet but I suspect not true.
Another one is automatic emergency hazards when doing an emergency stop.
When the wipers go to the resting position, they will periodically move UP the windshield about a 1/2 inch, to make sure that you're resting the rubber of the blade on the alternate side - it lengthens the service life of the wiper blades! Also in the wagon if wipers are on and you engage reverse- rear wipers will turn on.
Dont need key in ignition for radio to work- will run for up to 60 minutes before automatically switching off
self draining Umbrella compartment.
put the passat in reverse and the fresh air intake valve closes and the air inside the car is recirculated. Prevents you from breathing your own exhaust
here are holders in the glovebox for a pen or pencil and a notepad. They are on the back wall of the glovebox
you can use the Tiptronic function to select 2nd gear for starting out in slippery conditions in the motorway you can stay on tiptronic 6th gear
when getting out of the car if you hold up the drivers side window it closes all windows...... when you get back in if you press the drivers side down - all windows will now go down. Handy in summer- probably on all later VAG cars I would have thought.
Apparently on some there is a secret compartment - if you press in either side of the emergency hazard light switch- a new compartment opens in the glovebox. - Havent tried it myself yet but I suspect not true.
Another one is automatic emergency hazards when doing an emergency stop.
When the wipers go to the resting position, they will periodically move UP the windshield about a 1/2 inch, to make sure that you're resting the rubber of the blade on the alternate side - it lengthens the service life of the wiper blades! Also in the wagon if wipers are on and you engage reverse- rear wipers will turn on.
Dont need key in ignition for radio to work- will run for up to 60 minutes before automatically switching off
self draining Umbrella compartment.
put the passat in reverse and the fresh air intake valve closes and the air inside the car is recirculated. Prevents you from breathing your own exhaust
here are holders in the glovebox for a pen or pencil and a notepad. They are on the back wall of the glovebox
you can use the Tiptronic function to select 2nd gear for starting out in slippery conditions in the motorway you can stay on tiptronic 6th gear
Small Car said:
ILoveMondeo said:
James_N said:
Honda S2000 secret compartment 
Eh? What? I've just googled that, have I got one on my 2003?? Going to have a look in the morning!
Forgot to look this morning for my new secret hidey hole... bugger...
ILoveMondeo said:
Small Car said:
ILoveMondeo said:
James_N said:
Honda S2000 secret compartment
Eh? What? I've just googled that, have I got one on my 2003?? Going to have a look in the morning!
Forgot to look this morning for my new secret hidey hole... bugger...
And yes, your 03 will have a secret compartment, it's standard on all years I believe. The seller showed me when I bought the car. I showed a mate about a month after he'd bought his, he was quite surprised
NotNormal said:
Lotus Carlton/Omega has a secret "Launch Mode" programmed into the ECU.
If the car is doing less than 2mph and the revs are raised to more than 2700 rpm, the ECU drops into a separate map which increases the boost for a 10 second period. After which it reverts to the standard boost mapping and you'll most probably be over 100mph by then.
In figures it raises the output from 377bhp to about 408bhp, so a worthwhile increase.If the car is doing less than 2mph and the revs are raised to more than 2700 rpm, the ECU drops into a separate map which increases the boost for a 10 second period. After which it reverts to the standard boost mapping and you'll most probably be over 100mph by then.
I also owned an Integrale 16v for a couple of years and only found out when I came to sell it that it had the overboost facility, which delivers about an extra 10% slug of torque when you really floor the throttle. Consequently I only knowingly used it once and that was when the eventual new owner came for a test drive with me.
Corsa D
Putting the key in the ignition and pulling both stalks towards you for 5 seconds opens up a menu that allows you to configure 7 features of the car.
Holding in the settings button for 5 seconds opens up a menu on the GID that allows you to check engine temp, speed in km/h, fuel remaining, etc.
Putting the key in the ignition and pulling both stalks towards you for 5 seconds opens up a menu that allows you to configure 7 features of the car.
Holding in the settings button for 5 seconds opens up a menu on the GID that allows you to check engine temp, speed in km/h, fuel remaining, etc.
I recently took the missus and a mate of mine on a 3-hour drive, and on the way there was a mixup which involved too many teas being bought (4 between the two passengers).
I told them that as there were only two cupholders in the car, they'd have to hold one each in their hands.
About 30s later, my mate (sat in the back seat) pulls down the centre armrest and locates two cupholders I never knew existed.
I don't sit in the back of my own car, much...
C
I told them that as there were only two cupholders in the car, they'd have to hold one each in their hands.
About 30s later, my mate (sat in the back seat) pulls down the centre armrest and locates two cupholders I never knew existed.
I don't sit in the back of my own car, much...
C
Justin Cyder said:
Mk 1 Audi TT. I'm fairly sure I'm not the first person to be at the audio shop counter almost handing over cash before being told by a helpful Womble that the cd Auto changer is in the rear door card pocket.
i couldn't find my ST24 CD Changer for months until my mate pointed out it's under the passenger seat, while looking at me like a moron.LotusOmega375D said:
In figures it raises the output from 377bhp to about 408bhp, so a worthwhile increase.
I also owned an Integrale 16v for a couple of years and only found out when I came to sell it that it had the overboost facility, which delivers about an extra 10% slug of torque when you really floor the throttle. Consequently I only knowingly used it once and that was when the eventual new owner came for a test drive with me.
Don't turbo saabs also have this feature? designed for safer overtaking?I also owned an Integrale 16v for a couple of years and only found out when I came to sell it that it had the overboost facility, which delivers about an extra 10% slug of torque when you really floor the throttle. Consequently I only knowingly used it once and that was when the eventual new owner came for a test drive with me.
[quote=okie592]
This is only in vag cars that have xenons and auto lights, you can tell when you over take other cars and see the reflection in them. The skoda suburb does it and I think BMW do it now unless the x3 driver the other day turned on his lights in the middle of the day on the motorway[/quot
Both the GTi's I have had have had this auto light feature. Neither have had Xenons fitted.
This is only in vag cars that have xenons and auto lights, you can tell when you over take other cars and see the reflection in them. The skoda suburb does it and I think BMW do it now unless the x3 driver the other day turned on his lights in the middle of the day on the motorway[/quot
Both the GTi's I have had have had this auto light feature. Neither have had Xenons fitted.
2005 onwards S197 Mustangs can have a digital speed display on the instrument cluster, its accessed by inserting the key, hold in reset, start the car, test will come up on screen immediately let go of the reset button. Then continue to press reset to scroll to speedometer.
Resets every time the engine is turned off.
Suzuki Swifts have a little hidden drawer under the passenger seat.
Resets every time the engine is turned off.
Suzuki Swifts have a little hidden drawer under the passenger seat.
Edited by Mykap on Tuesday 14th May 11:11
james280779 said:
Passat W8, little switch in the glovebox.... turn it and the glovebox becomes a fridge! The front armrest compartment is also cooled. W8's also have the solar panels (1st car it was fitted to in the VAG line up I believe). Also when reverse is engaged all the side mirrors drop so you can see the kerb.
when getting out of the car if you hold up the drivers side window it closes all windows...... when you get back in if you press the drivers side down - all windows will now go down. Handy in summer- probably on all later VAG cars I would have thought.
Apparently on some there is a secret compartment - if you press in either side of the emergency hazard light switch- a new compartment opens in the glovebox. - Havent tried it myself yet but I suspect not true.
Another one is automatic emergency hazards when doing an emergency stop.
When the wipers go to the resting position, they will periodically move UP the windshield about a 1/2 inch, to make sure that you're resting the rubber of the blade on the alternate side - it lengthens the service life of the wiper blades! Also in the wagon if wipers are on and you engage reverse- rear wipers will turn on.
Dont need key in ignition for radio to work- will run for up to 60 minutes before automatically switching off
self draining Umbrella compartment.
put the passat in reverse and the fresh air intake valve closes and the air inside the car is recirculated. Prevents you from breathing your own exhaust
here are holders in the glovebox for a pen or pencil and a notepad. They are on the back wall of the glovebox
you can use the Tiptronic function to select 2nd gear for starting out in slippery conditions in the motorway you can stay on tiptronic 6th gear
Solar sunroof is rare £690 option on all Passats- my mate had it on his 130tdi, but as you say afaik first car with itwhen getting out of the car if you hold up the drivers side window it closes all windows...... when you get back in if you press the drivers side down - all windows will now go down. Handy in summer- probably on all later VAG cars I would have thought.
Apparently on some there is a secret compartment - if you press in either side of the emergency hazard light switch- a new compartment opens in the glovebox. - Havent tried it myself yet but I suspect not true.
Another one is automatic emergency hazards when doing an emergency stop.
When the wipers go to the resting position, they will periodically move UP the windshield about a 1/2 inch, to make sure that you're resting the rubber of the blade on the alternate side - it lengthens the service life of the wiper blades! Also in the wagon if wipers are on and you engage reverse- rear wipers will turn on.
Dont need key in ignition for radio to work- will run for up to 60 minutes before automatically switching off
self draining Umbrella compartment.
put the passat in reverse and the fresh air intake valve closes and the air inside the car is recirculated. Prevents you from breathing your own exhaust
here are holders in the glovebox for a pen or pencil and a notepad. They are on the back wall of the glovebox
you can use the Tiptronic function to select 2nd gear for starting out in slippery conditions in the motorway you can stay on tiptronic 6th gear
As for windows that is "one Shot" -some do just front but Vauxhall Senator had it from 1988 on
monthefish said:
tali1 said:
Vauxhall Omega also have the fold seat
Although check out the Nissan President front seat...
That looks soooo comfy..Although check out the Nissan President front seat...
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