A Car Question

[KingDaveRa]

I was mulling this over today:

The ignition in a car (usually) has four stages:

1. Off
2. Radio only (AFAIK)
3. All electricals
4. Starter motor

I wondered why, even when off, the headlights will stay on. In the case of my car, if the lights are on dipped, the sidelights stay on when the ignition is off. So many people manage to leave their lights on full dipped and leave the car, thus draining the battery.

The question is, WHY is this possible? Everything else goes off, so why not the lights? My first guess was that it was a safety feature, or something like that. I can't see many situations where it would help, but even so. My second thought was that it was a conspiracy between car makers and battery manufacturers, but I think that's a little unlikely.

Anybody know the real reason?

[Aardvark]

You need the lights to work if you leave your car somewhere where it may be potentially dangerous if not visible.

[Murray-Mint]

My car's headlights turn off when the ignition is off, kinda saves all the hassle :)

[KingDaveRa]

You need the lights to work if you leave your car somewhere where it may be potentially dangerous if not visible.

That makes perfect sense then :)

I knew there'd be a good reason for it. I have a vague feeling I've heard that before somewhere. But yes, my curiosity has been satisfied.

[butlershouse]

Okay so heres a NEW QUESTION

Why do we still call the glove box, a glove box ?

[Steadders]

I keep gloves in mine.

Not really.

[catbeef]

why change it?

a lot of nouns should be changed but arn't

[Rich]

I call mine the box of CDs and other ****.

[KingDaveRa]

I reckon it's one of those legacy things. Once upon a time, people did put gloves in theirs. Mine has a CD-Tape converter and a cloth in :).

[lyn]

Going on the glove box theme, why are mirrors still called Wing mirrors??
They haven't been fitted to the wings of cars for over 20 years.

[Rich]

because they allow you to see your wing men if you're driving in formation.

[TimmyNoShoes]

Because they stick out like mini wings :P

[Guigsy]

why is the boot called a boot. or a bonnet a bonnet...

[Ch3m1c4L]

youd have heard about it in the highway code/theory stuff......

wing mirrors to see wingmen ftw

[LozB]

if u were lucky enough to own a peugeot 307 b4 the recall your headlights and engine would work with no ignition key !!! a few started themselves up and crashed into owners houses then caught on fire due to faulty wiring on the ignition circuit...

[KingDaveRa]

Surely it would only move if you a) left it in gear and b) had the handbrake off. If you did, you deserve to see your car burst into flames!

Not you personally; you in the plural ;)

[UberMonkey]

i remember when i was a kid getting a romote control car for my birthday...

it was insane... i could turn it off and it would randomly start driving around... i loved that car ^-^

yes... i'm comparing my posessed romote control car to a peugeot 307...

[Elbonio]

And why is that on indicators for western cars it's up to go right and down to go left yet on most japanese cars (well.. i know toyotas do it, not sure about the others) they go up for left and down for right, and they're on the opposite side of the steering wheel

[Swyft]

my parents have 2 cars. A Ford Focus and a Renault Scenic.

The bloody french car has all the functions on opposite sides! indicator is on the wrong side, lights, the lot. Bloody confusing :p

You've changed the steering wheel over, you could at least have changed the rest!

[Squeeb]

And why is that on indicators for western cars it's up to go right and down to go left yet on most japanese cars (well.. i know toyotas do it, not sure about the others) they go up for left and down for right, and they're on the opposite side of the steering wheel

I guess it's to follow the sort of "in the direction of the stearing wheel" theme.

And the japanese are all left handed, it's a fact.
A small midget told me at work.

I also used to have a canal boat of which the steering function was totally backward.
Turn the wheel left, boat goes right.
Many a mooring got destroyed because of it.

[Elbonio]

oh yeah. never thought of that.

I was thinking like it following clockwise but the japanese cars didnt fit into that which is what got me thinking :p

but you're right, that'll be why.

[no friends]

I also used to have a canal boat of which the steering function was totally backward.
Turn the wheel left, boat goes right.
Many a mooring got destroyed because of it.


Boats are backwards. Mooring with a person who doesn't know how to steer a boat is utterly wrong, may many a swearing profously begin! :smile-l:

[andyf]

Surely it would only move if you a) left it in gear and b) had the handbrake off. If you did, you deserve to see your car burst into flames!

Not you personally; you in the plural ;)


You may think in-gear and no handbrake is odd, however racing drivers the world over will disagree with you simply because there are times when you need a way to keep your car stationary WITHOUT the handbrake. For example after you've just cained a car around a track. You should never then rest it on the handbrake because you will weld your pads to the disc. You leave it in-gear and it won't move :)

If the car then somehow starts and crashes, you take the stupid crappy french automobile maker to court for being wantonly crap

[Jez_Gafys]

Can't leave my car in gear It won't switch off I presume thats to stop people pressing stop while you are driving

[KingDaveRa]

Actually, I do sometimes put the car in gear if I'm parked on a hill or something.

[Gibster]

And why is that on indicators for western cars it's up to go right and down to go left yet on most japanese cars (well.. i know toyotas do it, not sure about the others) they go up for left and down for right, and they're on the opposite side of the steering wheel


It's the side of the road they drive on. Old English cars followed the japanese system, it was only with the influx of American cars that it became more common for ours to switch over, but the Japanese stayed the same.

[KingDaveRa]

Oh that would TOTALLY mess me up! I'd be constantly indicating the wrong way.

[Woogie]

i reckon you would adapt pretty quickly tbh...

and i ALWAYS leave my car in gear when i park up.... depends which way im parked and to what angle im parked at as to what gear (Reverse or 1st) but i always leave it in gear incase the handbrake fails.....

wont go rolling away then....

[Dam0_D_Dude]

i got a clifford alarm, its got a button you can programme your lights to so you can switch them on and off with a touch of a button. Good to get your door when its pitch black! Think you can get it to open the doors to.

[Sgt_Pepper]

Oh that would TOTALLY mess me up! I'd be constantly indicating the wrong way.
No you wouldn't - you would actually just keep turning the wind screen wipers on (believe me, I just bought a Jap import and I'm stil trying to get used to it!)

[KingDaveRa]

Yes, true!

I actually managed that anyway, but I hadn't been driving long.

[Dentist]

Very true, my dad had a Honda Prelude japanese import, while also owning a ford, was amusing to see my parents getting confused between the two cars.

[lyn]

I have 2 cars, althou the 2nd car being english it has the indicators on the other side of the steering column. I end up changing the lights between side and main beam when i start driving for the first couple of corners then i get used to it. But when changing back to my trusty 106 i hit the wipers for a couple of goes then all is well.
You should be able to adapt to any car within a few mins. I think they should put this into the driving test really as the car you take your test in is never the car people drive after.