This seems like a good time to mention the utility of an OBD (on-board diagnostic) code scanner. As vehicles become more computerized, many diagnostics become accessible to people who are “technically” inclined, even if they are not “mechanically” inclined.
For example, one of my vehicles started running very poorly, and the dashboard’s “check engine” light turned on. I read the diagnostic codes with my OBD scanner, and most of the likely issues associated with those codes would have involved expensive repairs, except for one: a faulty gas cap. Before taking the vehicle to a repair shop, I purchased a new gas cap for $12, and that fixed the problem. My local mechanic charges a minimum of $75 to diagnose a vehicle. I paid around $60 for my OBD scanner, so it paid for itself with that one incident.
I do like scanning my vehicle to anticipate likely recommendations from the mechanics before I bring it into the shop. My particular model also includes a live graphical display of certain engine readouts, which can be fun to watch. Note that sometimes there can be differences in the readings from different scanners, especially between entry-level consumer readers and “pro” tools. Readings also can be misleading to someone without experience (sort of like googling for medical symptoms vs a doctor’s personal experience), but generally they can be very useful tools.
Decent consumer-level scanners can be as inexpensive as US$25, and devices with better graphics and other useful options can go up to around $75. Unless you have a very specific requirement, there’s probably not much reason for a casual home user/mechanic to spend more than that. Some scanners support Bluetooth and even WiFi, and some come with smartphone apps, but those can be finicky. I wouldn’t recommend a scanner that can’t be used in a standalone mode. Also, before buying a scanner, be sure it supports your particular vehicle. It’s usually not a problem, but some devices have more limited features.
That article points out that physical controls requirements (for stuff such as turn signals, horn, flashers, etc.) will only be required to get the maximum safety rating (from a non-government body) but is not a legal requirement.
Frankly, how such instruments could have been allowed to go solely on a screen, possibly hidden away in a menu or sub-panel is beyond me. IMHO it’s criminally negligent of regulators to allow such crucial instrument control to be hidden away from quick blind reach in the first place. How long until this madness is undone, by legislative force if necessary?
My first car was a 1962 Rambler American (far from new), and it had the wiper controls on the dashboard, a knob which you could turn from zero to top speed. It was powered by an air pump of some kind off the engine or exhaust, which let adjust the wiper speed continuously. That’s actually a very nice feature because rain downfall varies quite a bit, and it’s hard to manage drizzle when you only have intermittent, slow and fast wipers. One of my college buddies was an EE who wired up a circuit to do the same electrically. I have been disappointed that the car makers never took up that approach.
The air-powered wipers did have a problem. If you stepped on the gas to speed up, the pressure dropped, and the wipers slowed or sometimes stopped. It was a very interesting experience when I was driving uphill in a deluge on a Los Angeles freeway and the wipers stopped.
The worst automotive kluge I remember was the pushbutton automatic transmission on my wife’s mother’s circa 1960 Plymouth (I think).
Variable assisted steering in EVs make steering a breeze at low speeds and also at high speeds. Tesla has taken steering to a new level with steering by wire, which is likely to be picked up by all vehicle manufacturers.
I hope not. There have been many complaints of how Tesla put gear-changing on the screen, and it has been blamed for the accident that killed Angela Chao when she accidentally hit reverse and her Tesla backed into a pond. There are very good reasons to want a tactile gear shift that the driver does not have to look at to shift gears.
I was wondering about that. Earlier reports had mentioned the group was drinking. The new report says her blood alcohol was 0.233, which is nearly three times the legal limit, and cameras showed her walking unsteadily and the car lurching once she started driving it.
It’s a shame the Tesla couldn’t sense she was drunk and take her home.
I’m surprised she was even able to walk to and get in her car at 0.23.
It’s a shame that despite all the fancy doohickeys that apparently have to go into cars these days (the new E class can take selfies of you while driving ), there is still no regulation requiring IIDs be standard on all new cars put into circulation.
I know in some EU countries professional drivers are required to have them. There’s no reason anybody that intoxicated should be allowed to set a car in motion. If we can put lidars on cars, we sure as heck should be able to put reliable IIDs in there.
Worst still, the Tesla Y “gear lever” is on the steering column, exactly where the turn signal lever is on some cars (right hand). I recently was with a friend who picked up a new Model Y. On leaving yard she operated the gear lever instead of the turn signals. She stuck some soft foam on the lever as a reminder.
Crazy UI IMHO!
Following up on my previous comment, I rented a vehicle for three days this past week and the gear stick proved to be an interesting experience.
It’s the first time that a rental agency’s staff insisted on sitting in the car with me to instruct me on how to use the vehicle controls, especially the shifter. The agent said, “You wouldn’t believe how many calls we get from people who get on the road and get confused by the controls. We save a lot of time by making sure that people know how to operate them.” He cited the shifter on this model as a particular nuisance, but he said other vehicle models had issues, too.
I figured it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, as I have driven vehicles with similar electronic transmission shifters before, but sure enough, on my second day with the vehicle, I got the vehicle into a mode where it would only shift between “Park” and “Neutral,” but no other gear. I pulled out the owner’s manual and tried to follow the gear shifting instructions meticulously, but it didn’t help.
I ended up using my decades of computer troubleshooting experience and “rebooting” the vehicle by doing a complete power down, lock, unlock, and power up cycle, and then I was able to operate the vehicle as expected.
I remember when manufacturers started adding pushbutton ignition switches. I rented a car at that time (I think it was a Nissan Altima), and it took me several minutes to figure it out. I’d push the button and the display just showed a picture of a shoe. That’s not really a helpful way of saying “you need to press the brake pedal”. Today’s cars are better and actually use a bit of text for that display.
I also can’t figure out why that car (and a few other rentals since then) have paddle shifters on an automatic transmission. If you actually care about sport-shifting that much, will you actually want to have an automatic transmission at all? And if you don’t care, what’s the point of paddle shifters?
My first car was an early 60’s Mini. Floor starter button, floor high beam switch and simple toggle switches for lights and wipers. Thinking back I love the simplicity and logic.
The thought of a car with only digital display disturbs me. I don’t even like changing radio stations when I drive and to be honest, I find CarPlay quite distracting.
We have 4 cars in the family and most of them differ in control layout (except of course in CarPlay). The Cruise control, phone answering and audio controls are in different locations and turning off minor controls (lane changing monitoring, stop/start, mirrors etc) aren’t in any sort of common locality. We also have both Japanese and Euro cars where the indicators, lights and wipers are on opposite side.
I would like to have seen what Apple could do with a car but I feel they thought it was all or nothing for full auto driving. I’m sure they’ll find a way to use what they’ve learned elsewhere, even if it’s in combination with another maker.
If it’s anything like mine, I can understand. I’ve had several BMWs over the years, but in 2020 I got my first new one, which featured complete “drive-by-wire” controls. Why Ze Germans (which heritage I proudly call my own) decided this would be a perfect opportunity to really mix it up I have no idea, but I’m sure it’s led to many of the same situations you found yourself in.
If you want to go forward in my car, you of course pull the shift lever backward. Want to go in reverse? Push the lever forward, naturally. Oh, by the way, there’s a secret button on the side of the shifter you have to hold (while you’re moving the lever opposite the direction you want to go), or else nothing happens. And to top it off, there is no motion of the lever that will put the car in park. That’s controlled by a separate button, which is teasingly placed on the shifter lever.
If you actually care about sport-shifting that much, will you actually want to have an automatic transmission at all? And if you don’t care, what’s the point of paddle shifters?<<
If you prefer manual transmissions but the new car you buy isn’t offered with one, paddle shifters give you control over engine revs in situations where your choices are different than what an automatic transmission does. It gives you the ability to increase engine braking for instance, or more torque for quicker acceleration without waiting for the automatic to downshift when you know you’re going to want it.
I haven’t rented a car more than a decade, and after your experience, I’m not eager to try it again. I’ve been driving for over 50 years, and one thing I have noticed lately is that the city and state are changing intersections in efforts to improve traffic flow – but those changes actually increase the danger because drivers become used to the road configuration. Recently they changed offramps from route 128/95 near my house in an effort to let traffic shift lanes more easily to get off the road, and almost got hit trying to get into the exit lane. It’s even worse when manufacturers change car controls. It’s like the standard QWERT layout of computer keyboards – “improvements” are impossible because touch typists won’t use them because it’s too hard to change your keystroke patterns. With cars it’s dangerous. Has anybody looked at changes in auto accident risks?
I consider the direction cars are headed with safety in mind.
Consider the Cybertruck; very pedestrian unfriendly shape, incredibly heavy, essentially silent, capable of phenomenal speeds, and a CEO whose desire is to have it totally controlled by software which has been proven to be severely flawed.
), there is still no regulation requiring IIDs be standard on all new cars put into circulation.