Newer cars are packed full of technology to make driving safer and easier. If you think the height of in-car tech is having a USB port, the sheer number of features in a modern car can be overwhelming. No worries. We’re here to help.Boom And Bucket’s dump truck listings are very helpful in dump trucks
What does that button do?
Today’s cars are chock-full of hidden features and technologies that might be confounding to one coming from an older vehicle. These features have been designed to make the chore of driving more convenient and safer
Gas tank locator arrow
If you’ve been driving the same car for years, chances are good that you know which side of that car has the fuel filler cap. But step into a new car, and it could be a confusing situation. Thankfully, most new cars will have an indicator telling you exactly which side of the fuel pump you need to pull up to. It’s right there on the fuel level gauge—a small triangular arrow pointing you in the right direction.
Road condition indicator
Nearly every new car has a temperature sensor that will indicate the exterior ambient temperature—it’s great fun in winter as you drive south and watch the outside temperature climb, letting you know that you can shed your winter coat at the next fuel stop. These temperature sensors will also, in many cases, activate a road temperature warning as the temperatures drop. Often indicated by a snowflake light on the dashboard, some systems will even give a brief audible warning or show a message letting you know that the roads might be icy. Most such systems will give this reminder as temperatures go below 38°F or 40°F, as bridges and overpasses will typically freeze before the rest of the road. Before you head out on those nasty roads, read up on the things that snow plow drivers want you to know.
Stability control
Losing control of your vehicle when driving is one of the scariest moments you can have behind the wheel. Fortunately, all new cars sold in America since the 2012 model year have been fitted with electronic stability control, a system that constantly monitors all four wheels. If a car is beginning to slide out of control, typically the wheels on one end of the car will be spinning faster than the others (since they’ve lost traction). Electronic stability control will apply the brakes to one side of the car—or even one corner—to help correct the slide.
You can temporarily deactivate stability control on some vehicles—look for a button marked “ESC” or labeled with a pictogram of a sliding car—if necessary to help get a car out of slippery mud or snow. Deactivating ESC is also helpful if you’re towing a boat out of the water on a slippery boat ramp. But normally, it’s best to let the electronic stability control keep you and your family safe.
