49 Hidden Car Hacks – What Didn’t You Know Your Car Can Do
The other day I stumbled across a “secret knob” under the dashboard of my 2002 Lexus ES300 that performed a function I didn’t even know the car had!
It got me wondering, “What else can this car do that I have no clue about?”
That question sent me down a rabbit hole of automotive discovery, seeking out the kind of tips and tricks that people say had eluded them for years.
Join us as we embark on this journey of revelation, where car novelties meet practicality and astonishment.
Buckle up as we unveil the hidden treasures that are waiting right beneath your fingertips and behind your steering wheel; unexpected capabilities that your car possesses – you’ll be wondering how you ever hit the road without them.
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Have an old car? Not to worry, many of these tricks apply to old cars as well!
Note: Not all tricks will work for all cars, but if you find some that work for you, it can be life changing!
I Didn’t Know My Car Could Do That! Best Overlooked Tricks
- Automatically unlock your car… A lot of people don’t realize that if your car has keyless entry, you don’t actually have to press the unlock button to unlock it. Just reach for the handle, and it will unlock itself. It can do this because it senses the RFID sensor in the FOB that is in your pocket or purse.
- How do you start your car with the FOB, if the car battery is dead? Some cars have a removable push to start button so you can use a key to start the car if the fob battery is dead. Others have a backup key slot or a hidden key compartment where you can physically insert the key fob (so that the RFID is recognized) to start the car in case the battery is dead. The Ford Fusion has an unlabeled pocket in the armrest compartment. The pocket may also be under the ash tray mat, or a pocket in the steering column.
- Ever carry a separate cooler in your car? You may not need to! Some cars have an air-conditioned compartment for beverages or ‘chocolate’. Check your center console or glovebox. Some Makes that have these include Volkswagen, Saab, Dodge Avenger, and Honda Odyssey. One such vehicle that has this feature is the 2014 KIA Optima with a “Refrigerated” glove box.
- Do you have a rear taillight or brake light that seems like it is stuck on? It might be a “feature!” Some cars (especially European makes) have a rear fog light. There is a button or a switch to turn it off and on.
- Are you annoyed by Daytime Running Lights that automatically come on whenever the car is running? (Looking at you 2004 Toyota Corolla…) Sometimes you don’t want the DRL’s on, for example when you are sitting in a parking lot waiting for someone – blinding the person in the car in front of you. Pulling the parking brake one click will turn the daytime running lights off on many cars, or the headlights entirely.
- Dashboard lights too bright? Most cars have a dimmer function to reduce the intensity of the dashboard and control panel lights. It’s often a little thumb wheel somewhere to the side of the steering wheel. In older cars, twist the odometer knob on by the speedometer dial. Even older cars, twist the headlight on-switch knob.
- Do you have a keyless, push-button car, but the FOB battery is dead? Hold the fob next to the bottom of the steering console while pushing the button can allow the car to recognize the security chip if the fob battery is dead.
- Read your car’s mind! Did you know every car built from 1996 and after must have an OBDII port for providing information regarding the vehicle, such as error codes for the check engine light? Usually there is a port under the steering wheel where you can plug in an inexpensive OBD reader to diagnose your car yourself for free!
- My Honda’s windows sometimes go down on their own? This is a feature. Press the lock button once, then press the unlock button twice, to roll down Honda windows when it’s hot outside. Alternatively, if you are locking the car with the key, turn the key to lock, then turn it again and hold to roll down the windows.
- One of my favorites just because it is surprising how many people overlook it. When pulling up to a gas station in a rental car do you have a moment of panic wondering which side the gas tank is on? The vast majority of cars now have a little triangle-like arrow next to the gas gauge that points to the side of the car with the fill-up door. This can be really handy when driving a car that you are unfamiliar with.
- Bluetooth audio. I heard of someone who was using an auxiliary cable for a good couple of years. I owned my 2013 Impala for 2.5 years before I realized it had Bluetooth.
- Trunk won’t open? Many Lexus models have a button in the glovebox that locks the trunk. When it is pressed, the trunk won’t open from the normal trunk release button (it’s called valet mode). For the first several months of owning my Lexus I thought the trunk release was broken, it would only open with the FOB trunk button (and only if the car was NOT running). Then I found the glovebox trunk lock button! Other Lexus models, you use the key on the left bottom side of the dash to turn off the valet mode.
- 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. Has an unusual feature – an altimeter! Doesn’t seem to do anything besides tell you the elevation you are at, but kind of cool nonetheless!
- Hot-hands steering wheel? Some cars have a heated steering wheel (for example the 2021 Outback Touring, among others). A super handy feature if you live in the north. Not so much when it’s hot out and you accidentally turn it on. It’s not always obvious where the button is to turn it on. On some cars, there is a hidden button on the back of the steering wheel at the 6 o’clock position that turns on the steering wheel heating feature.
- Like playing CD’s? Check your trunk, glovebox, or center console. Lots of cars have hidden CD players that the owner didn’t know about for years.
- Volvo – 10-disc changer in the trunk in addition to the 6-disc changer in the head unit itself.
- MK7 GTI – CD player inside the glovebox.
- Lexus ES300 – 6-disc changer in the center armrest.
- Need another cup holder? Porsche Cayman has a small cup symbol on the dashboard panel that the cup holders fold out from. The 2002 Toyota Tacoma has hidden cup holders that pulled out from under the rear bench seat.
- Steering wheel too far away? In the Ford Focus you can flip a handle and pull out the extendable steering wheel!
- Steering wheel too high? Most cars have a lever under the steering wheel that unlocks the tilt, allowing you to change the tilt to something more comfortable, then lock it in place again with the lever.
- Keep your car smudge-free! Some Dodge Chargers have a little plastic handle inside the trunk that allows you to close the trunk without smudging up the outside of the trunk when you close it. It keeps fingerprints from getting on the paint!
- Radio presets. Many cars have an FM1 and FM2 (or more) that allow you to set more than just 5-6 FM pre-sets. Some radios extend the preset numbers, so instead of just 1-5 buttons, you can preset more by holding down two numbers together.
- Can your car relieve back pain? Many cars have a button near the seat adjustment levers that allows you to adjust the lumbar support. It’s not always immediately obvious what this button does!
- Can your car wash its own headlights? Some cars feature a headlight washer. To activate it, flick the wiper switch toward you 5 times. The headlight washers will protrude from the car and spray the headlights.
- Pop the trunk from the driver’s door! On certain versions of a Corvette, with all the doors locked, turn the key once to unlock the driver’s side door, twice unlocks both doors, and 3 times pops the trunk.
Can your car blow both hot and cold air at the same time? Some years of Honda vehicles (Civic, 1980s Accord, etc…) have a vent switch located between the middle two AC vents. It goes between a white and blue arrow. Flipping the switch sends cold air out of the center vents. Works great for giving the driver some fresh air in the winter, while maintaining heat on the windshield. Only works if the airflow mode is set to windshield or windshield/feet.
- Drive a pickup truck? Some have a button on the dashboard that turns a light on that shines onto the bed of the truck.
- Open your trunk with your foot. Try it, just in case you have it! With the key FOB in your pocket, wave your foot under the bumper back by the trunk. See if it opens…
- Adjust the sensitivity of your Wipers. In Lexus vehicles with automatic rain sensing windshield wipers. Use the intermittent wiper speed setting to adjust how sensitive the rain detection sensor is.
- Extra Storage. Some cars have a hidden compartment on the front part of the front seats.
- Wall outlet in your car? Look around, you may discover a full-size wall outlet in the back of the center console under the rear passenger air vents. No inverters or anything needed.
- Start your car without twisting the key! In the 2011 RDX, you can put the key in the ignition, twist it to the start position and let go, and the car will crank automatically.
- Where’s the radio “Seek” button? On some Toyota Sienna’s, you can activate the ‘seek’ function for the radio by holding down the preset radio station button on the steering wheel.
- Extra power. Lots of cars have a 12v socket in the passenger area. Check near the footwell, inside storage consoles, or along the walls.
- Hidden compartments. One example is the Mini Cooper r56 has a secret storage compartment behind the trim on the passenger side dashboard.
- Check the BACK of your steering wheel! Many steering wheels have radio control buttons on the back, where your fingertips land. These up/down buttons control things like the volume control and changing radio stations.
- Secret Trunk Opener. On the MX5, there is a hidden button down by the license plate to open the trunk. Great for when the car is running but you need to get into the rear end.
- Heated Seats! It’s surprising how many cars have heated seats, but the button to turn them on is not obvious. If you see a button with what looks like waves coming out of the butt end of a car seat, you’ve hit the jackpot. For example, on the 2006 Mazda 2, the seat heat button is under the seats. Hard to find unless you know it’s there!
- Check your glovebox! Besides CD players and tape decks, sometimes a secret auxiliary input port can be found there! Great for listening to your tunes!
- Hidden phone charging compartment! The 2014 Chevrolet Impala has a hidden compartment in the middle front of the dashboard. Press what looks like a defrost button to open it. There is a phone-charging port in there, and it’s a good place to store your phone while it charges where it is out of sight.
- Do you have adaptive headlights? On some cars, the adaptive headlights don’t come on when you turn the lights on. Rather they only activate if you have the light switch set to “Auto.” Try it out, maybe you have them! Adaptive headlights angle when you turn the steering wheel.
- Secret remote start? The 2011 Lexus RX has remote start, but nothing on the key FOB shows any indication. In order to activate it, hit the lock button twice and then hold for three seconds.
- Turn your key backwards? In a 1999 Firebird, if you turn the key backwards in the ignition, it will turn on only the radio and window switches.
- Block that sun! Almost embarrassing to state, but most cars have sun visors that can extend. Not sure yours does? Give a tug on the visor, you might be in for a treat!
- Can your car park itself? As far back as 2017, the Toyota Prius could parallel park itself. You pull up, press the button, and the car turns the steering wheel, backs up and over into the space. It uses sensors to avoid hitting the cars on either side of you.
- Hang your gas cap. Most cars have a little hook or slot to put your gas cap in while you are refueling, so that it doesn’t scratch your paint. Look for it next time! It might be a little ball the fits into a slot, or a slot that the gas cap slides into.
- Extendo-mirrors! On some Dodge 2500 pickup trucks, the side mirrors can flip out to be towing mirrors for larger loads.
- Scroll through your touchscreen. On certain vintages of cars, the radio tuning knob can be used to scroll through all of the touchscreen options on your cars display. Use the center button to select.
- Do only half of your parking lights work? Check your turn signal! On the MK1 Golf, you can turn on only one side of your parking lights at a time by leaving the turn indicator on (on the side that you want on).
- Opening the back window. On many vehicles with a rear hatch, you can open the window separately from the hatch itself. Great feature for loading groceries!
- Lights-out? Are you noticing a strange light on the instrument panel that looks like a light? It might be a ‘light-out’ indicator. Some Honda and Lexus vehicles have this feature. If a rear brake light is burnt out, there will be an indicator on the dash!
References:
Many of these tricks and more can be found on Reddit:
What feature did you not realize your car had until much later after you got it?
byu/keethantom incars
din lern nuffin!