In driver’s training we always had to demonstrate the proper sequence so it just becomes ingrained. But when something happens that breaks that sequence is when trouble happens. I can remember at least three times that I locked my keys in the car. I usually have a key hidden, but twice the key box rusted off. It happens I guess to the best of us but I have never forgotten to shut the car off or put it in park.
www.nytimes.com/.../autos-on-friday-technology-shif… VDC driver, not sure if I know how to post a link but if this doesn’t work you can probably type it into google.
I was a little surprised by your request, I thought everyone knew that. Chrysler was not the only one to use push buttons, Rambler, Studebaker and Packard also had them but Studebaker and Packard met their demise before they were required to changer.
Allison transmissions use pushbutton controls
I’m talking 3000 series and larger . . . NOT the smaller 1000 series found in pick ups
The law only applied to passenger cars and light trucks. See Federal Law 49CFR 571.102 Standard 102. This is the latest revision revised in 2005.
^
No, that website address didn’t work.
Yes, Rambler and Packard used push-button shift controls, as did Edsel.
However, Studebaker NEVER used pushbutton shift controls.
The Rambler and Chrysler pushbutton transmissions had the pushbuttons connected to the transmission by a mechanical linkage. This feature was available from 1958 through 1962_on all Ramblers except the American. Chrysler used the pushbutton transmissions from 1956 through 1964. The pushbuttons on the Edsel and Packard electrically controlled the transmission. The transmission couldn’t be shifted if the battery was dead. The only Edsels that had the pushbutton transmissions were the 1958 Corsair and Citation models that were on a Mercury platform. These pushbuttons were in the center hub of the steering wheel. The smaller 1958 Edsels, the Ranger and Pacer, were on the Ford Fairlane chassis and used the conventional column shifted. The 1959 and 1960 Edsels were all on the Ford chassis and had the column lever. I am not sure, but the 1958 Mercury may have had a,pushbutton controlled transmission.
Yes the 58 Merc had a push button transmission at least in the Turnpike Cruiser. Apparently I was mistaken about the Studebakers. If you google ’ Studebakers with push button transmissions" a lot of images will come up but the only Studebaker is a pickup with a Hemi and a Torqueflight in it.
“The only Edsels that had the pushbutton transmissions were the 1958 Corsair and Citation models that were on a Mercury platform.”
…and that mechanism was one of the weak spots of the Edsel design.
Dirt, debris, and corrosion on the poorly-shielded electrical connections to the transmission would cause the cars to become disabled as a result of not being able to activate the transmission.
My Cx7 has similar tech to the push button, but it’s not a button. They put a little plastic piece on the steering column to take the place of your normal keys, but you don’t need to put the key in the ignition to start it. If I ever DO need the key, just push in on the piece and it’ll pop right off, reveling the actual ignition slot for your normal key. It’s like starting a normal car, just don’t need to put a key in the ignition.
As for leaving my keys in the house, or whatever, I always pat myself down to make sure I have my key chain attached to my belt loop before I leave the house. This does 2 things for me, it assures me I have my keys with me, and that I don’t lock myself out of the house
I think it is a good idea for old geezers, like me, to drive late model cars with gimmicks. My Toyota Sienna was hit in a parking lot two weeks ago. The damage was cosmetic and had I been in driving the first car I ever owned, a 1947 Pontiac, there would have been no damage. I wanted to wait for a few weeks to get the van repaired when I won’t be having to drive to gigs with my fellow musicians, but the insurance company that is paying for the repair wants to have the job done this week and the body shop that I selected can do the job. The insurance company is paying for the rental of a 2016 Dodge minivan. There are some features I haven’t experienced. For example, there are buttons on the steering wheel to allow the driver to scroll through a display to read and reset the trip odometers. The ignition key is an electronic type, but it goes into a lock just like a,regular key. I have power doors on my Sienna, but this Dodge also has a powered tail gate. I am going to have to psych out a couple of other things before we take off for a rehearsal tomorrow night. I have to figure out how to fold down the rear seat. I’ll need to figure out how the climate controls work. I am one of those rare people who appreciated the simplicity of the 1957 Studebaker Scotsman–no power equipment, manual transmission, hand choke, no passenger side sunvisor, etc. However, automobiles changed over the 58 years that I have been driving. There are even more features on this Dodge van than my 2011_Sienna. In short,it’s good for Geezers like me to drive cars with new features and assess which ones have value and which are gimmicks.
I rented a jeep wrangler today and couldn’t figure out why the parking brake was going on all the time. After looking at the manual it is a safety feature that put s the parking brake on every time you put it in park. Drives me nuts. Evidently you can program it out so we’ll see tomorrow.
This does 2 things for me, it assures me I have my keys with me, and that I don't lock myself out of the house
No problem locking my self out, I use deadbolts, no key = no locking the door. And if I can’t lock the door I am not going any where, any ways.
Bing, did the system automatically disengage the parking brake when you started the car? If it didn’t, it’s a truly terrible feature IMHO.
No, fear as I can tell you have to push the button every time to release the brake.
The Wrangler has a manually operated parking brake lever, the Renegade has an electric parking brake.
The electric parking brake can be set to engage automatically or manually, it also releases automatically;
The electric park brake will be automatically released if
the driver’s seat belt is buckled and driver’s intention to
start (in forward or reverse direction) is recognized by the
system
The gimmick I most hate is back lit instrument panels that rely on being back lit to be readable, even in daytime. When driving at night, that brightly glowing dashboard gives absolutely no clue that you forgot to turn your headlights on.
With the old tech system, if you forget to turn on your headlights at night, the fact that you can’t see your speedometer and gauges instantly alerts you to the fact.
Whatever you say but I stopped at the guard station, put it into park while dis were checked, back into drive and the thing wouldn’t move and the brake light was on. Pushed the button and the thing released. Maybe with practice I don’t know. So you’re supposed to put your foot on the brake and hit the gas to release? Like who does that? At any rate it can be disabled. Supposed to put the brake on to if you get out with the engine running and don’t have it in park so it won’t run away. I supposed that’s happened a couple times.
To, too, two. Sorry, it’s the iPads fault.
About these high tech start procedures, does anyone remember the Fonz? Back in the pre-micro chip days things somethimes failed to function as intended and whether it was a juke box, garage door, soda machine or car starter Henry Winkler seemed to be able to shake his hips and apply a good thump with his elbow and things were set straight. Maybe cars need a rubber cushion on one of the fenders to enable owners to encourage their cars to start with a sound kick or two without doing any body damage. Chances are the kicks would never successfully get a car running but the owner would be able to blow off some frustration without having any damage to regret later.
And FWIW I have disabled any and all devices on my personal vehicles that have failed and prevented me from starting the engine, shifting from park, etc. In fact I have often disabled potentially annoying devices pre-emptively when doing so was convenient. My last Cherokee would crank in any gear, shift without stepping on the brake or operating the key and the power windows would operate with the key off… The Fonz was never around when I needed him.
@Bing The parking brake is supposed to release when you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator, like a hill holder. If you unlatched your seat belt it won’t release automatically.
About those automatic parking brakes; a customer called in a panic when her Ford wouldn’t move and it was in a fast food parking lot. I had a wrecker pick it up and found that the parking brake was on and the vacuum operated release failed because a hose was knocked off. Once connected everything worked great. When the owner picked up the car I only charged her the wrecker bill and pointed to her very stylish shoes with pointed toes and explained the problem. Of course the parking brake had a manual release just like the models without the “convenient” automatic release so she could avoid future problems. But that automatic release seemed like such a ridiculous, totally unnecessary gimmick. Now cars are loaded with such gimmicks.