Little button on floor - have no clue what it does help

Toke_k19 · 02-16-2007, 06:38 PM

Hiya i might jus be stupid but Theres a little button behind the parking brake and peoplez been tellin me in a high beam(mind u in isn't runnin) but i dont no if its a starter button or wut please hit me up and give me ur answers

463 · 02-16-2007, 09:39 PM

it is a hi/low beam head light switch to be used with the left foot to change the head lights from hi to low to high. i had to explain this to my son last summer when he quized me on how to change the light from hi to low. its good to ask ? 463

MagicRat · 02-17-2007, 08:26 AM

I really like those floor buttons and I miss them in newer vehicles.

However, in snowy winters they had a tendency to get rusty and jammed, especially if one just did mostly city driving.

Blue Bowtie · 02-17-2007, 11:58 AM

And before high/low headlight beams, that used to be the starter switch.

What's really humorous is watching the newer generation get in an older vintage car or truck and try to drive it. The things we take for granted can really make for an interesting lesson:

They get in and fumble around the front of the seat bolster, trying to move the seat;

"Try that little knob on the left side of the seat."

Then they reach around, trying to find the seat/shoulder belt hanging on the B pillar;

"Look on the seat - The belt is right there. By the way, the other end is down near that knob you used to move the seat."

"WTF? Two-piece seat belts?"

Then they fumble with the belt length adjustment once they discover the location.

"You going to put the shoulder belt on?"

Watch them frantically scan right past the belt clipped to the upper headliner edge.

"This is weird. Is this some kind of spaceship or something?" Actually, "weird" probably wouldn't be heard. The only adjective used any more is "awesome" which occasionally preposes the pronoun "dude."

Then comes the mirrors - Watch them search for the buttons/knobs to adjust the outside mirror;

"Try opening the window."

Pause for more comedy...

"That would be the handle above the door handle."

"Do you have the key?"

"Why do you need a key? The ignition is only off, not locked."

'Where do you start it?"

"That would be the ignition switch. right there on the dash - The one that reads 'ignition.'"

If they brought a beverage (it seems no one can go anywhere without a beverage any more) they'll be pleased to learn that they can clench the bottle/can between their thighs while they try to brake and shift simultaneously. Remember when a "cup holder" consisted of the two little indents stamped on the inside of the steel glove box door? They were intended to be used while parked, not while driving. It seems we've forgotten that.

Pray to God it doesn't start raining. That knob plainly marked "WIPERS" there on the dash apparently doesn't exist, since it isn't on the end of the turn signal lever.

"Intermittent wipers? Turn the wipers off if you want them off, or on if you want them on. Grow a pair and make a choice."

It's sad, really.

Cars today will unlock/lock themselves remotely or automaticaly. I've actually had to instruct people how to use the door key to unlock a vehicle door or trunk. That is NOT an exaggeration.
The doors and hatches and trunks open and close automatically.
The seats adjust themselves to the "memory" positions because pushing that little button is just too much work (anyone remember the Jetzons?).
Warning lights turn on to tell us that we couldn't remember to replace the gas cap only two minutes after removing it, even though the cap is tethered to the fuel door. (That reminds me of the old joke about the inability to pour urine from a boot, with the instructions printed on the heel. Unfortunately, it's no longer a joke.)
Belts wrap around the driver automatically, but air bags still "protect" us from ourselves if we somehow mess up the seat belts.
Since the average driver is apparently utterly perplexed and confounded by the daily solar/lunar cycle (which has occurred EVERY day of their lives for a minimum of 16 years - Almost 6,000 times), headlights turn on and off themselves.
Since we are oblivious to other traffic, those same headlights then dim themselves.
A warning light will try to get our attention if we forget to check the oil level, washer reservoir level, brake fluid level, or if the temperature gauge right next to the warning light gets too high.
Wipers turn on themselves, since we no longer have adequate mental capacity to determine if it's raining.
More warning lights turn on if the fuel level gets too low. That's handy, since the light is right next to the frickin' GAUGE which displays fuel level.
Transmissions shift themselves, and are smart enough to shift up even if the lever was ignorantly placed in the wrong range.
Park brakes release themselves - If the operator read the instruction manual an applied it in the first place.
Cars even park themselves - Do I even need to comment no that one. How the Hell does a person get a license if he/she can't park a damed car?
We've become ignorant enough that we cannot find the DOME LIGHT position on the instrument light dimmer, so they operate on a timer until we manage to get the key into the ignition.
The heat/air conditioning operates all by itself to maintain a given temperature. That temperature is preset by a pair of buttons conveniently located right next to the other controls which would otherwise be used to adjust temperature and fan speed. .
Brakes modulate themselves to prevent lockup.
Throttle-by-wire cars even accellerate themselves to prevent wheelspin.
Warnings appear on the outdoor temperature display and outside mirrors indicating "ICE" if the temperature is near or below freezing - " I swore it was 85º when I walked out to the car this morning..."
Not only are we too fat and lazy to crank windows down and up, but now we're too lazy to even hold the button for the three seconds it takes the window to go all the way down in the McDonald's drive-through lane.
Engines adjust themselves because we are too stupid/lazy to tune them.
Traction control has to take over for those of us who don't recognize marginal traction conditions. In over 30 years of driving, I've NEVER been stuck here in the upper midwest with two-wheel, rear wheel drive, open differential vehicle, including the great "Blizzard of '78-79" or '83. And back then, plowing didn't automatically include dumping megatons of salt and calcium chloride on the streets.

I swear that we (collectively) can't do anything for ourselves any more. We all pay the price for catering to the lowest common denominator. I'm not saying that any of these systems are a bad thing, but the overall trend oward making vehicles "fool-proof" is indicative of a broader problem of people being irresponsible. It doesn't bode well for our society as a whole. Any wonder cars still have so many nuisance problems?

I liked it better when Darwin dictated who could and couldn't drive successfully. There were fewer accidents. Everyone else used mass transit, just as it should be.

'97ventureowner · 02-17-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicRat

I really like those floor buttons and I miss them in newer vehicles.

They were much easier to fix too. This discussion reminds me of a notice we had up on the wall in our shop about 15 years ago. It was a joke but it looked official enough to fool many people. It was a "notice" sent by the New York State DMV concerning a recall of all vehicles with the stalk mountedHi/Lo beam changer. It said the reason for the recall was that blondes were getting their legs tangled in the stalk while attempting to change from Lo to Hi and vice versa.

I know I have a copy of it laying around my house somewhere and if I ever find it I'll post it in the forum.

463 · 02-17-2007, 07:29 PM

Re: Little button on floor have no clue wut it does help if you ever had to take the old fire truck (open cab) that the fire dept retired in the 80's for a newer one it had the same looking style of switch on the floor for running the siren mounted on the fender.

463 · 02-17-2007, 07:36 PM

Blue Bowtie: when you started talking about -clench the bottle/can between their thighs- i thought you were going to say how we use to open a beverage with the seat belt latch (church key) ah the good old days.

'97ventureowner · 02-21-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

If they brought a beverage (it seems no one can go anywhere without a beverage any more) they'll be pleased to learn that they can clench the bottle/can between their thighs while they try to brake and shift simultaneously. Remember when a "cup holder" consisted of the two little indents stamped on the inside of the steel glove box door? They were intended to be used while parked, not while driving. It seems we've forgotten that.

Remember those little plastic cup holders that held a small can or bottle of soda,(back then it seemed nobody drank bottled water,)that slipped on the door panel, (in the gap between the window and panel itself)? Or those plastic combo drink holder/trash can thingy that was supposed to fit snugly over the transmission hump on the floor board? Never had any luck with those, and I've seen people lose their drink by rolling the window up with the holder in place, the window would catch the plastic and lift the holder out of the gap. Those combo trays never seemed to grip the rug and stay in place. I still see them once in awhile at garage sales. Front wheel drive vehicles put a dent in the sales of those combo drink holder/waste basket trays cause in most cases the transmission hump disappeared.

silicon212 · 02-23-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

And before high/low headlight beams, that used to be the starter switch.

What's really humorous is watching the newer generation get in an older vintage car or truck and try to drive it. The things we take for granted can really make for an interesting lesson:

They get in and fumble around the front of the seat bolster, trying to move the seat;

"Try that little knob on the left side of the seat."

Then they reach around, trying to find the seat/shoulder belt hanging on the B pillar;

"Look on the seat - The belt is right there. By the way, the other end is down near that knob you used to move the seat."

"WTF? Two-piece seat belts?"

Then they fumble with the belt length adjustment once they discover the location.

"You going to put the shoulder belt on?"

Watch them frantically scan right past the belt clipped to the upper headliner edge.

"This is weird. Is this some kind of spaceship or something?" Actually, "weird" probably wouldn't be heard. The only adjective used any more is "awesome" which occasionally preposes the pronoun "dude."

Then comes the mirrors - Watch them search for the buttons/knobs to adjust the outside mirror;

"Try opening the window."

Pause for more comedy...

"That would be the handle above the door handle."

"Do you have the key?"

"Why do you need a key? The ignition is only off, not locked."

'Where do you start it?"

"That would be the ignition switch. right there on the dash - The one that reads 'ignition.'"

If they brought a beverage (it seems no one can go anywhere without a beverage any more) they'll be pleased to learn that they can clench the bottle/can between their thighs while they try to brake and shift simultaneously. Remember when a "cup holder" consisted of the two little indents stamped on the inside of the steel glove box door? They were intended to be used while parked, not while driving. It seems we've forgotten that.

Pray to God it doesn't start raining. That knob plainly marked "WIPERS" there on the dash apparently doesn't exist, since it isn't on the end of the turn signal lever.

"Intermittent wipers? Turn the wipers off if you want them off, or on if you want them on. Grow a pair and make a choice."

It's sad, really.

Cars today will unlock/lock themselves remotely or automaticaly. I've actually had to instruct people how to use the door key to unlock a vehicle door or trunk. That is NOT an exaggeration.
The doors and hatches and trunks open and close automatically.
The seats adjust themselves to the "memory" positions because pushing that little button is just too much work (anyone remember the Jetzons?).
Warning lights turn on to tell us that we couldn't remember to replace the gas cap only two minutes after removing it, even though the cap is tethered to the fuel door. (That reminds me of the old joke about the inability to pour urine from a boot, with the instructions printed on the heel. Unfortunately, it's no longer a joke.)
Belts wrap around the driver automatically, but air bags still "protect" us from ourselves if we somehow mess up the seat belts.
Since the average driver is apparently utterly perplexed and confounded by the daily solar/lunar cycle (which has occurred EVERY day of their lives for a minimum of 16 years - Almost 6,000 times), headlights turn on and off themselves.
Since we are oblivious to other traffic, those same headlights then dim themselves.
A warning light will try to get our attention if we forget to check the oil level, washer reservoir level, brake fluid level, or if the temperature gauge right next to the warning light gets too high.
Wipers turn on themselves, since we no longer have adequate mental capacity to determine if it's raining.
More warning lights turn on if the fuel level gets too low. That's handy, since the light is right next to the frickin' GAUGE which displays fuel level.
Transmissions shift themselves, and are smart enough to shift up even if the lever was ignorantly placed in the wrong range.
Park brakes release themselves - If the operator read the instruction manual an applied it in the first place.
Cars even park themselves - Do I even need to comment no that one. How the Hell does a person get a license if he/she can't park a damed car?
We've become ignorant enough that we cannot find the DOME LIGHT position on the instrument light dimmer, so they operate on a timer until we manage to get the key into the ignition.
The heat/air conditioning operates all by itself to maintain a given temperature. That temperature is preset by a pair of buttons conveniently located right next to the other controls which would otherwise be used to adjust temperature and fan speed. .
Brakes modulate themselves to prevent lockup.
Throttle-by-wire cars even accellerate themselves to prevent wheelspin.
Warnings appear on the outdoor temperature display and outside mirrors indicating "ICE" if the temperature is near or below freezing - " I swore it was 85º when I walked out to the car this morning..."
Not only are we too fat and lazy to crank windows down and up, but now we're too lazy to even hold the button for the three seconds it takes the window to go all the way down in the McDonald's drive-through lane.
Engines adjust themselves because we are too stupid/lazy to tune them.
Traction control has to take over for those of us who don't recognize marginal traction conditions. In over 30 years of driving, I've NEVER been stuck here in the upper midwest with two-wheel, rear wheel drive, open differential vehicle, including the great "Blizzard of '78-79" or '83. And back then, plowing didn't automatically include dumping megatons of salt and calcium chloride on the streets.

I swear that we (collectively) can't do anything for ourselves any more. We all pay the price for catering to the lowest common denominator. I'm not saying that any of these systems are a bad thing, but the overall trend oward making vehicles "fool-proof" is indicative of a broader problem of people being irresponsible. It doesn't bode well for our society as a whole. Any wonder cars still have so many nuisance problems?

I liked it better when Darwin dictated who could and couldn't drive successfully. There were fewer accidents. Everyone else used mass transit, just as it should be.

I honestly can't tell you why I passed this up for a week, but I saw it today finally and this I have to say about it!

Right On!

I have a friend who ribs me about my choice of wheels these days, saying that I should get a newer car etc ... but then I remind him that today's cars are for brainless wimps. Real men drive real cars!

My first car was a '75 Vega. It had the floor switch for the dimmer, the lack of all other 'good' things, and due to me being a broke 17-year-old, my way of getting around the bad battery it had was to turn on the ignition, then push the car up to about 5-10 MPH, jump in it quick, hit the clutch, shift it to 1st and dump the clutch! I mastered that technique. Don't know if I can get away with it now, but it sure was 'fun' back in the day.

muff34 · 02-24-2007, 12:42 PM

aw yes memories are coming back now, `73 Mercury Capri V-6 4spd trans. little bugger would run like a raped ape if you let `er go. 105,000 miles on it.

RNRea · 03-02-2007, 04:38 PM

The starter was a small, round pedal to the right of the gas pedal, not really a button. That way you would not only power up the starter motor but also engage the starter to the flywheel manually. I liked them. Can anyone today even shift the old transmissions (by old I mean the old straight-cut, non-synchronized gearboxes). I had a friend whose "car" in high-school was a 1940 Chevrolet 1-ton flatbed truck from the farm, but repainted. I was able to upshift *and* downshift them. He could upshift okay, and one of our other friends never could shift the thing without grinding away. Ah, the good old days...

MagicRat · 03-03-2007, 08:36 AM

Another thing comes to mind with kids driving old cars.

They will get in and crank the engine with no success.
"It won't start" they say.

Did you set the choke?

"No, how do I do that "?

"Step on the gas pedal then release." I say.

(they do so and it starts)

"Cool" they say, "What's a choke"

I say "It's an enrichment device on the carburetor"

"Neat" they say".....uh, whats a carburetor?"

Young Chuck D · 03-10-2007, 07:32 PM

i thoroughly enjoyed this thread..

My65vette2 · 04-15-2007, 11:54 PM

how about the air conditioner you filled with water and hung on the outside of the window ?

463 · 04-16-2007, 10:39 AM

My65vette2: i though it was how many miles can your car go on an icecube. ha ha

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