Getting to Know Your Vehicle
Unit 3
Basic Vehicle Control
● The instrument panel
is the panel directly in
front of you as you sit
in the driver’s seat.
Location of the gauges and warning lights varies from one
vehicle to another
Instrument Panel
● Speedometer (1)
● Speed you are traveling
(mph and km)
● Tachometer (2)
● Engine’s revolutions per
minute.
● Odometer (3)
● Total number of miles the
vehicle has been driven
● Trip odometer??
Instrument Panel
● Fuel Gauge (4)
● Amount of fuel in the
tank
*Try to keep at least half
full in cold weather.*
● Temperature Light (5)
● Warns you when the
coolant in the engine is
too hot.
Instrument Panel
● Oil Pressure Light (6)
● Warns you when the oil is not
circulating at the proper
pressure.
*Check oil level now and then*
● Alternator Warning Light (7)
● Warns that the battery is
being drained, not generating
enough electricity to run the
vehicle.
Instrument Panel
● Brake System
Warning Light (8)
● Warns you to release
parking brake
AND/OR
● If braking and the light
comes on: part or all of
your braking system is
not working properly.
Instrument Panel
● Anti-Lock Braking
System Light (9)
● Tells you if your anti-
lock braking system is
working properly.
ABS keeps the wheels from locking (allowing you to
steer) if you brake hard.
Instrument Panel
● Safety Belt Light (10)
● Reminds you to fasten your
seat belt
● Air Bag Warning Light (11)
● Tells you if your air bags are
working properly.
Instrument Panel
● Turn-Signal Indicator
(12)
● Tells others the direction
you have signaled to turn
Use them when you are turning, change lanes
or entering or exiting a parking space
It’s The Law
Instrument Panel
● High Beam Indicator (13)
● Indicates high beams on
Vehicle Controls
● Vehicle controls characteristics and locations
vary from one vehicle to another
● Each control does the same thing in each
vehicle
Vehicle Controls
● Steering Wheel
Adjustment (2)
● Tilts the steering wheel
up or down
● Selector Lever (3)
● On the steering column
or console
● Gear Selector
● Automatic or
Stick Shift
Vehicle Controls
● Ignition and Starter Switch pg.
42 (4)
● Start vehicle
● Cruise Control
● Maintain speed without
keeping your foot on the
accelerator
Vehicle Controls
● Parking Brake (5)
● Keep the vehicle in
place when parked
● brake-release or lever
or pedal
Vehicle Controls
● Foot Brake Pedal (7)
● Slows or stops the
vehicle
● Turns on brake lights in
the back of the car
● Accelerator Pedal (8)
BRAKE
● Located to the right of
the foot-brake, it
increases and slows a
vehicle's speed.
ACCELERATOR
Stick Shift
1. Accelerator Pedal
2. Foot- Brake Pedal
3. Clutch Pedal (6) – lets you shift
gears
2
1
3
More Devices
● Head Restraints
● Padded devices on the
backs seats
● Help reduce whiplash
injuries
More Devices
● Inside and Outside
Rearview Mirrors
● Rearview mirror adjust to
see completely out the rear
window
● Left outside mirror
view to the left and rear
● Right outside mirror view to
right and rear
More Devices
● Turn-Signal Lever (10)
● Located on the left side
of the steering column
● Up to signal a right turn
or lane change
● Down to signal a left
turn or lane change
More Devices
● Horn (9)
● On the steering wheel and used to
communicate with other roadway
users
● Hazard Flashers (11)
● Located on steering column or
instrument panel
● Warn others that your vehicle is a
hazard
● Both front and back turn signals
flashing
More Devices
● Sun Visor
● Located above the windshield
to help control sun glare
● Seat Adjustment Lever
● Located at the lower front or
left side of driver’s seat
*Could be lever in front*
More Devices
● Windshield Wipers and
Washer (12)
● Clean the outside windshield
● Located often on the turn signal
lever
● Light Switch (13)
● Controls headlights, tail lights,
parking lights, instrument panel,
license plate, dome light and
high beams
More Devices
● Hood Release (14)
● Located on the left of the
instrument panel or to the left
of the driver’s seat
● Heater, Air Conditioner
and Defroster (15)
● Control the temperature
inside your vehicle
● Located on the right side of
the instrument panel.
Gearshift Indicator
Park (P) locks
transmission. Car should
be in PARK when start
engine.
Reverse (R) used for
backing the car
Neutral (N) the 0ut-of-gear
position, used when car
idling. The wheels are free
to roll.
Drive (D) is the forward
gear. Normally use while
driving.
*Overdrive allows the
engine to run more
slowly and fuel
efficiently at higher
speeds*
Low (L or 2 and 1) allows engine to deliver more
power to wheels at slower speed.
Use to drive up and down steep hills (L1)
Used to drive in snow (L2)