Least used function or feature on our cars?

[Jonathan]

So... I was going through some boxes of parts and came across my "used crap" box. I saw an old defrost switch in there that could be made to work again if I can find the patience to put all the little pieces inside it that sprung loose back together. Found a used "full throttle" microswitch as well. It is the one "with the flap" that all cars have, even though my car has two of these microswitches due to it being an automatic.

I've replaced my full throttle microswitches before from getting seized up by dirt and grime or maybe just being tightened too much by way of the little securing screws. I was going to clean up the used one I have in an attempt to get it to work again before buying a replacement for the one without the flap.

Got me thinking about how useless both of these two things are.

Not 100% useless, but pretty close. In terms of how often they get used anyway. I do floor the accelerator once and a while though, so I'd consider my full throttle microswitches as more "useful" than my defrost switch. I can't remember a single time I've used the rear window defroster.

What else on the car would you consider the least used or most useless feature or function?

[MikeWard]

Lambda light
47716

[DMCVegas]

I've used the Defroster Switch a few times. Driving through standing water when it splashes up on the exhaust manifolds will steam up the rear glass immediately. So the Defroster does indeed work, and is needed

Most useless feature? For me it's a tie between the Diagnostic Plug and the Air Valve Inlet.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Lambda light
47716

In stock form, agree.

I drive the lambda light now with my wideband error code. It flashes when I first start up the car.

[Jonathan]

Lambda light, haha, nice one! The "can you count to 30,000 miles" feature. Assuming you have a functional speedo/odo that is, lol.

The air valve inlet/exhaust manifold stove is another good one... my car had just the duct tucked into the area of the exhaust manifolds but no actual stove bracket anywhere when I got it. A useless feature made more so by being an incomplete useless feature. Cold air inlet (performance) duct made all that go away.

With another automatic transmission fancy feature, the shift interlock button on the early style shifters is useless. For it's intended purpose anyway.

[Nicholas R]

In stock form, agree.

I drive the lambda light now with my wideband error code. It flashes when I first start up the car.

Similar; mine is wired up as the Check Engine/Malfunction Indicator light for the engine swap.

[Patrick C]

1.) Lambda Light
2.) Rear Defroster (in fact, DMCH has a supply of non-defrost rear windows that the factory was planning on switching over to. Even they knew the heated rear window was a useless feature)

[Horsebox]

I've replaced my full throttle microswitches before from getting seized up by dirt and grime or maybe just being tightened too much by way of the little securing screws. I was going to clean up the used one I have in an attempt to get it to work again before buying a replacement for the one without the flap.

It shouldn't take you too long to get it working again. I used a small jeweller's screwdriver to lever the long plunger out, then blasted the inside with contact cleaner. It's been fine ever since but they seem very sensitive to being overtightened but the fixing screws.

[Dangermouse]

1. Door buzzer
2. Chick magnet

[AugustneverEnds]

1. Rheostat
2. Lambda light
3. Ignition/Door Buzzer
4. Toll Booth Window

[Gregadeth]

1. Rheostat
2. Lambda light
3. Ignition/Door Buzzer
4. Toll Booth WindowI was gonna say rheostat as well (only thing it does is further dim an already dimmed instrument panel). I love the toll booth windows though, wouldn't want them any other way.

[AugustneverEnds]

I was gonna say rheostat as well (only thing it does is further dim an already dimmed instrument panel). I love the toll booth windows though, wouldn't want them any other way.

Well I like the way they look but as for being a window, an aperture to get ventilation, they are fairly useless. I guess I am taking a liberty with the title of the thread; I use the window but its function is very impaired.

I expect as time goes on more and more owners will use LEDs and the rheostat will become as useful as Laserdiscs and Quentin Willson's automotive opinions.

[Parzval]

Well I like the way they look but as for being a window, an aperture to get ventilation, they are fairly useless. I guess I am taking a liberty with the title of the thread; I use the window but its function is very impaired.


Are you kidding me? I roll with my arm out the tollbooth! They don't do much to get air inside, you're right about that. But with your arm out there it sort of funnels in a little.... and at least your arm is cool. :cool: Honestly though, I haven't driven enough yet to realize what I DON'T use. Except maybe the interior lights. They're finnicky and if I mess with them they don't work right and drain my battery. So I just leave em off. And I've NEVER even tried the rear defrost. :)

[BABIS]

2.) Rear Defroster (in fact, DMCH has a supply of non-defrost rear windows that the factory was planning on switching over to. Even they knew the heated rear window was a useless feature)

I seem to remember that the non-defrost rear windows were used in the middle east cars...

[sdg3205]

1. OEM "cigar lighter"
2. Defroster
3. "Lock Doors" warning lamp
4. Cooling Fan Fail warning lamp (After removal of the failure prone relay but before Dave's solid state relay fix or before the reverse wiring trick to trigger the lamp when the fans are actually running)
5. OEM hot air intake
6. Windshield washer spray nozzle configuration (terrible, and i rarely drive in the rain)
7. Glovebox (The fact that i can't reach the depths of my glove box while seated and buckled in means if I'm seated there isn't much i can do about the glovebox contents until i can safely unbuckle and crawl a little)
8. Rear locking cubby
9. Wiper delay setting
10. OEM courtesy lamp dimming
11. Jack
12. spare tire
13. High beams (never get to use them but they're fantastic)

[dn010]

I'd buy your broken defrost switch if you want to get rid of it - mine is shot!

FWIW I used my defrost switch all the time in the winter months upstate, it worked like a champ!

I'd say the Lambda light is useless on mine.

[Jonathan]

Chick magnet... hahahaha. Ain't that the truth.

Agreed on the wiper delay feature... do you like fast or really fast?


I'd buy your broken defrost switch if you want to get rid of it - mine is shot!

...

Let me at least see if I can get it back together and working. I had some luck playing with it yesterday, but it seems to be reluctant to "spring" back to the off position. I think that littlest piece inside there isn't bent into the shape it needs to be at the moment...

The radio antenna might be another. And I don't mean because of where it's located on the car (windshield, fender, power). I just don't listen to the radio when I'm in the car... got too many 80s playlists via iPod for that :P~

[Patrick C]

I seem to remember that the non-defrost rear windows were used in the middle east cars...

https://store.delorean.com/p-9772-glass-rear-wo-defrost.aspx

From the DMCH site: "Someone at the factory probably said, "Hey, there's so much heat coming off the engine back here, why do we need the added expense of a rear window defroster?" And that's how these rear windows, without rear defrosting element, probably got made. As far as we know, they were never fitted to any cars at the factory. Maybe just an expensive "oops" by someone in Product Engineering. Anyway, they're kind of cool in that they're different and if you put one in your DeLorean, you'll have something to point out to all the other owners at the next DeLorean show."

[DMCVegas]

I seem to remember that the non-defrost rear windows were used in the middle east cars...

I've heard that too as the reason for that glass. But I don't believe it to be true. With all of the Middle East cars that I've seen pictures of, ALL of them still retain their rear window defrosters.

Plus, contrary to image that we Americans have of the Middle East, it actually does snow there. So they definitely would have needed the defrosters.

https://www.kannadigaworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dubai-Rain-Jan-19-2015_011.jpg

[David T]

I've heard that too as the reason for that glass. But I don't believe it to be true. With all of the Middle East cars that I've seen pictures of, ALL of them still retain their rear window defrosters.

Plus, contrary to image that we Americans have of the Middle East, it actually does snow there. So they definitely would have needed the defrosters.

https://www.kannadigaworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dubai-Rain-Jan-19-2015_011.jpg

Reminds me of the joke why the Trabants (east German disposable cars) have rear defoggers, so you can keep your hands warm as you push the car!

[Peripatetic]

- AM/FM Radio. I unplugged the antennae months ago. I only listened to streamed music through a Bluetooth cassette tape.

- Dimmer ryhorn thing.

- Any gear below D. There's one or two?


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[vwdmc16]

2. Defroster...

6. Windshield washer spray nozzle configuration (terrible, and i rarely drive in the rain
8. Rear locking cubby
9. Wiper delay setting
11. Jack
12. spare tire

I have to disagree with these, I drive in the rain and need the defrost front and rear, and intermittent wipers are badass.

Storing tools in the cubby is great

And have a spare and jack came in great use when my rear tire blew out.

[sdg3205]

I have to disagree with these, I drive in the rain and need the defrost front and rear, and intermittent wipers are badass.

Storing tools in the cubby is great

And have a spare and jack came in great use when my rear tire blew out.

Sure. Okay. I was under the impression we were listing our least used features. I have never used the spare, jack, defrost etc so it doesn't really matter if we agree.

And damnit, I maintain the intermittent wipers suck!

[Jonathan]

Sure. Okay. I was under the impression we were listing our least used features. I have never used the spare, jack, defrost etc so it doesn't really matter if we agree.

And damnit, I maintain the intermittent wipers suck!

That's pretty much how I had thought of it.

Or thought of another way... if something was broken or missing on your car, what could you go for the longest without needing to replace/repair? Lambda light/service counter comes to mind this way...

[DMC-81]

Every time I take the car out for a drive, or at least idle it weekly, I have a routine of going through the electrical features turning them on and off couple times in the spirit of "use it or lose it". Mirrors, windows, all the buttons on the Craig, rheostat, etc..... going left to right. The only thing that's not in this routine is the parcel shelf courtesy light. So, that gets my vote for electrical. For mechanical I would vote for the jack and tool pouch.

[Chris 16409]

I was going to mention the telescoping feature of the steering column. I never mess with that.

[DrJeff]

I was going to mention the telescoping feature of the steering column. I never mess with that.

We have a telescoping feature? WTH.

[Parzval]

We have a telescoping feature? WTH.

Yup. Just loosen the "tilt" knob and tilt/ pull / push the wheel where you want it! Pretty slick. My 99 beetle actually does pretty much the same thing, but it's not nearly as cool. :cool:

[Jonathan]

We have a telescoping feature? WTH.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?2755-DeLorean-Owner-s-Handbook-Manual

Page 12. Description is brief. The rheostat is mentioned in there too.

[opethmike]

The starter

[Jonathan]

I'm not terribly fond of the stock cupholders on the D...

[Horsebox]

Satisfying the door lock "not locked" light on the centre console. Making it go away by locking the doors whilst we're inside it.

What is the point of that system anyway?

We obviously have no money otherwise we'd own an Aston.

[mr_maxime]

windshield washer, heater and spare tire.

rear defrost really seems unnecessary though. ive scrapped ice off front windshield but never had to defrost the rear