With countless buttons scattered throughout modern cars, most motorists steer clear of pressing anything unfamiliar,fearful of triggering something unintended. This is precisely what led one learner driver to seek help identifying amysterious button in her new car, after drawing a blank in the owner's handbook.
Posting a picture of the symbol on Reddit, users could spot an icon depicting a car with two wavy lines beneath it and the word "OFF" displayed below. She explained: "What does this button do in my car? Sorry if this is obvious, but I have no idea what this button means.
"It's in a pretty strange place in the driver-side footwell, next to the headlight height control. I tried to find it in the car manual, but I just can't seem to find anything that explains it. Thank you."
According to the Cars and Vehicle discussion on Gumtree, the 'OFF' button typically switches off particular vehicle systems, such as the auto stop-start feature or ESP (Electronic Stability Programme).
They clarified: "In the UK, most systems like ESP are automatically enabled when you start your vehicle. Auto start-stop off buttons are commonly found in models like the Nissan Qashqai or Vauxhall Corsa, while ESP off buttons often appear in performance models such as the BMW 3 Series."
"You'll see a warning light on your dashboard, such as 'ESP OFF', when these systems are disabled. Most drivers should leave ESP enabled, only turning it off in specific situations like getting stuck in mud or snow, where wheel spin might help.
"Always check your vehicle's manual, as locations vary between manufacturers such as Ford, Volkswagen, and Jaguar."
Responding to the Reddit thread, one user explained: "The real reason to use this button is if you're stuck in snow or ice and the car won't put any power to the wheels because the traction control keeps cutting it when it detects the wheels slipping.
"Turning traction control off allows the wheels to slip so you can try to get unstuck."
Another user commented: "This is the button that disables traction control. Traction control is an electronic system that helps your car maintain grip in slippery driving conditions by slowing down an individual wheel that is spinning excessively compared to the others.
"Imagine you're walking on an ice rink wearing normal shoes: if you try to walk really fast, your feet will slip and you'll lose balance.
"If you take slow, careful steps, you'll have more grip and control. Traction control helps your car do the same thing instead of spinning uncontrollably.
"However, the system doesn't work well when your car is completely stuck on a slippery surface, like deep snow or mud. That's usually the only time most people ever need to press this button - but remember to turn it back on once you're unstuck."
A third user explained: "You need to press and hold it until a light comes on the dashboard whenever you see that symbol."
