Instrument panel

Instrument panel of vehicle

The instrument panel or combined instruments consists of a whole of indicators and witnesses who inform the driver of a motor vehicle (Voiture, Camion, Moto, Bateau, etc) about the operation of the engine and the Paramètre S of control (instantaneous speed, outside temperature). It is generally located vis-a-vis the driver or pilot, but in certain cases, the bill-posters are located in the middle of the instrument panel (as on the Toyota Yaris, Renault Espace, Renault Twingo…).

With regard to the private cars, certain indicators are imposed by the legislation and others are provided to the discretion of the manufacturer. Generally, the wealth and the variety of information suggested depend on the version of the model in the range. Thus, the most crested versions of a model have indicators of comfort or advanced functions (such as for example a Ordinateur of edge).

Indicators

Until the Nineties, the richness of compound of instruments really evolved/moved between the low and high versions of a model, but it is less the case today because of the movement of standardization. The majority of the contemporary models thus propose a certain number of standard indications:

the instantaneous Speed expressed in kilometers per hour (km/h) or in miles per hour (mph), via a Tachometer

number of revolutions of the principal tree of the engine expressed in thousands of turns per minute (tr/min or rpm), thanks to the Rev counter (which is him also a Tachymètre)

traversed mileage (km), by a adding machine or Odometer (generally supplemented by a partial adding machine)
the level of Fuel (expressed most of the time in subdivisions of the capacity of the tank)

the Temperature of the liquid of Driving cooling in degrees Centigrade (°C)

Witnesses of alarm, alarm and indication

These indicators are supplemented by the presence of a certain number of witnesses, of very variable number according to the manufacturers and the models. These witnesses can be classified in three categories:

the pilot of alarm announce an engine failure imposing a dead halt or a danger to the passengers of the vehicle
the pilot of alarm announce the breakdown of an electronic system of edge or the need to make revise a body of the vehicle, while leaving the possibility of continuing to use the vehicle
the pilot of indication announce the operation of a system of edge

The colors used inform partially about nature of the witness: red and orange for the witnesses of alarm, orange for the witnesses of alarm, orange, green and blue for the witnesses of indication. Here a description of the witnesses more running by categories. For some of them, several representations exist according to the countries or the manufacturers. They are illustrated by various pictograms. In each paragraph below, the principal representations are illustrated.

1. Witnesses of alarm

Load battery

When this witness ignites, it announces an insufficiency of the load of the battery. The battery makes it possible to feed in electrical energy all the devices of edge (lighting external, radio, ventilation, lighting of the engine), but it must be for that constantly reloaded. This load is ensured by the engine, through the alternator. This one is pulled by a belt, which thus turns only when the engine is moving. If it is insufficiently tended or if it breaks, the alternator does not fulfill any more its function and the battery discharges gradually.

If the witness ignites moving normal, it is possible to continue to roll until being able to stop in full safety. Indeed, the battery does not discharge instantaneously. It is at this stage that the diagnosis is established. Mechanical fault of competence, it is possible to roll, with moderated pace, to the garage nearest.

However, a bad load of the battery can also involve an overheating engine. Indeed, the belt which actuates the alternator is sometimes also used for the water pump which allows the cooling of the engine. If it does not turn any more, the engine is likely to undergo serious mechanical problems (rupture of the cylinder head gasket etc).

Pressure of engine oil

As for all the machine elements, the mobile bodies of the engine, which provide energy necessary to the vehicle, must be abundantly lubricated. If not, they could not function being given their high speed of rotation (the modern petrol engines are able to turn to 6000 turns per minute, and certain model sporting go up even to 8000 revolutions per minute).

Lubrication is thus an essential function filled by the circuit of lubrication. In order to bring oil in all the places of the engine, an oil pump is used (of gear pump type).

If the circuit remains quite tight, the oil pressure should not fall during operation. However, when the engine did not turn during a certain time, the oil, which is a fluid, " descend" top of the engine towards the casing, and the pump spends a certain time to bring oil everywhere and to make it go up in pressure. This is why the indicator ignites with starting and dies out quickly.

It is also why it should be waited a little before requesting the engine, time until oil heats and reaches its conditions of optimal lubrication.

If the indicator ignites moving, it is necessary to immobilize the vehicle as soon as possible, and to cut the engine. Several checks must be made driving extinguished:

- the oil level (after having waited a few minutes). If it is insufficient, to make the supplement, to start again the engine and to see what occurs. If the indicator remains lit…

-… to cut the engine and to look under the car if there is an escape (hole in the casing, for example). In this case, direction the garage, using a breakdown truck because the vehicle is not in a position to roll.

This breakdown is difficult to repair, it is better to entrust this work to a specialist.

Temperature of the liquid of cooling

This witness appears in very many cars, although on certain models there is only one thermometer. With or without thermometer, this witness is very important because it announces any overheating of the engine. Thus, the driver can adapt its pace and avoid the destruction of certain parts of the engine. In the modern automobile engines, the driving block which contains the parts moving is cooled by water. Like the heart of the produced engine of energy by exploding a air-gasoline mixture, the essential parts would be destroyed if they were not cooled.

The water which circulates in the engine borrows a network of drains which one calls the circuit coolant. This circuit connects the driving block to the radiator which dissipates heat, and to the circuit of heating of the cockpit.

The many drains and especially the pipes of connection are likely to start to flee, and this more especially as the cooling water is under pressure (if it were not the case, it would evaporate).

If this witness ignites, it is advisable to slow down the pace and to put the heating at bottom to see whether the temperature of the engine goes down again (the hot air is indeed bled on Durits of cooling of the engine). If that does not function, to immobilize the vehicle while letting idle the engine, heating at bottom.

- to check the cooling water level. If it is too weak, to cut the engine, to await ten minutes (time to leave the temperature and the pressure of the circuit to fall), then to open the surge tank précautionneusement. To make the supplement, to start again the engine and to look at if the temperature drops. If it is the case, to set out again while rolling gently and by supervising the temperature. If it goes up, there is perhaps an escape.

- in the event of escape on Durit, to supplement the level like above but to roll with the surge tank opened, to prevent the pressure from going up. Attention, water evaporates quickly, and the level goes down again quickly. It should be often supplemented.

An excessive water temperature can cause the rupture of the cylinder head gasket, this damage is thus serious.

Level of the liquid of braking

This witness has a double function of alarm. He announces:

- a decrease in pressure of the brake system

- a level of too weak brake fluid

Alarms are very important, because they indicate that the capacities of braking of the vehicle are affected significantly. The brakes consist of discs or drums. It is the high pressure of the circuit which makes it possible to provide energy necessary to braking. Any fall of the pressure decreases the effectiveness of the device and must lead to an rapid intervention. It can be the result of a level of too weak liquid following a negligence of maintenance (this is why the witness makes dual employment).

It can also be a question of an escape in an unspecified point of the circuit, or presence of air in the pipes.

In all the cases, it is imperative to intervene quickly, by its own means or by the means of a mechanic.

On the modern cars, it also announces the tightening of the parking brake (hand brake).

not buckled Safety belts

The security standards car become unceasingly more severe. Indeed, the accidentology makes progress, and takes account of the innovations in the fields of active safety and passivates (Air Bags, prétensionneurs…).

The safety belts became currency by this process, and are obligatory today so much with before with the back of the car. But the practices are difficult to modify. This is why it was necessary to force the drivers and their passengers to buckle their belt, by a preventive and repressive apparatus (fines in the event of nonuse of the device).

In the cars also, the compound was made the enemy of imprudence by informing driver in the visual and sometimes sound way of sound " oubli". Lastly, the most recent cars (since 2005) are equipped with a witness of belt not buckled by passenger.

Open doors or badly closed

The doors of the cars have of a locking of safety and a notch in which the door is completely closed and tight. But the standardization is not yet total and the locks can be various qualities. Thus, one can believe to have closed the door well whereas it is not the case.

Even if the door should not open moving and that the wind would rather tend to close it, a child pushing the door can open it, a fortiori if it rests above.

This is why this witness, sometimes backed up with a sound signalling hooter, informs the passengers of the negligence. This witness can also announce a too weak tension of the pile feeding the remote control of opening of the doors.

2. Witnesses of alarm

mini Level of fuel

The gasoline breakdown is a phenomenon which rarefies, mainly thanks to the gauge of fuel and with the indicator which accompanies it in the great majority by the cases. This witness informs the driver which it rolls on the fuel reserve which generally borders the 5 liters. On the other hand, the lighting of this indicator takes a new significance on the most recent cars. Those all are equipped with a catalytic pot (this thus relates to as much the models gasoline that diesel). The catalytic pot very badly supports the consecutive insufficiencies of food on a too weak fuel level.

It is even likely to be destroyed. Thus, it is important to remake the full one before to have reached the end of the tank.

Level of engine oil

The engine is an assembly of metal parts which have an imperative need for lubrication under penalty of warming up excessively. The oil which one places in the casing thus fills a crucial role for good walk of the car. The regular control of the level of this fluid belongs to the tasks of the conscientious motorist. But maintenance is often neglected, and the oil level is practically as badly parcelled out as the pressure of the tires… However, if the indication of the pressure of the tires is democratized gradually, the oil level is already the object of more than attention among the manufacturers.

Those for a long time propose automatic gauges which play the part of a manual control, in a version much less tiresome. Thus, the witness of oil level (if it is present) informs the driver of any insufficiency of lubricant.

If this witness flickers too a long time, or if the needle of the gauge with oil is in the red zone, it is absolutely necessary to make the supplement under penalty of destroying the engine shortly.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

The witness of ABS allows to supervise the operation of anti-locking wheels which equips with many recent vehicles in first goes up. This device, by preventing the wheel locking during an emergency braking, makes it possible the driver to keep the control of the car and to avoid a collision with the obstacle which caused its deceleration.

The advantage of alarm is thus clear: any dysfunction of ABS can have very heavy consequences, and this same if the conventional brake continues has to function normally.

The breakdown being generally electronic, it is advisable to carry out the replacement of the elements blamed after a check in the mechanic, the motorist not being able to repair itself the defective components.

Presence of water in the gas oil filter

Combustion in the diesel engines is carried out by the fuel injection in the cylinder, after compression of the air of admission. The quality of the gas oil revêt thus a considerable importance in the good performance of the engine.

It happens that full in a service station delivering with the fuel with bad quality contains a certain quantity of water. This water accumulates in the gas oil filter, which it is consequently necessary to purge so as to avoid all bad combustion of the mixture, even possibly a deterioration of the injectors.

The witness of presence of water in the filter has gas oil informs the driver which it must quickly carry out this purging, which is carried out simply by unscrewing a serrated roller at the base of the filter.

Wear of the brake pads before

The witness of wear of the brake pads before team of many models of the French and foreign production. He makes it possible to supervise the evolution of the front brake pads, essential component for the active safety of the vehicle.

The plates are the elements which slow down the disc of brake, and dissipate the kinetic energy accumulated by the vehicle. By doing this, they warm up and know thus a fast wear.

When the witness of wear ignites, it is important to carry out the fast replacement of the plates, under penalty of largely deteriorating qualities of braking of the car.

driving Self-diagnosis

Formerly, the motorist was itself to control parameters as the advance with the lighting (lever at the wheel which it was necessary to bring to the point just independently of the accelerator). Then arrived the automatic, mechanical or electronic regulations. Today, the driver is not even held to know what is the advance with lighting.

But, like everywhere, electronics has a defect: the breakdown, however rare is it, is difficult to diagnose. The mechanics have a system of analysis of the electronic ignition, which is connected to the engine via a catch known as of diagnosis, available to all the modern cars.

Moreover, since the appearance of the mono or multipoint injection in series (coupled with the catalytic pot on the posterior cars gasoline with January 1st, 1993, and diesel posterior at January 1st, 1996), the compounds of instruments propose a witness of self-diagnosis, which indicates by its flickering or its lighting prolonged a defect of the injection or ignition system.

This witness also informs the driver which the system of depollution does not function correctly, since combustion is not done any more under the optimal conditions. It is thus important to cure the breakdown quickly, under penalty of deteriorating bodies like the catalytic pot.

Antidémarrage coded

Many personal vehicles propose in series a device of antidémarrage coded. These systems ensure an effective protection of the car, since it is necessary to compose a secret code to start the engine.

The most advanced systems propose a coding by transponder, which means that the code is contained in the ignition key, and that the driver can start directly.

The majority of the manufacturers adopted this solution much more comfortable than the keyboard. The witness of antidémarrage dies out as soon as the recognition of the code is finished, informing the driver which it can start. Contrary, if there remains lit, the vehicle is not protected any more and it is necessary to carry out a repair of the device.

3. Witnesses of indication

tight Brake hand

The witness of tight hand brake appeared to avoid a lapse of memory as frequent as dangerous. As its name indicates it, it announces that the hand brake is tightened or badly loosened. It has a great utility, because the ordering of the hand brake is independent of the brake pedals.

Thus, when there remains tight, the driver does not realize any and rolls while deteriorating the brake pads back. On certain older models, this witness is coupled with the witness of level of liquid of braking.

Side-lights - of crossing - of road

Their beginnings, the cars were equipped with genuine lanterns, as not very effective as reliable. With the joint improvement of the bulbs, dynamos and lead-acid batteries, the modern headlights were born.

The surface of the projectors became complex, so that they clarify only part of the road, namely that which uses the vehicle. The halogen lamps, then with xenon replaced the bulbs with basic filament gradually, making lighting still better. The future is announced under the auspice of the coupling of the lamps to xenon and electroluminescent diodes (LED).

All these headlights require good information with the driver so that this one does not make confusion between road and dipped headlights, for example.

i. Side-lights

This witness, as his name indicates it, accompanies the service entrance by external lighting. The compound, the orders of instrument panel, the night lights before and back are illuminated, as well as the number plate.

II. Dipped headlights

This witness announces the passage in dipped headlights.

III. Main-beam headlamps

This witness announces the passage in main-beam headlamps. It is only the pilot current blue of current compounds, which makes it very recognizable.

iv. Projectors fog before - Lamps fog back

The lamps fog are quite useful when the conditions of visibility are degraded. They do not light far but announce the vehicle, and - for the projectors before - illuminate the low side.

The lamps fog back became obligatory, at least on a side of the vehicle (what explains why on many vehicles, one finds on a side the fog lamp and other, the reversing light).

The witnesses of lighting of these fires are also useful because a lapse of memory can be liable to a fine. Indeed, the lamps fog are dazzling and obstruct the other road users.

These pictograms are standard, the fog witness of lamps before is green, and the fog witness of lamps back is orange.

Demisting of the rear window

The passengers of a vehicle, while breathing inside, modify the water content of the cockpit and embuent the panes. There exist two manners of demisting these panes: to insufflate hot air or dryness.

A hot cockpit embue less easily. A air-conditioned car offers the double advantage of proposing an hot air and dryness. The rear window, isolated from the aerators, is demisted thanks to the action of small resistances provided in series.

The witness has his utility because these devices consume much energy. The lapse of memory is less easy, for the greatest benefit of the battery. However, many these devices are equipped with an automatic setting out-tension, which generally intervenes at the end of ten or twelve minutes.

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