Yahoo News Little-known feature on your car key fob that many don't know about
Driving experts have shared an interesting hack that most British car key fobs have built into them, with two buttons adopting a secret feature. While many of us will use our lock and unlock buttons every day, they don't solely control the locking mechanisms on our motors.
Holding down on the unlock button will cause the windows of a petrol or diesel car to roll down, while holding the lock button down for a moment will cause them to roll up. So if you get out of your car only to realise that you've left the windows open, you don't have to get back in to sort the issue.
Experts at LeaseCar revealed the motoring trick, but warned that the feature may differ depending on make and model. The motoring group told The Express: "Many car models have a hidden feature built within the key fob that is unknown to most drivers.
"Standing outside your vehicle, hold down the unlock button on your car keys and the windows will start to unwind. Some cars may differ - so try holding down the unlock button once, releasing it, and then pressing down again to activate this remote feature."
And the vital tip could help drivers out as the spring and summer roll round, allowing motorists to cool their vehicles remotely before setting off. Experts at Dick Lovett added: "Holding the unlock button down opens the windows on your car (or roof, on convertibles), whilst holding down the lock button closes them.
"This is ideal during warmer months to avoid getting straight into a hot car. This trick works on many different models and is not limited to one manufacturer. All you'll need to do is hold down the unlock button on the key fob, and your car windows will begin to roll down whilst you stand outside the vehicle.
"For some cars, you may be required to hold down the unlock button once, release, and then hold it down again before it will work."
Do be careful when using the feature though, as it could have drastic consequences if you leave your car unattended with the windows down. Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, previously warned: "These features can be fantastic if the owner understands the sequence of key-fob button pushes to access them, but they can also be frustrating or even harmful if these features are triggered accidentally."
