Secret switch (and other interesting observations)

[Trugga]

Did you know (well, at least those of you without a owners handbook), that on the facelift A series dash, if you pull the headlamp switch, the interior lights come on.

Also, the other night I got into the Sport in the dark and noticed that the light symbol above the lights switch is illuminated - usefull in being able to locate it in the dark.

What other secrets/features have you discovered ?

Lawrence

[Drift]

I knew that as it was the same as my old Astra

[john boy]

I knew that aswell from my old cav's. As for another secret mines slow as oh that's normal

[gregster]

2.2i owners noticed that when they turned the key, head gasket failure started...

2.8 owners soon cottoned on that when they turned the ignition key and started the engine that the radio muted itself (well it needed turning up to hear it again...)

V6 owners observed that turning the key made the fuel gauge start to go down really quickly

Dti and B owners have a secret switch for making the gauges work...the side lights tell other road users that you are in on the secret.

2.3 owners have a secret pedal...they have the normal clutch and brakes pedals, but the other one doesnt make the car go faster, it just makes more noise and smoke, nothing else.

2.5 owners have the same secret third pedal, only theres is directly connected to the EML light.

[Rifleman]

If you press the right button on the remote the doors unlock.
Press the other one and they lock.

When Gregster presses the top of his gear lever, the passenger seat buggers off into the atmosphere.

[Big Dav]

Pressing the concealed button on the alarm movement sensor behind the drivers seat when the door is open, allows you to then close the door and with the key fob, set the perimeter alarm of the car but with the movement sensors deacitvated. If you carry out the process within 10/20 seconds though.
Handy if its hot weather (??) and you want the sunroof open a touch whilst parked.

[gregster]

My fronterror must have had a hidden switch actually within its factory alarm sounder under the bonnet...

On the third night running that it went off at 4am, I managed to locate the hidden switch with only the second blow of my favorite ball pein hammer, turning it off for good.

[gregster]

My frontera has a device to remind me, when I go shooting bunny's out of the drivers window, that my rifle has telescopic sights on top of the barrel...

This ingenious device makes like a tinkling broken glass sound combined with a hollow plastic kinda pop, every single time that I forgot that barrel sat lower than the sights and took a shot....

I loose count how many drivers mirrors I have replaced now!

[4x4 bobby]

Standard Vauxhall switch as my Opel Manta GTE had the same switch.

[RatCav]

Don't forget the other 2.2 petrol hidden secret. If you have the upgraded models with factory fitted CD players you can go into "HG" mode on the stereo and that opens a secret flap in the back of the unit. That allows ou to dip the clutch while on the go and feed the new Head Gasket through the front and into the engine. This in turn pushes the old head gasket out the front into the specially fitted catch tray that can be cleared out of the old ones every service interval. Others call this catch tray a "front bash plate"

[RatCav]

On a serious note.

Some Vauxhalls with remote central locking and electric windows had a funtion with the key that if you turn and hold the key in the lock position in the drivers door it then winds up any open windows.

For A series LWB drivers. If you lift the rear seat bases there is a flap that conceals a hidden compartment that hides the bottle jack and handle. Some vehicles even had a toolkit in there as well.

[jontera]

there are spider farms behind the wing mirrors..jet wash them out and your guaranteed to have new ones in the morning..

[Rifleman]

Hahaha, I have to agree with that mate.

[hawk]

on the b model two buttons on the underside rear view mirror turn on reading lights when ignition on the chap i bought my frontera off had it for 5 years was amazed when i switched it on

[jmc]

My 2.5 has a secret something which makes the eml light flash at random when trying to start. ,thers also something under the bonnet which carries on humming to itself after the engine is switched off.
I did know about the light switch being pulled out for the interior light (thanks trugga) as it was the same as my astra diesel estate.

[gregster]

On the lecky mirror switch on a prefacelift A there is a tiny little button, other than the left/right rocker switch and the window movey thing...
I believe that pressing this little switch demists the wing mirrors, might be wrong though as I have never remembered when they have been misted up...
It makes a little light come on too...
How cool is that eh??? (If I wasnt wrong that is... )

[BoxCleva]

[rospicer]

[gregster]

I do try
Cheers fella

[jmc]

Gregster has managed ,with just one accurate sentance for each model to sum up Fronteras...my son asked what was so funny as I was laughing so much when I read it.. thanks greg.
Thanks boxcleva for the heads up on the eml and humming noise. It has a new transponder do I need a new key do you think?