Any worse ergonomics fail than the GM hazard switches from the 1980s?

[MontoyaF1]

I had a 1984 Buick Grand National when I was in college, and it had the standard GM hazard switch on the steering column (looked sort of like this):



I hated using it, because once it was on I could never figure out how to shut it off, and when I did manage to turn it off I felt like I was snapping a chicken bone in half.

Anyone else annoyed by this? Has any company made a switch that was worse from an ergonomics point-of-view?

[too_slow]

I remember that switch from my S-15 Jimmy SLT. To be honest, I've never figured out how to use it.. LOL

[GolfVIDriver]

I remember that switch from my S-15 Jimmy SLT. To be honest, I've never figured out how to use it.. LOL

You pushed the center in. TO shut it off, you pulled the collar around the center button out.

The problem was the action was so stiff, it felt like you were going to break it.

[ZoomBoy]

I remember this from my 1985 Celebrity. What a piece, thank god I never used it much.

[Numbersix]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

[GTE77]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

ahaha, I remenber those. Other cars had them too I just dont remenber what i drove that was like that.

I think it was a old Fiat or something.

[saron81]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

I don't think Ford of USA used that style of horn on anything other than the Fiesta.
Many Euro cars of that vintage are similar. Later MGB's are like that.

[silverlegacy]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

My Fairmont has this, but even worse. There is nothing indicating that the horn is on the turn signal stalk. I actually thought the car didn't have one until I accidently honked the horn while trying to signal.

[the flying grape!]

pic snip...

In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

My old Mercury Lynx had the horn on the stalk. It's fine if you are expecting or planning to honk the horn, but in an emergency situation, you're going to slam your hand into the wheel. And the result is the sound of your hand hitting the steering wheel.

[WhistlerYOW]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

Also when airbags first came out and the horn was moved to the little buttons on the sides of the steering wheel (I think the Aveo still did this until like last year ).

[WD-40]

Ahh, the memories...

For a switch that was going to be used so often, you would think that they would have put more thought into it.

[patrikman]

I had a 1984 Buick Grand National when I was in college, and it had the standard GM hazard switch on the steering column (looked sort of like this):



I hated using it, because once it was on I could never figure out how to shut it off, and when I did manage to turn it off I felt like I was snapping a chicken bone in half.

Anyone else annoyed by this? Has any company made a switch that was worse from an ergonomics point-of-view?

Go find a Super Beetle and turn the hazards on once.

[karl_1052]

Go find a Super Beetle and turn the hazards on once.

The super beetle's hazard is leaps and bounds better than that of the GMs.

[thefrese]

I had this in my 94 Camaro. I never had to use it but it took a while to figure it out to test it Then the collar snapped off.

[devianb]

Have it on my Trans Am. Id prefer a standard hazard button on the dash, but I never had a problem using it.

[emmettlodge]

I had a 1984 Buick Grand National when I was in college, and it had the standard GM hazard switch on the steering column (looked sort of like this):



I hated using it, because once it was on I could never figure out how to shut it off, and when I did manage to turn it off I felt like I was snapping a chicken bone in half.

Anyone else annoyed by this? Has any company made a switch that was worse from an ergonomics point-of-view?

Had this type of switch on our Suburbans. Thanks for the horrible memories

[1985Jetta]

We have had and have currently a few 80's GM cars and its really not a bad switch. I would have liked to see a pull out high beam, rather than pulling the turn signal stalk toward you. That's my only complaint.

Edit: Here's a list
84 C30 crewcab dually
86 cutlass supreme
84 or so cutlass calais
82 caballero

past ones:
88 vandura conversion van

[choochoo]

not worse than those old GM hazard switches
but I find this really annoying on our E90.
This is the only unlock button in the car.

Would it really kill them to put one on the driver & passenger door??? Plus it's tiny.

[Spell Check Desk]

My first car was an old Chrysler Cordoba and it had the hazard switch behind the steering wheel on TOP of the steering column. You had to pull it UP to turn it on. Because that makes so much sense.

[jhad03]

My first car was an old Chrysler Cordoba and it had the hazard switch behind the steering wheel on TOP of the steering column. You had to pull it UP to turn it on. Because that makes so much sense.

thats exactly how the old GM's where but the operation of the button was different. very bad location and design.

[gti_matt]

not worse than those old GM hazard switches
but I find this really annoying on our E90.
This is the only unlock button in the car.

Would it really kill them to put one on the driver & passenger door??? Plus it's tiny.

Well why not put a central locking button in the center of the car? The switch doesn't do just one door so why put it on the door if the scope of what it operates is all the doors?

[choochoo]

Not only that, the lock button could be really sensitive. That made it easy to lock the keys in the vehicle with the engine running. We had a delivery driver that did that repeatedly.

That's not an ergonomic fail though....

Try not to turn on your hazards 2-3X per trip when using the touch screen on the MFT. To make things worse, it's touch sensitive.

that's awesome

Well why not put a central locking button in the center of the car? The switch doesn't do just one door so why put it on the door if the scope of what it operates is all the doors?

not sure if serious.... because you want to have buttons that you use often within the reach of the driver. That's what good ergonomics is, right?
Another gripe about the E90 ergonomics. I always find the window switches quite a long reach.

[ATL_Av8r]

Another gripe about the E90 ergonomics. I always find the window switches quite a long reach.

At least they're finally on the door. The E30/36/46 had the worst window switch setup ever

[jettagli1991]

Well why not put a central locking button in the center of the car? The switch doesn't do just one door so why put it on the door if the scope of what it operates is all the doors?

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

[the flying grape!]

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

I must admit I was frustrated at first with my E60 when I couldn't for the life of me find the door lock button. It just wasn't where the button is on just about every other car. Then I found it and gave myself the forehead smack.

Now that I know where it is, it makes sense to have just the one button in a central location, and it's not hard at all to reach.

[AKADriver]

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

My Mk3 Golf had its central locking button in the center of the dash. It's not a "all cars have always done it this way" thing. Central locking buttons are often placed on the door because it's a door-related function, but there's plenty of precedent for lock buttons in the dash or center console (along with window switches placed likewise).

[vasillalov]

not worse than those old GM hazard switches
but I find this really annoying on our E90.
This is the only unlock button in the car.

Would it really kill them to put one on the driver & passenger door??? Plus it's tiny.

I think you are complaining a bit too much. Why:

1. You have another unlock button. Its on your key fob
2. You can program the car to unlock your doors when the keyfob is pulled out of the receptacle. You have a choice of just the driver door or all 4.

What more do you want?

[seadoo2006]

Had this type of switch on our Suburbans. Thanks for the horrible memories

Oh god ... I remember that little bastard in our 1987 Suburban growing up ... the horror!

[cockerpunk]

after two years of ownership, i have still not figured out the HVAC controls on my 951



WHY ARE THERE TWO SLIDERS, WTF IS THE DIFFERENCE

[seadoo2006]

I raise all of you ...

The Pontiac G5 trunk release button ... hidden away where you'll never find it!!

[AKADriver]

after two years of ownership, i have still not figured out the HVAC controls on my 951

WHY ARE THERE TWO SLIDERS, WTF IS THE DIFFERENCE

Okay, is this what you have?



I'm going to take a stab at it.

On the left you have a recirc button, which closes the outside vent, and below that, a windshield defrost button, which opens the defroster vent.

Then fan speed knob.

Then the sliders allow you to open the upper (dash) and lower (floor) vents to different levels.

Then the temperature knob, then the A/C button.

Disclaimer: I have not driven a post-1985.5 944/951/968. However upper and lower vents are the only functions that aren't present on the other knobs, and it's got up and down arrows.

[cockerpunk]

Okay, is this what you have?



I'm going to take a stab at it.

On the left you have a recirc button, which closes the outside vent, and below that, a windshield defrost button, which opens the defroster vent.

Then fan speed knob.

Then the sliders allow you to open the upper (dash) and lower (floor) vents to different levels.

Then the temperature knob, then the A/C button.

Disclaimer: I have not driven a post-1985.5 944/951/968. However upper and lower vents are the only functions that aren't present on the other knobs, and it's got up and down arrows.

the button is the rear defroster, the electric one.

the windshield defroster is a lever in the middle of the upper two vents (no kidding).

the sliders, idk, i can't tell any difference in airflow anywhere regardless of where i put them, and the fan speed.


also, the tripmeter on the 944 is a joke to. its literally a fin in one of the vents, you push it to zero the trip.


its like they ****ed it all up on purpose.

[Haubbs]

Anyone else annoyed by this? Has any company made a switch that was worse from an ergonomics point-of-view?

I had an immediate flashback to my mom's 1980 Cutlass Supreme. It's the only one of my parent's cars where I remember where the hazard switch was because it was so confusing.

I can't think of any worse ergos than that switch

[Hostile]

I had an immediate flashback to my mom's 1980 Cutlass Supreme.

LOL, same flashback to my grandma's 80's Cutlass Supreme.

[jhad03]

I hated using it, because once it was on I could never figure out how to shut it off, and when I did manage to turn it off I felt like I was snapping a chicken bone in half.

not only was it a pain to figure out at first, but the fact that the cars that had that switch also had steering wheels that where something like 24" in diamter, lol. you had to be a contortionist to reech around the wheel to operate the thing, or risk severing your arm off when you would reach through the wheel while driving to use the switch