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

43K views 146 replies 93 participants last post by  @McMike 
#1 ·
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?
 
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#98 ·
Haha, I remember that from my mom's 85 Celebrity growing up. I wedged an old stopwatch in the dash to add a clock too :D

That really wasn't much worse than the more typical hazard switch arrangement on older cars, which was to have a slider on top of the column. Why were the switches arranged that way? Was it just so the hazard switch could be part of a unit with the turn signal lever?
Yes, it's much easier (meaning a lot less wiring) to activate the hazards right from the same place as the turn signals.

Check this:


The wonderful, new 1990 Passat, with switches that you need arthritis fingers to reach. Right about the knee, the switches face sideways in an unviewable, unreachable single panel. All 4 doors were like this.

In 1993-ish, when the Mk3 cae out, Zee Germans said, "oh, you want easy to reach door switches, eh? Oh, we'll give you those...

(you can sort of see them at the top of the grab handle)

"...but just try finding those rear window switches at ze momen't snotice! Haha!"
 
#24 ·
The super beetle's hazard is leaps and bounds better than that of the GMs.

 
#8 ·
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.
 
#15 · (Edited)
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
 
#21 ·


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 :laugh:
 
#25 ·
I can understand while driving. Torrential downpours or snowfalls give cause to flip them on to be more visible. While driving AND turning? To impress the ladies of course. Shows your sexual prowess.
 
#27 ·
Back when airbags were still relatively new tech for most companies and made for huge, otherwise unfunctional steering wheel hubs. The horn buttons were often like tiny little Chiclets set on the wheel spokes. Trying to hit your horn in a panic situation (like someone swerving in your lane) was always a pointless exercise in mashing your hand into the airbag with no effect.

I used to wonder if I'd knock myself out with my own fist trying to hit the horn in a wreck while the airbag deployed. :laugh:

 
#38 ·
I went from a 66 Mustang with a center horn to a 92 Dodge with the buttons, got all lost in that for a while. When I got a Focus, I was back to the center horn, but when it came time to need it, I started looking for buttons.

:banghead:

I'm glad the horn has found its rightful place back on the center of the steeting wheel.
 
#36 ·
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.
:banghead:
 
#31 ·
That really wasn't much worse than the more typical hazard switch arrangement on older cars, which was to have a slider on top of the column. Why were the switches arranged that way? Was it just so the hazard switch could be part of a unit with the turn signal lever?
 
#40 ·
I use them occasionally on the highway on my way home from work. The lane to merge onto 95N from 91S can be somewhat of a blind curve and I approach cautiously. With the sun positioning and people that are literally stopped in the line of cars while the other lanes continue on at 50-60+, it necessitates the use to let the people behind you, or those who may want to come over last minute that your not only slowing down, but stopping due to a backup of traffic.

I won't keep them on though once the guy behind me gets it and slows down as well. Other than that I don't use them.

I had an '84 Escort that had the hazard button on the top of the steering column so you have to either reach around or through the wheel to activate it. Also had the horn on the stalk which I found by accident.
 
#65 ·
What?? Those keys were awesome! Especially the all-metal ones, without the plastic ends. They were short, simple, and easy to tell apart.



At one point, I had three sets of them on my key ring in my pocket. To this day, they were some of the smallest car keys I ever carried - not the giant remote-control monstrosities that "modern" car keys are. :beer:
 
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