AUTONEWS

Many cars have a hidden feature that is a lifesaver on hot days, and drivers often don't know about it

A car that has been sitting in the summer sun for a few hours can turn into a real sauna. However, before you turn on the air conditioning, you can quickly cool the cabin with a simple trick - in many cars, all the windows can be lowered using a remote control, and many drivers don't even know about this feature.

The most common method is very simple. In many vehicles, it is enough to press and hold the unlock button on the remote control for a few seconds. Then all the electric windows will be lowered simultaneously, and in some models the sunroof will also open, writes Jutarnji.hr/Autoklub.

However, the procedure differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, many Ford models use the "Global Opening" system; after unlocking the car, you press and hold the button again until the windows start to open. In some Honda models, the procedure requires you to press the unlock button once, then press and hold it again within ten seconds.

The main advantage is the rapid ventilation of the overheated passenger compartment. When a car is parked in the sun, the air temperature inside can significantly exceed the outside temperature. By rolling down all the windows before getting to the vehicle, most of that hot air escapes, making it much easier for the air conditioning to work after starting the car. Of course, the seats, dashboard and steering wheel remain hot, so this trick cannot replace air conditioning; however, it can make the first few minutes of driving much more pleasant.

An even more useful version allows you to close all the windows using the remote control. On many Ford models, for example, all you have to do is hold down the lock button. A number of Volkswagen Group models have also offered a similar function for years. However, closing the windows is not as common as opening them; for safety reasons, some manufacturers only allow the windows to be rolled down.

The fact that nothing happens when you hold down the button does not necessarily mean that the car does not have this feature. On some newer models, this feature must first be activated in the vehicle menu.

In the age of apps that can remotely turn on the air conditioning, this feature no longer seems revolutionary. However, it exists in many cars that are 10, 15 or more years old; it requires no app or internet connection, and it works in just a few seconds. So it's worth taking out your key and trying it out - maybe your car has had a very useful summer feature for years that you just didn't know about.