Piston Slap: Reverse Light My Way Home, General Motors!

by Sajeev Mehta

Updated: November 26th, 2019 Published: March 16th, 2015

piston slap reverse light my way home general motors

Jon writes:

Sajeev,

I read this column on lighting, thanks for the information! That leads me to a question…

What is up with Chevy/GM truck and SUV reverse lights!?!?!?! Why do they come on when their drivers use their lock remotes?????

It is crazy going through parking lots these days with all the SUV reverse lights coming on for no good reason. Help me understand please.

Sajeev answers:

Reversing lights, just like headlights, can be used for anything when parked. And headlights also remain lit on these vehicles, which has been a safety feature since at least the mid 1970s. Knowledge Drop time!

Peep the rheostat (Off, Max Delay) on an old automatic headlight system. There was about a minute (max) of headlight safety for a dimly lit parking space. Considering how many dimly lit streets there are at night, even in urban areas…considering how many 1970s cop shows had some seriously heavy shit go down in a dark parking garage, you better believe your 1977 Continental Mark V needs this system.

Maybe Starsky and Hutch would still be on TV if their damn low-brow Ford Torino had this Lincoln’s feature. You think long and hard about that, Son!

Bonus! A Piston Slap Nugget of Wisdom:

While this notion is a safety feature for the vehicle’s owner, you aren’t the only outsider complaining. I’m annoyed by them when looking for a spot, or looking to ensure someone won’t back into my ride.

So do this: slow down while approaching AND be on the lookout for the brake lights. Most of these vehicles are automatics, and most people crawl out of a spot while riding the brakes. So no brake lights, no driver inside the GM product.

[Image: Shutterstock user ARENA Creative]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.

#Annoying #AutomaticHeadlights #BackUpLight #Continental #Design #GeneralMotors #Headlight #Lincoln #MarkV #ParkingGarage #Safety #ParkingLot #ReverseLight #StarskyAndHutch #Rheostat #Timer #ParkingSpace #StreetLight

Sajeev Mehta

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3 of 53 comments

DrGastro997 on Mar 16, 2015

Those reminder honks on GM cars are more annoying than the backup lights. I still don't understand how and why design engineers chose the honk over beeps.

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Trichobezoar on Mar 16, 2015

Easy solution: back into your parking space. For everyone else, hey! I hear it's open season for ramming GM cars for the insurance! "Those lights? Yeah I ignored them since they're always on on those SUVs!+

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- Landcrusher on Mar 17, 2015
  
  The legal bill will be in the hundreds of millions from the class action, and everyone who has an accident and claimed confusion will get a coupon for ten dollars off of a pair of Chevette floor mats while supplies last.
  
  Like

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