How to Determine if the Vehicle is Turned Off?
3 Answers
The simplest method is to press the accelerator to check if the car has turned off. If the car does not accelerate after pressing the accelerator, it means the engine is off. Another way is to listen for sounds. If the car is still running, you can hear the engine operating. If no sound is heard, it indicates the engine is turned off.
To determine if the car is turned off, I mainly rely on listening to the sound and checking the dashboard. After years of driving, I’ve developed the habit of pressing the brake and shifting into park before turning the key to the OFF position. When the engine is running, there’s always a distinct continuous humming sound, which suddenly disappears when the car is turned off, making the vehicle much quieter—especially in environments like underground garages. Checking the dashboard, once the engine stops, the tachometer needle drops to zero, and a few warning lights might illuminate. Once, I forgot to turn off the engine before exiting the car, and it kept running, wasting fuel and creating unnecessary noise. That experience taught me the importance of developing good habits. Newer cars may be quieter, but the principle remains the same. In short, listening for sound and checking the dashboard is the most reliable way to avoid forgetting to turn off the engine and prevent safety issues.
I usually focus on a few simple points to determine if the car is turned off. When the engine is still running, you can feel slight vibrations in the car, with the steering wheel or seats slightly shaking; these vibrations disappear after turning off the engine. Additionally, observe the brightness of the headlights – with the engine on, the headlights may be brighter or have automatic adjustment. If after parking and turning off the engine, the horn sounds softer or the lights dim, it's likely the engine is off. Turning the key to the ACC position generally shuts off the engine. Remember to develop a habit of checking the key position before getting out of the car to ensure it's in the LOCK state. Don't worry about being too technical; with daily driving, you'll naturally become familiar with it.
