What does 'lock' mean on a car?
4 Answers
Car dashboard displaying 'lock' refers to the ignition switch. The four positions of the car ignition switch system are as follows: 1. START: Position for starting the ignition; 2. ON: Powers all electrical components in the car, this is the position during vehicle operation; 3. ACC: Allows activation of some electrical components, such as the radio; 4. LOCK: Function to lock the steering wheel. Activation method: After inserting the key into the ignition switch, briefly pause at each position for about 1-2 seconds. At this time, you can hear the sound of electrical devices powering on, then proceed to the next position.
That day I drove to the supermarket and habitually pressed the LOCK button on the center console before getting out of the car, which essentially means locking the doors. This is the most frequently used function—after turning off the engine, a single press locks all four doors with a click, and the side mirrors automatically fold in. Some cars even come with speed-sensing auto-lock, where the doors automatically lock once the car exceeds 20 km/h, which is especially handy for those who often forget to lock their cars. I’ve seen even smarter systems with walk-away auto-lock, where the doors automatically lock and windows close when the key fob is more than three meters away. Besides door locks, there’s also a LOCK position on the steering wheel—after parking and removing the key, turning the steering wheel locks it in place, so even if a thief breaks in, they can’t drive the car away. I remember older cars required manually turning the key to lock, but now everything’s electronic, making it much more convenient.
Last week my neighbor just bought a car and asked me what the lock-shaped symbol on the dashboard means. LOCK in a car mainly serves a protective function. The door lock is the most basic, activated via the central control button or remote key to prevent outsiders from opening the door. Many cars also have an anti-theft LOCK system, like the engine immobilizer, which prevents the engine from starting even if a thief has a matching key. The steering wheel lock is more practical—after parking and removing the key, a slight turn of the steering wheel locks the steering column. Families with children should pay special attention to the child safety LOCK; flipping a switch on the side of the rear door activates it, preventing children from opening the door from the inside while driving. These functions are located in different places: the door lock button is on the central control or the inner side of the door, the child lock is on the edge of the rear door, and the steering wheel lock activates automatically when the key is removed.
LOCK in a car refers to the locking function, with several common types: the door LOCK button is located on the center console or door panel, pressing it once locks all doors; the steering wheel LOCK engages after turning off the engine and removing the key; the child LOCK is activated via a switch on the side of the rear door. I prefer remote LOCK, using the key to press the lock button while simultaneously closing the windows and folding the mirrors. My friend's electric car is more advanced, allowing remote LOCK of the doors via a mobile app. However, be cautious of accidentally pressing the LOCK button—activating the door locks while driving doesn't affect operation, but once the child lock is engaged, the rear doors can only be opened from the outside. The steering wheel lock usually has a safety mechanism to prevent sudden locking while driving, but it's best not to fiddle with the key during operation. During regular maintenance, check if the LOCK function is responsive, especially after the rainy season when mechanical lock cylinders are prone to sticking.
