What does LOCK mean on a car?
3 Answers
The LOCK position on a car refers to the lock gear, which is the position where the car key is inserted and removed. When the key is turned to the LOCK position, the steering wheel will be locked, and the car will cut off the power to the entire vehicle, allowing the key to be pulled out for locking the car. There are four positions on the car's keyhole: LOCK, ACC, ON, and START. Here is an introduction to these positions: 1. LOCK: This is the lock position, where the key is inserted and removed; 2. ACC: This is the accessory power-on position. When the key is turned to this position, the accessory circuits are activated, such as the CD player and air conditioning; 3. ON: This is the power-on position. When the key is turned to the ON position, all circuits in the car are activated, and the car system begins preparation and self-check procedures. The key is normally in the ON position during regular driving. 4. START: This is the start position. When the key is turned to the START position, the starter circuit is activated, which then drives the engine to start.
Last time my neighbor asked me what the LOCK button in the car does, and I explained it to him in great detail. LOCK most commonly means locking the car doors - pressing the LOCK button on the driver's door handle or the lock button on the remote key will make all doors click shut, with the lights flashing twice as confirmation. I also like using it on highways since automatic locking prevents kids from accidentally opening doors. But remember to check if windows are fully closed when locking - I learned this the hard way when it rained the other day. My old SUV's 4WD system also has a LOCK mode for synchronized wheel rotation during off-roading, which works great for rainy hill climbs. Some newer cars have LOCK indicators on the steering wheel too, automatically locking it when powered off as anti-theft. Just remember LOCK generally means securing something, but specific functions depend on your vehicle's manual.
I've owned three cars, and each one had the LOCK feature. It's essentially the button for locking the car, usually located on the center console or the driver's door panel. Pressing it locks all doors with a single click. Nowadays, newer cars with keyless entry can even lock the car by simply touching the indentation on the door handle. When driving at 80 km/h on the highway, I often press the LOCK button to automatically lock the doors, which can prevent passengers from being thrown out in case of an accident. Once, a friend asked me why the steering wheel could still turn after removing the key—that's the old-fashioned anti-theft lock. After turning off the engine, the steering wheel locks, and you must insert the key to unlock it. Speaking of anti-theft, there's also the transmission LOCK. When in P (Park) mode, cars with this feature make it impossible for thieves to tow the vehicle. The most annoying, though, is the infotainment system lock screen. If kids start randomly tapping the screen, you have to use the system LOCK to disable the touch function.
