What does the ON position mean?
2 Answers
The ON position in a car means that when the car is adjusted to this gear, it provides power support to all electronic devices in the car. Simply put, the electrical appliances in the car are connected to the battery through this function, allowing the devices to operate normally. Below are the usage methods for other gears in a car: P gear method: P gear is the parking gear. When you need to park for a long time, you should shift into this gear. At this time, the mechanical structure inside the transmission will be locked, preventing the vehicle from moving. If you need to leave the vehicle or park on a slope, you should also pull up the handbrake. R gear method: R gear is the reverse gear, which is the same as the R gear in manual transmission models. When shifting into this gear, the vehicle will move backward, and it is used when you need to reverse. N gear method: N gear is the neutral gear, which is the same as the N gear in manual transmission models. In neutral state, the input and output shafts in the transmission are not engaged, and no power is transmitted. When shifting into neutral, you must press the brake or pull up the handbrake to prevent the vehicle from moving. D gear method: D gear is the drive gear, used when the vehicle needs to move forward. In this gear, the transmission operates in standard full automatic shifting mode, and you only need to operate the accelerator pedal according to actual needs.
As an ordinary car owner, I'm very familiar with the ON position in daily driving—it's the intermediate state when turning the key. Before starting the car, I turn to the ON position to observe various indicator lights on the dashboard, such as the engine or ABS warning lights flashing briefly for a self-check. This gives the vehicle a few seconds to warm up the system and ensure everything is normal. Jumping directly to the start position might overlook potential issues, like insufficient oil pressure, which the ON position can detect in advance. If left in the ON position for too long, such as forgetting to turn off the car, it can drain the battery—a lesson I learned the hard way, prompting me to act quickly. Compared to the ACC position, the ON position powers more electronic devices like headlights and audio systems without starting the engine, making driving safer and more reliable. Developing this habit has helped me avoid many minor malfunctions, especially during winter warm-ups.
