Why those mysterious dashboard bumps improve your car's AC
Modern cars often come equipped with features whose functions we might not understand, such as the plastic spherical detail on the dashboard. It turns out, however, that it plays an essential role.
The complexity of vehicles is constantly increasing. Manufacturers strive to outdo the competition with new innovations, and many features that used to be rare are now available even in small city cars. This situation can lead to questions like: "What is this for?"
Such thoughts might come to mind when we notice a protruding, often spherical, plastic piece on top of the dashboard, near the front window. Some drivers might think it’s a type of clip intended to keep dashboard elements in place. Not so.
This is typical for cars equipped with automatic climate control, especially if it’s dual-zone—there may be more of these sensors. These are sunlight sensors.
Their function is to assess the intensity of sunlight, which allows the air conditioning system to select the appropriate mode of operation. For example, on a hot day, if you enter the heated interior and set the air conditioning to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the system tries to cool the cabin quickly.
If you set the same temperature on sunless days, the sensors will inform the computer of the reduced heating needs, prompting a change in the air conditioning operation. It's worth noting that the sensors should not be covered, as this could affect their efficiency.
