The Hyundai Accent’s main controls, explained

By Stuart Johnston 

It’s been a long time a-coming, but the Big Moment is finally here. It’s time to drive home in your brand spanking new car. But, in your excitement, you didn't pay enough attention to the salesperson's efforts to show you how to operate it.... Fear not, because here's a quick overview of the main controls you'll need to operate, before you drive off into the sunset.

We're going to assume that you managed to unlock the door, get in, adjust the seat and buckle your safety belt all by yourself.  We're  not going to attempt to explain all the unusual minor controls fitted to your vehicle – that's what the owner's manual is for, so please read it.

1. Ignition key

This is where you start the car and turn it off. Note that these days some cars have a keyless-go function where you can simply place the key in the console, depress the brake pedal and push a start button. But if there is a key on the fob, this is where it fits, into a slot on the right side of the steering column.

2. Indicator stalk

This being a Korean car, the indicator stalk is on the right side, behind the steering wheel. (European cars usually have the indicator stalk on the left-hand-side). It’s one of the most important safety controls on a car, so please use it, to make your intentions known to others well in advance. This one operates those vital winking lights on the outside extremities of your car, which show other road users which way you're going to change direction.

3. Wipers

This one is located behind the steering wheel on the left-hand side. When the rain starts to fall, moving this stalk up or down operates the wipers. It also operates the screen washer  when you pull the lever towards you.

4. Light switch

On this car the light switch is a rotary knob located on the end of the indicator stalk. To turn on the head- and tail lights, twist this rotary switch clockwise, and to turn them off, twist it counter-clockwise. Simple.

5. Hazard warning lights

On the Hyundai Accent, thus red triangle button is located immediately below the infotainment screen. You punch this button in case of an emergency, such as an accident, or if your car breaks down in a vulnerable place. A heavy downpour where visibility is severely impaired is a typical situation where hazard lights are useful. And so is a sudden jam-up to stand-still speeds up ahead on the freeway. Hazard lights warn those speeding up behind to slow down.

6. Hooter

Use this noise maker to warn other road users of your presence, if they are intruding into your lane up ahead, or to honk  a last cheery good-bye to your friends or family as you pull out of the driveway. Don’t use it to express anger!

7. Steering wheel

Use this to make your car change direction, or to keep it in a wiggle-free straight-ahead direction. Your hands should be placed on the rim at the 10-2 or quarter-to-three position.

8. Pedals

The rightmost one is the accelerator – it makes the car go faster when you squeeze it down towards the carpet, and the car slows when you lift your foot off this pedal.

The one in the middle is the brake – which makes your car  slow down more,  the harder you push it.

In the case of manual models like this Accent,  the brake is in the middle and the left pedal  is the clutch – automatic cars don’t have this pedal. When slowing down,  lift off the accelerator and  use the brake to slow, then keep on using the brake with firmer pressure  to slow more. In a manual car, use the above technique and when you are nearly at stopping speed, continue to brake smoothly to a stop and simultaneously push in the clutch to prevent the engine from stalling.

9. Gear selector

This lever first and foremost allows you to decide in which direction you want to travel. In an automatic car, “D” takes you forward, “R” gives you reverse gear, and “P” should only be used when the car is parked. With a manual gearbox (as shown in the picture), the lever offers  six forward gears and one reverse, as well as neutral, used when you are stationary. You need to depress the clutch pedal on a manual before engaging any of the gears – first for pulling away, top gear for highway cruising, and the gears in between for accelerating, or matching the engine revs to the speed you are travelling at.

10. Handbrake

This one on the Hyundai Accent  is a conventional lever, located between the seats, which needs to be pulled upwards to engage the parking brake. To disengage, you press the button on the end in, tug slightly upwards to release it and keeping the button in, release the brake fully  by letting it down

Only use this lever when parking. If the lever is pulled up, the parking brake is on, and if it's down, the parking brake is off. You may also use this lever when pulling away on an incline, gradually releasing it as you feed in engine power.

11. Infotainment system

This is where you can play your favourite music as loaded on an I-Pod or similar device, connect your phone via Bluetooth, or tune in to your favourite  afternoon drive show on your way home. You can also access other useful information here, regarding your car.

12. Air-con controls

This cluster of dials is where you set the cabin temperature you desire, and how much fresh air the fan has to blow through the vents. You also set the direction of the air, and decide whether you want fresh air or the air in the cabin recirculated, and the air-conditioning operating or not.

13. Mirror adjustment

This little flattened toggle button controls the wing mirror adjustment. To switch between the left or right-hand wing mirror, there is a flip-switch on top of the button, right-side down for the right-hand mirror and left-side down for the left-hand wing mirror. Once you have set it, you use the arrows on the button to get the mirror’s desired height and angle.  The central mirror inside the car, mounted just above the windscreen, is adjusted by hand.

14. Window controls

This switch-cluster allows you to open or close all the windows.

15. Central Locking.

This button enables you to lock or unlock all the doors of the car at once. It is a handy personal  safety device.

16. Window locking switch.

This a safety device, primarily to prevent young children from opening the rear windows. It also works on the front passenger window.

17. Front passenger window control

Unless you have activated the lock-out switch, your front passenger will be able to operate the window.

18. Active steering wheel controls.

These on the left spoke are for the audio system’s volume control, and a mute button to instantly silence the audio system.

19. Telephone control

This is a hands-free telephone device for answering and ending calls, once you have paired your phone to the car’s system.

20. Information menu control

This cluster of switches on the right-hand steering wheel spoke enables you to access and re-set various information about your car, such as trip details like distance, fuel consumption, displayed between the two main dials on the instrument panel.