Auto interior and comfort parts

Interior and comfort: key insights into component performance, mounting, diagnostics, and durability

Car interior parts and components comprise a number of elements which make up the interior of a vehicle. They are responsible for providing the driver and passengers with comfort and enable them to control various systems without leaving the car.

Interior components

The main car interior parts and components are:

• Seats. These can be heated, ventilated, fitted with headrests, equipped with a position memory system, and feature a massager. They ensure a comfortable position inside the vehicle.
• Dashboard. It informs the driver about the performance of various units, warns when fuel and other technical fluids reach critical levels, and indicates malfunctions.
• Centre console. This is where car stereos as well as infotainment and navigation systems and air conditioning control panels are located.
• Pedals. They enable the driver to control engine RPM, disengage the clutch, and to brake.
• Window lifters. They are used to open and close side windows.
• Steering wheel and column. These are used to change the direction the vehicle is driving. Furthermore, these are fitted with switches and control buttons for navigation and audio systems.
• Lighting. This helps to see what’s going on inside the car when it’s dark outside.
• Upholstery. This can consist of either fabric, leather, or Alcantara. It forms the design of the car interior and protects against touching metal components.
• Sensors and limit switches. These provide a high level of safety and comfort. For example, a limit switch attached to the brake pedal warns other drivers about your intention to stop or slow down. A limit switch for reversing warns that the vehicle is moving backwards.

Maintenance tips

• Clean the cabin regularly. Wipe the dashboard with a soft cloth soaked in a special agent. Leather components should occasionally be treated with lotion to protect them from cracking and drying.
• Monitor the condition of the door seals. If moisture gets inside, electrical contacts are at risk. For the same reason, clean the air vents from time to time. Replace the cabin filter once every six months.
• When you replace fuses, install new ones with the power recommended by the car manufacturer. Otherwise, electrical equipment which is supposed to be protected might burn out.
• If you have to disconnect a terminal from the battery, it is necessary to reset the power windows afterwards.
• Do not exert excessive force on door handles, power window buttons, and understeering switches. They may break.
• Do not switch on multiple power windows at the same time. This can cause the fuse to blow out.
• Once a year, preferably after winter, perform preventive maintenance on the window lifters. This involves cleaning and lubricating contacting components and necessitates the removal of door panels.

Malfunction symptoms

Many defects of a car's interior parts and components are visible to the naked eye. For example, worn-out or torn upholstery can be easily detected upon examination. If you switch on the light but it fails to turn on, the cause may be a blown bulb or burnt out wiring. If the windscreen wipers, washers, or turn signal don’t work, the understeering switches may be defective. A faulty electric motor or defective wiring of a window lifter can be diagnosed by jerky movements when raising or lowering the window. Bad contacts in the dashboard wiring can be followed by sudden movements of the indicators.

Malfunction causes

Electrical wires located in moving assemblies can wear through. Mechanical elements such as window lifters can jam because of contamination. Electrical contacts can corrode because of exposure to moisture. Voltage spikes in the on-board electric system may cause fuses to blow out. A faulty window lift relay can even cause the button to melt.

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