The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: ChuckJ on July 26, 2011, 06:55:07 PM
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I've personally, with my own two hands, replaced one alternator, one water pump, one power steering pump, and one master cylinder in my lifetime. It's been only one of each because after I enjoyed replacing one once I decide that from then on that I will let a mechanic enjoy the experience. I guess it's because when it comes to dealing with auto mechanical issues I make a great cake baker, and I can't bake a cake.
I've recently come to believe that since my automotive mechanical knowledge is so poor I've been calling some car parts by incorrect names. Specifically the lights. I've always called the small lights at the front of the vehicle "parking lights". I'm not talking about the turn signals (aka blinkers) or the larger head lights (aka headlamps). I'm talking about the small, front facing lights that are usually amber in color. I really don't know how or when I began to refer to the lights in question as parking lights, but after the last few days I'm beginning to think that the actual name of these lights must be either "driving-in-the-pouring-rain lights" or "driving-in-the-morning-when-it's-still-black-ass-dark-because-the-sun-hasn't-come-up lights".
If I've been correct for all these years when I've referred to these lights as parking lights why do people have these lights AND ONLY these lights turned on while driving in the pouring rain or the dark? They're not parking. They are driving. Are they too lazy to pull or turn the switch just one more click? Do they think that the headlights are directly gas powered and will cost them several miles per gallon if they are turned on? Or maybe I'm just crazy for wanting people to see me when I'm driving in the rain and dark and preferring to see oncoming traffic in the rain and dark.
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My dad always called those "marker lights", but then he called the gas pedal the foot feed. I've always called them parking lights, but mainly used them during the time before you needed headlights. Most people I see don't use them anymore since they have the so-called day-time running lights.
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Car manufactures use the opportunity of existing lights "parking lights" to fulfill their "daytime running lights" obligations.
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They were called parking lights because in some locales you had to have your lights on when you were parked with your latest squeeze. So rather than turn on the headlights, you used the parking lights.