Unveiling the mystery of car dashboard grilles

The interior of a car features various elements whose functions may not be immediately apparent to everyone. One such element is the grille, which can be noticed in different places on the dashboard. Your child may ask what it is, so it's worth knowing the answer.

Upon examining the car's interior, one might encounter several unusual elements, such as protruding plastic at the top of the dashboard or grilles in various places in the cockpit. While those mounted at the top near the light often conceal a microphone, those located by the steering column or in the middle of the centre panel have different functions.

In most cases, behind such a grille is an internal temperature sensor that works with automatic air conditioning. The sensor sends information about the temperature inside the cabin to the controller, which, in automatic mode, adjusts the air conditioning's intensity accordingly. Additionally, the air conditioning relies on a sunlight intensity sensor situated on the dashboard.

How can you identify the temperature sensor grille? Often, there's a small fan behind it—if you hold a light piece of paper to the grille, it should stay in place. However, it's important not to cover the grille or stick anything to it for an extended period, as this may negatively affect the air conditioning's performance.

Identical grilles can also be found in cars without automatic air conditioning. This may be because it was cheaper for the manufacturer to produce one design of the given element (in this case, the grille) rather than create two different designs.