Ever wondered what the REST button on the dashboard heater controls does in your car? Whether it’s a new car, you're driving someone elses or you are renting a car, the REST button may not be familiar to you but it's a great function that will keep you warm and save fuel.
Simply put, the REST button in your car can be pressed when the engine is no longer running and the heating has switched off. The REST button enables residual heat from the engine and cooling system to be blown into the cabin to continue to heat the interior of the car. The function usually runs for up to 30 minutes (will vary by car) to prevent draining the battery and also it is likely that all residual heat will have dissipated within that time.
What does the REST button do in a VW?
Most modern Volkswagens have a rest button on the heater controls, simply enabling the continuation of warm air from the engine bay to be channeled into the interior when the engine is no longer running. Reduce emissions and increase fuel economy by using the REST button in a VW when you are stationary but still require the heater on.
What does the REST button do in a BMW?
Much like the REST button in a VW, the rest button in a BMW channels warm air from the engine into the cabin, keeping you warm for up to 30 minutes even when the engine isn’t running.
What does the REST button do in a Mercedes?
The REST button in a Mercedes keeps the cabin warm for up to half an hour after the engine has been switched off. A small fan blows warm residual air from the engine bay and coolant system into the car interior to help keep you warm even when the engine isn’t running.
When to use the REST button?
In the environmentally conscious world in which we now live, start/stop engine technology reduces emissions as we are not sat around in traffic, or stationary with the engine running, using fuel and emitting harmful gases into the environment for no reason. However on a cold winters day, it doesn’t take long for any heat within the cabin to quickly dissipate and the temperature to fall. The REST button can be used in this situation and will pump residual heat from the engine into the cabin to save the need to run the engine just to keep warm.