Spherical mystery: The dashboard sensor enhances your drive

In every car, you'll find various elements whose purposes aren't always obvious. One such example is the spherical plastic object on the dashboard, which plays an important role despite its simple appearance.

Over the years, automotive technology has become increasingly complex. Manufacturers continually introduce innovative solutions, and many once rare support systems are now standard even in small city cars. This can lead us to wonder: "What is this for?"

Drivers might ask this question when they see an inconspicuous, often spherical component on the top of the dashboard near the windshield. This feature appears in vehicles with automatic climate control, and you might see it twice in dual-zone versions. It's a solar sensor.

What does this sensor do? It analyzes the intensity of the sun's rays, allowing the automatic climate control to adjust its operation. For instance, if on a warm, sunny day, you set the air conditioning to 20 degrees Celsius, the system will aim to cool the car's interior quickly.

On cloudy days, when you set the same temperature, the system will adjust the cooling based on the slower warming of the interior, meaning that the cooling process will differ. Therefore, it's important to ensure that nothing obstructs these sensors.