American Dome Lights

[rojash]

I'm just reading yet another American crime novel (Q is for Quarry, by Sue Grafton) in which the detective "reached up, unclipped the cover of the dome light, and unscrewed the bulb" before opening the door. They usually (but not in this case) mention that this is a trick taught to them by a deputy sheriff.

Now, every car I've ever driven, since my first Mini in 1972, had a 3 position switch for the courtesy light: on, off and automatic.

So what's going on here? Either:

a) For some reason American cars don't have this switch.
b) American detectives are either morons or just prefer to do things the hard way.
c) The average American crime writer has never actually been in a car.

Which is it?

[mibn2cweus]

Probably forgot which was the off position and in his haste just didn't think to use trial and error? *v*

[Calvesy]

The novel was written by a woman, so technical details about machines and electronics should be taken with a pinch of salt. Like a man having a pivotal plot device in a novel hinging on the garment care label of a shirt.

Also with interior vehicle lights the cylindrical bulb is held in place between two sprung terminals, not screwed.

[rojash]

Good points Calvesy, but as I said, this is "yet another American crime novel...". I've come across the same scenario in at least 5 others - all written by men.

[dannydingbat]

You sure he was in a car? You didn' mention it. Could he have been on a portch?

[qapmoc]

Well the average American seems to expects that everything in the car should be automatic, some even seem to expect that the car should drive itself and that they don't need to take any care with driving. So you might find that the cars don't have switches fitted to their dome lights anyway.
You might even find that switches are not fitted by the manufacturers on the basis of ''if it's not fitted then nobody can claim it caused an accident'', I am sure that if it was possible for an American driver to spill hot coffee on theirself while turning the light on while parked, then somebody would manage to do it and then claim $1,000,000 compensation for it.

[rojash]

Dannydingbat: I suppose it's possible that she had followed the murderer out to the deserted building site driving a portch, but somehow it seems unlikely (unless of course she'd mistaken it for a German car of similar name).

[shaneystar]

I have read this book and I am sure that Milhone and her sidekick ..the detective..his name alludes me.... were standing in a porch when he reached up and unscrewed the bulb in the dome light.

[rojash]

Something wrong with your memory then shaneystar, she is alone in a car, having just followed the murderer and her (the murdere's) husband to an abandoned building site. She unscrews the dome light to prevent it from coming on when she opens the car door.

[shaneystar]

Well rojash I have to admit you are probably right.It is a while since I read said book. Marino is the detective ...it's all a mystery to me !!
Perhaps I need some gingseng!