Abstract: In a vehicle with a radio, a transmission, a brake, a throttle, a vehicle speed and a power antenna, a method of controlling the power antenna comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether the radio is in an on state; (b) determining if the transmission is one of: (i) in a neutral state and (ii) in an unengaged state; (c) determining if the brake is in an off state; (d) determining if the throttle is in an idle state; (e) determining if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold; and (f) responsive to the determinations, if the radio is in the on state, the transmission is in one of: (i) the neutral state and (ii) the unengaged state, the brake is in the off state, the throttle is in the idle state and the speed is below the predetermined threshold, automatically retracting the power antenna, thereby preventing possible damage to the antenna by the automatic car wash.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a sensor for sensing a signal indicative of vehicle travel, a reset button, a display, a computer controller coupled to the sensor, the reset button and the display, the computer controller including a memory, an input device for receiving the sensed signal, program control for updating and storing trip distance traveled responsive to the received signal, an input device for receiving a reset signal from the reset switch and program control for retroactively resetting the trip distance traveled to a value equal to distance travelled since a last vehicle ignition on responsive to the reset signal; and an output device for controlling the display to display the trip distance traveled.