I'am trying to do simple repairs on my 1990 volvo 740 with the help of a Haynes manual.I have a question, is the passenger side of a car the right hand side? Thanks for any replies.

All directions on all vehicles are given as from the operator's position, as used by the operator; in a car, that's sitting in the driver's seat. On a bike it's on the saddle. On a boat it's in the wheelhouse. Etc.

In many countries the right side is the driver side. That is why we avoid confusion by not refering to where the driver sits.

On a ship belowdeck we may know where the pointy end is so it's starboard (right facing towards the pointy end), port, forward and aft. Not sure what they do on a ferry that goes both ways. Do they teach right and left in government school these days or is that considered the parents job or perhaps too controversial?
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David Hunter

When referring to which side of a car is which--the perspective should always be from the front seat looking forward--thereby eliminating confusion between right and left hand drive cars. Right is right - left is left. --
Dave

Volvo From Heck, you're probably right (no pun intended). Cars are called Right Hand Drive and Left Hand Drive according to where the driver sits. Normally on car forums I'm not talking to folks who drive on either side of the road, so I usually refer to the driver side or passenger side. Confusion arises you're at the front of the car looking at the engine bay and right and left are opposite to where they are when you're sitting in the car. In that case one should specify that one is standing in front of the car and looking at the engine bay and the intake is on the "right" and the exhaust is on the "left". In all other cases it's as if you're sitting in the car; the right door is on the right, etc.

Now you know why "left" and "right" are ALWAYS from the operator's position. The rule is accepted globally and is practically non-negotiable. Then there can be no confusion of driver or passenger side or other vague terms. It is never, ever (correctly) given from a servicer's position unless a procedure specifically refers to something on YOUR left/right while performing a step.

I'd agree that clarification -- such as describing where something in the engine bay is located depending on how you are looking at it to be in the best interest of communication--but a part on the left side of the car is still on the left side no matter how you look at it. What about suspension parts as viewed from underneath on a creeper? standing under a lifted auto? When ordering parts the answer is always right or left. -- Dave

Likely so.
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