I found this button under the dash and I'm wondering if anyone knows what it is... I bought the car used a couple of years ago and it was there when I bought it. Thank you for your help in advance!

 

def not oem
looks like it was added

 

yeah... looks like aftermarket alarm, killswitch, ufo homing device..


something definitely NOT oem.

 

That's the rear oil slick button. The previous owner must have had a lot of dangerous people following him.

 

Or you know, banana peel.

#MarioKart

 

Well, what happens when you press it? Unless they disconnected it before they sold it, I doubt it's a kill switch.

 

Not a very well hidden kill switch if it is one, lol. Looks like it might be related to an aftermarket alarm or something? Although UFO homing device was a good guess.

 

Ugh. I have that on my 4runner. Dealer installed bullshit. It's an aftermarket "kill switch". Before you owned the car, there was a little plug that plugged in and could be removed to disable the car. The dimpled plastic thing you're seeing and thinking is a button is just a cover after the system was disabled.

Or at least that's what I was told. It might be a shorting plug to disable the system and if you pull it out will kill the car.

 

at replies

 

I'll look up what the name of the system is when I get home. I doubt you'll find pinouts for it, but you can read about its function.

 

Awesome, thank you! I've seen it on some other forums since I posted this I think its called Karr?

 

im pretty sure you already know this but it's not in the manual because it's not a factory switch.

stating the obvious.

 

stating the obvious, did you not read the other 11 replies?

 

Yeah, that might be it. Are you in Colorado by chance? I think every vehicle that Stevenson sells gets one put in. They claim it's for tracking and security while they're on the lot. Pisses me off they just screw it into the panel and god knows how they tie into the factory harness.

 

Thank you! I just wanted to try to avoid the "did you check the manual" questions.

 

I'm not in Colorado but I agree with you, its pretty annoying that they would do that to every car they sell!

 

Bingo! Just checked an you're correct: Karr Security System.

 

Yikes.... I was having a hard time accepting the dealer-installed ugly "anti-theft" stickers in the windows, fenders, doors etc. (As soon as i drove it out the lot, I took out those suckers).

I will not purchase any "new" car if someone has already messed with the factory wires to install crap like that...

 

What boggles the mind is that somebody thought that this clearly added on PoS was OE and should be in the manual.

In addition, the placement of that device by a dealer may violate crash testing laws as it may pose additional hazards to legs during a crash.

 

I got the same thing in my car.