Mystery Switch
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Mystery Switch
I've just purchased an '88 coupe and there are a few unknown elements I'm hoping to get some feedback on.
In the passenger side footwell in the upper inside corner where the air vent comes out theres a black toggle switch glued into place. I've flipped it with the car on and with the car off and nothing noticeable happens. Does anyone know why this switch would be there or what process I might follow to try and figure it out?
Thanks for your time,
In the passenger side footwell in the upper inside corner where the air vent comes out theres a black toggle switch glued into place. I've flipped it with the car on and with the car off and nothing noticeable happens. Does anyone know why this switch would be there or what process I might follow to try and figure it out?
Thanks for your time,
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
My first suggestion is, contact the previous owner.
If that's not possible, look under the hood at the entire firewall area, high and low, far and near... look for any wires that are a different color or seem out of place, or a fresh grommet, o-ring, caulking or sealant. If so, trace the wire(s) to see where they go.
Otherwise, have a helper inside the car flip the switch while you stand outside and look/listen *closely* for anything. Do this key off engine off, key on engine off, key on engine on. Also check it with the parking lights on headlights off, and with all lights on. (Maybe they just wanted to have the headlights on by themselves without the parking lights? Anything is possible, nobody knows what it does...)
Based on the location of this mystery switch, I suspect it's hard to see the entire dash while flipping it, so check that too while your helper is flipping... maybe it turns off the stereo lights for a darker interior at night. Again, nobody knows.
Good luck... and pictures always help
If that's not possible, look under the hood at the entire firewall area, high and low, far and near... look for any wires that are a different color or seem out of place, or a fresh grommet, o-ring, caulking or sealant. If so, trace the wire(s) to see where they go.
Otherwise, have a helper inside the car flip the switch while you stand outside and look/listen *closely* for anything. Do this key off engine off, key on engine off, key on engine on. Also check it with the parking lights on headlights off, and with all lights on. (Maybe they just wanted to have the headlights on by themselves without the parking lights? Anything is possible, nobody knows what it does...)
Based on the location of this mystery switch, I suspect it's hard to see the entire dash while flipping it, so check that too while your helper is flipping... maybe it turns off the stereo lights for a darker interior at night. Again, nobody knows.
Good luck... and pictures always help
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,375
Likes: 2,734
Well one last resort if nothing else has worked for you is with a meter see if there's actually any 12V to the switch with ether the key-on or key-off AND you might also maybe check it with the radio on. Maybe the PO used it to disable the power antenna. The power antenna defeat wouldn't surprise me at all.
If you can't confirm 12V power to it under key-on, key-off, radio on I'd maybe just confirm it's OFF with no 12V pass through and drive it until you realize something doesn't work.
If you can't confirm 12V power to it under key-on, key-off, radio on I'd maybe just confirm it's OFF with no 12V pass through and drive it until you realize something doesn't work.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have a helper right now but it doesn't seem to have any connection with the ignition or interior lights. This evening I'll get a second pair of eyes to help me investigate the lighting some more.
There's a red light wired up to the dash that looks to be part of an aftermarket alarm. It was disconnected when I looked and after I wired it up it blinked constantly, car on, off, unlocked, locked and all of those combos with the switch both ways.
I'll go check the firewall and play with the alarm. I think that any mods were two owners ago, the guy I got it from had it sit in his garage and didn't use it.
Is there any chance it could be for an airbag?
There's a red light wired up to the dash that looks to be part of an aftermarket alarm. It was disconnected when I looked and after I wired it up it blinked constantly, car on, off, unlocked, locked and all of those combos with the switch both ways.
I'll go check the firewall and play with the alarm. I think that any mods were two owners ago, the guy I got it from had it sit in his garage and didn't use it.
Is there any chance it could be for an airbag?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,375
Likes: 2,734
You mentioned '88 - there's no SIR - AIR BAG
You mention cluster problems also in another thread. I'd suggest maybe you rid yourself of this error first before you go to the expense of the power supply replacement. Are they related? Likely/maybe not but "one issue at a time" I'd think wise.
You mention cluster problems also in another thread. I'd suggest maybe you rid yourself of this error first before you go to the expense of the power supply replacement. Are they related? Likely/maybe not but "one issue at a time" I'd think wise.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 19, 2015 at 11:53 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
My first suggestion is, contact the previous owner.
If that's not possible, have a helper inside the car flip the switch while you stand outside and look/listen *closely* for anything. Do this key off engine off, key on engine off, key on engine on. Also check it with the parking lights on headlights off, and with all lights on.
If that's not possible, have a helper inside the car flip the switch while you stand outside and look/listen *closely* for anything. Do this key off engine off, key on engine off, key on engine on. Also check it with the parking lights on headlights off, and with all lights on.
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