What is this button for

Lots of dealers do it. They don’t care they trashed a 300 dollar trim piece because 90% of owners won’t notice it.

 

You could just call the dealer and ask.

 

That button is fairly commonly installed by dealers in the southern states, disguised as an alarm system but could be anything else. Usually accompanies screwed-up wiring from faulty installation.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-is-this-unknown-button.610329/

 

I think that's just the disabler for the dealer alarm. If you don't buy the alarm from them, they install that dummy chip there rather than remove the alarm. If you do buy it then no disabler chip is put there. Usually it's put lower on the trim piece to be less conspicuous.

 

Ask the dealer. If it wasn't something listed on the bill of sale as an add-on, I'd have them remove it and replace the panel.

 

That’s ugly. Brand new truck that you likely paid way too much for, fuck that.

 

Yeah it’s for the dealers alarm system, likely that they tried to push on you when you went to the financing manager. I had the same thing on mine. It’s spliced into the wiring behind the dash with crappy splices, it’s junk. I just unplugged it and tucked it under my dash, but now I’m stuck with two screw holes showing.

 

It’s a vehicle Immobilizer to prevent theft from the dealer lot. They most likely try to sell it to you for around $300. They only cost the dealer about $45 per vehicle installed since it’s a bulk contract with an outside source. If they install it themselves then it cost them about $15-20. It’s been a while since I worked at a dealership so prices might be different now but trying to make a profit has never changed.

 

I had a button in my last vehicle like that.
I kept pushing it and some lady from Norway called and said 'hey, cut that out''!
(Steven Wright)

 

Brand new truck with that shit on it, nope no way I’d be happy.

 

This is 100% correct. I worked doing car stereo and electronics for 20 years. Most of the time, the dealerships have outside companies called expediters who put on alarms and other crap that they try to mark up to sell to you. If they sell 25% of the ones that get put in, they still make money. That one looks like a starter disable. You can pull the whole thing, and disconnect everything that is connected to it (you may have to fix a cut wire if they did not use a male/female T-harness). You will also be stuck with the 2 holes at the bottom of your dash....

 

I don't like it for several reasons, but just knowing that some clown hacked into the wiring on brand new truck would make me seriously rethink the whole purchase.

 

I'll bet you're 100% correct, i.e., some moron working at the dealership for minimum wage with no skills other than wire cutters and electrical tape.

When I bought my truck, I had to look around the lot to find a truck (maybe the only truck) that had not yet had the aftermarket alarm system the dealer installs. I told them I would not buy any truck from them that had the electrical system tampered with.

Ed

 

I'm the only moron allowed to cut wires on my truck.