Kill switch?

I've owned my truck for 5 years and just noticed this near the hood latch. When i press it, it doesnt do anything? There is an aftermarket alarm that has never worked, could this be part of that, or is this more likely a kill switch?

I pressed it with the truck off, and turned the truck on and it started no problem, so i don't think it's a kill switch?

 

Have you tried pressing it at speeds of 88.8mph or faster?

In all seriousness, can you see if the wires head through the firewall, or just up behind the dash? I'd unscrew it and get some slack and start trying to follow it.

 

Self destruct mechanism.

Omae wa mou shindeiru.

 

Oh man you're lucky, I'd recognize an ejector seat button anywhere.



Have you followed the wires at all? It's obviously something someone hacked in, bed lights? Tailgater oil spray release? Missile launcher? Start with following the wires.

 

Is it a momentary or latched switch? If the former like it looks, that's weird..

 

Looks like the dozens and dozens of switches I used to see for aftermarket alarms to arm/disarm them. Generally if you held it down, turned the key to on or run then released it you would set the alarm to switch from whatever mode it was in. Perdonally, I'd pull the knee bolster off the dash and if there's an aftermarket alarm I'd remove it and the corresponding relays that usually go with them to avoid future headaches.

 

^ this. They usually "hide" them better than that, but it's for an aftermarket alarm.

 

If that’s a kill switch, the person who installed that must be smoking some bad crack.

 

ok interesting, i think you might be right.

So i should press it down while also pressing the alarm button on my remote? or what do you mean about turning the key, I'm not sure I understand... like turn the key to start the truck?

 

It's a button that allows you to disable the alarm if it's going off without the remote. Lets say the remote fob dies on you while you're out and about, and you need to start the truck without it, use your key to open the door, the alarm will sound. insert your key into the ignition, push and hold that button, and turn the truck on. The alarm should turn off at that point. Or roughly something along those lines. You'd have to find the exact model of alarm installed, and find a manual online for it.

That's why I said they are usually more hidden- as they can be used to bypass the alarm.

 

I think you are right! so when i press the button the light comes on, on my alarm. I've never been able to get this alarm to work, so i'm thinking maybe pressing this button turns the alarm on, and then like you said, turning it off disables the alarm.

 

Like @atc250r said- the button controls the "mode" the alarm is in. The rough process I described earlier would put it in a disabled mode, while there would be another sequence (more than simply pressing the button) to enable the alarm again. You'd need to pull that kick plate, and follow the wires up until you found the control module for the alarm, and pull a brand and part number off it to get a manual. If you're lucky, the company might still exist, and if you're even luckier, they might still sell new FOBs you could program.

Also, looks like it's time to hit the gas station.

 

It’s a valet button for the aftermarket alarm