What's This ?

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

I've had my 51 plate 4.2 for nearly 3 years now and when I first got it I couldn't identify this fitting in one of the switch holes in the bank of 4 just under the ashtray. It's not a switch but has what appeared to be a sensor (?) in the centre.

Having checked the owners manual and not seeing it listed or pictured, I checked with my Haynes manual, again no luck. It didn't seem to do anything and I wondered if it was to do with the alarm system. Anyway I pretty much forgot about it until tonight when it started to flash red when the doors are locked with the remote !

Now the car has a 'security' LED set into the dash next to the mirror adjustment switch which flashes when the car is locked as a warning and continues to flash after unlocking until the ignition key is inserted. The other LED stops flashing as soon as the car is unlocked.

The lead up to this center console one starting to flash maybe have something to do with when I installed a aftermarket stereo unit in place of the factory cd/radio. The adaptor I fitted to take my Sony unit had a seperate rectangular tray underneath the radio which I fitted in an aftermarket outside temp. display. I think I moved some of the wiring harness about and did notice at the time that the two wires leading to the mystery item were factory fitted in with the existing dash harness.

It was after fitting everything back and locking the car the 'thing' came to life 😮

Does anyone have any ideas ? It would appear it's to do with the alarm/locking but why have this and the one near the mirror switch?

Norm

[three5]

Hi Norm,

have you got ( or has the car ever had ) a towbar? It could possibly be a substitute for the buzzer normally fitted to indicate that there is a trailer connected. What about an indication that the foglights are on?

[Treborv8]

On my wife's Rav the one by the mirror is the immobiliser the one under the ash tray is the alarm

[atkiman]

Its the normal alarm light, flashes when you lock and set the alarm .wish the one on my iq was just as visible, set inside the instrument binacle so it can hardly be seen.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Guys,

Yes, I think you're right, seems odd to have both immobiliser and alarm lights, especially as it's not shown in the owners manual ! Bit of a puzzle why it's just started working after 3 years, I reckon I disturbed a connection somewhere, still it's working I suppose that's the main thing.

Thanks for the help

Norm

[Raistlin]

See, no need to be alarmed :)

[ANNAWONG]

My 4.2 also has this light/indicator and I was as puzzled as Fixit.............

Today I watched it as I locked the car and sure enough, it blinked back at me as did the other indicator on the right side dash.

So, another 4.2 mystery solved thanks to this forum! Not that I was alarmed, just curious.........