Can someone tell me what this oddball, non-stock switch is for?

[agarc023]

While I was looking around under the dash of my car, i came upon this bundle of wires that had a toggle switch. It was not fastened to the car and swings freely under the steering wheel. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the car alarm (my dad fiddled with it about a day ago), because today as I was driving around, the alarm went off.

Sorry for the bad pictures, darn cell phone..

 

[rock1t]

Yeah, that looks as if it goes to an aftermarket alarm system.

 

[agarc023]

Can it be aftermarket even if it uses the stock alarm control?

 

[PXHero]

If you're asking if the aftermarket alarm can use the factory key fab, the answer is no. If you're asking if the aftermarket alarm/keyless can use the factory alarm, the answer is yes.

I thought I had a factory alarm system on my first dsm, but it turned out to be an aftermarket system provided by the dealership at the time of the original purchase.

In the second picture, it looks as though there is a pin switch (or valet switch) just above the toggle. Factory alarms don't come toggles or pin switches... In every alarm I'm familiar with, the pin switch and the toggle switch are used to disable/disarm the alarm, program it, or enter what is commonly referred to as "valet mode."

Also, factory alarms don't go off while you're driving... I would pull your under dash panel and locate the alarm, then examine the brain box for a make and model... some creative google-ing, and you'll find the information you need about those switches...

 

[agarc023]

Also, factory alarms don't go off while you're driving... I would pull your under dash panel and locate the alarm, then examine the brain box for a make and model... some creative google-ing, and you'll find the information you need about those switches...

So would I just look at that bundle more closely? Or would I be looking for something else? Thanks for the help by the way.

 

[PXHero]

Make sure you pull the panel below the steering column to make things a little easier on yourself... Should be just 4 10mm bolts holding it on... Once that's down, follow the wires from your switches and they should lead you to the alarm brain... The wires may or may not be electrical taped, so tracing them down might be a little difficult depending on how well they are taped...

 

[agarc023]

Thanks, I'll do that tomorrow and look up some info on it.