I didn't know where to put this, my best guess is that it is electrical related. Please feel free to move this if this is not in the right place

*Story*

I recently just purchased a 97 Spyder GST (auto), I am the 4th owner. 139xxx original miles but turbo and transmission were replaced 30k mi ago. It's pretty stock still with the typical basic mods, but nothing major or worth mentioning. Anyway, I have this flip switch (pictured) that no one seems to know why it's there. Hard to see in the picture but it toggles up and down, "on" or "off". It is currently sitting in the "on" position. (I do not have an aftermarket alarm system). I do still talk to the previous owner of which I purchased from, he is the one who replaced the turbo and did all kinds of nice work on it. I asked him about the switch, he couldn't find anything hooked up to it and is guessing the original owner put it there. I am not about to go rip apart my dash to figure it out, either since the car is running fine with no issues. He claims he has never flipped the switch to see if anything happens, and I'm not going to either!

Does anyone want to try to guess what this could be?

P.S - please excuse the awful wood grain sticker. I am in the process of removing it still!

Could be anything, depends on what it was wired to, possibly for underbody neons or aftermarket fog lights.

That little plate that the switch is mounted to pops off. Pop it off and see where the wires go to.

Just look under the steering column and trace the wires. More than likely it was for some interior lights, rad fans, or an amp kill switch. I'm sure its something small.

I'll do both those suggestions and let you know what (if) I find. P.O says there was nothing there when he installed the killer sound system in it, claims he hasn't touched it either and he seems like a decent dude but who knows!

ludicrous speed

Passenger eject switch....... maybe. Or, driver eject.

I have a switch similar to that for the neon underglows on my camaro. Could be anything though. Maybe someone had an idea and didn't finish? You're just going to have to find and follow the wires. Hopefully they didn't properly hide the wires so it'll be easier to follow them. Otherwise, depending on what it's for, you could be pulling up carpet and trim. Good Luck!

I'd flip the switch and see if something happens

Jacolu3 said:

I'd flip the switch and see if something happens

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+2
Ignition kill switch so the car won't fire or maybe not turn over. Mine just go to ground.

...Smoke screen ...

Update:

I'll attach photos later, but it traced into a solenoid in the engine bay. I think the people that have been suggesting a kill switch might be right. It seems like it is disconnected at a pigtail, keep a lookout for the photos because I will posting them tomorrow at somepoint

Mystery switch is the black wire, as you can see it's coming through the firewall


And that's where it ends. Found it disconnected like that, like somewhere along the line a p/o didn't want it attached and never got around to full removal.



I do have a haynes manual with a map of the wires somewhere but I can't find it in my garage right now.

Also apologies for the late reply, got hurt (not car related) but I'm good now hah

So what's with the circular plumbers strap that looks like it USED to hold something in?? hmmm

1990TSIAWDTALON said:

So what's with the circular plumbers strap that looks like it USED to hold something in?? hmmm

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Your guess is as good as mine!

Well if you like the switch, you can use it for any number of things from demanding the fans to come on to grounding the ignition so it won't start or to power or ground aux lighting......and the list goes on. If you don't like it, just remove it. I don't like the way it is coming through the firewall without a grommet so I would use it as a grounding switch because it will ground soon if it isn't insulated.
Whatever it used to be used for was pretty obvious it was round and mounted right there.

1990TSIAWDTALON said:

Well if you like the switch, you can use it for any number of things from demanding the fans to come on to grounding the ignition so it won't start or to power or ground aux lighting......and the list goes on. If you don't like it, just remove it. I don't like the way it is coming through the firewall without a grommet so I would use it as a grounding switch because it will ground soon if it isn't insulated.
Whatever it used to be used for was pretty obvious it was round and mounted right there.

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Hm. Maybe I'll reuse it for some other small project later down the line.

And maybe the strap was for a small NOS bottle ha! *kidding. sort of*

Yeah, a Sneeky Pete set up!!!

Dixie horn ftw!

Just to shed some light, that switch is a DEI piece that comes with many remote start/security systems. It is normally used to turn remote start capabilities off in case you have work performed, or to turn security features off for similar reasons.

That switch looks to have been repurposed for a starter solenoid interupt or additional lighting ( I can't tell where the harness is so it's tough for me to tell.)

Bottom line, it's a low current switch you can use for just about anything, long as it's not over 1-2 amps.

Looks like it could have had a purge solenoid mounted there.