2003 Tahoe LT mystery plug in drivers footwell??

[AJK93]

Hi all!

I'm new to the forum, so apologies if I make any convention mistakes.

I just picked up a very nice and clean 2003 Tahoe LT for my growing family. I grew up with a suburban, so I'm happy to be back in a familiar vehicle.

One thing I noticed that I hadn't seen before, and the previous owner didn't have any answers for either, was this plug/LED light in the drivers footwell (see attached photo). I've done some searching, but I haven't found any explanation for what this is! Does anyone know what I'm looking at here?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Big Mama]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia. No idea here except maybe a trailer brake controller??? Others will chime in with better ideas.

 

[AJK93]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia. No idea here except maybe a trailer brake controller??? Others will chime in with better ideas.

Thanks for the quick reply Steven! That's a good thought. The truck looks like it's equipped with a tow package.

 

[OR VietVet]

With that red light there I would assume it has something to do with an aftermarket alarm/ignition interrupt set up. May have been unhooked because I would guess another piece has to be plugged in to it for it to start and without that and you are starting, it makes sense that it is now unhooked. Does the light light up when is started?

Welcome to the forum from Oregon

 

[AJK93]

With that red light there I would assume it has something to do with an aftermarket alarm/ignition interrupt set up. May have been unhooked because I would guess another piece has to be plugged in to it for it to start and without that and you are starting, it makes sense that it is now unhooked. Does the light light up when is started?

Thanks for the response! I haven't noticed the red light illuminating at all (but I've only been driving it for 2 days or so). There is a blinking red light on the (stock) stereo when the truck is locked that looks like a standard alarm light.

The person I bought the Tahoe from was the original owner and said that was there from the dealer, but that he never used it. Makes me think it might have been a dealer installed option?

 

[OR VietVet]

It is not factory. Maybe a dealer add on and then deal fell thru on a purchase. Time to track the wires from it and see where they goes.

 

[BatsTDK]

It looks like one of those cheesy alarm systems that uses a chip on one of those casino player's card bungee cord lanyards. I remember seeing these as a kid. You had to reach down and insert the chip every time before you started the engine.

 

[AJK93]

Hmm thanks all! I'll have to track the wires. I had pulled the dash trim to take a peak behind the stereo. All I can say is that the stereo wiring definitely looks like it's been hacked up a bit (although the head unit is stock and everything works fine), and that the wires from this mystery plug seem to go up behind the instrument cluster and not into the stereo.

The instrument cluster actually isn't functioning correctly, so I ordered a replacement from ISS Automotive Solutions. When it arrives and I pull the current instrument cluster, that'll be a good chance to try and see where the wires go.

 

[OR VietVet]

It looks like one of those cheesy alarm systems that uses a chip on one of those casino player's card bungee cord lanyards. I remember seeing these as a kid. You had to reach down and insert the chip every time before you started the engine.

That ignition interrupt set up is what I was trying to refer to as well. I just couldn't remember how it all worked, like you just said. If the thing starts and runs without that chip, then I would say it is disconnected but someone got lazy and did not remove that plug and wires in the pic.

 

[BatsTDK]

Hmm thanks all! I'll have to track the wires. I had pulled the dash trim to take a peak behind the stereo. All I can say is that the stereo wiring definitely looks like it's been hacked up a bit (although the head unit is stock and everything works fine), and that the wires from this mystery plug seem to go up behind the instrument cluster and not into the stereo.

The instrument cluster actually isn't functioning correctly, so I ordered a replacement from ISS Automotive Solutions. When it arrives and I pull the current instrument cluster, that'll be a good chance to try and see where the wires go.

You shouldn't have to dig too deeply to track the wires. If you pull off that panel that this mystery plug is attached to, you will probably trace it to the BCM which is directly below the steering column just above the air vent for the floor.