What is this Button? - Solved

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

steve45

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Posts
120
Reaction score
92
It's not a factory switch. My 2000 Suburban has an identical switch that I was never able to figure out, although it was mounted to the outside of the instrument panel. I tried to follow the wires and it appeared to go to an aftermarket video player for the back seat, which I removed after it fell off of the headliner.
 
OP
OP
Joseph Garcia

Joseph Garcia

Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
7,478
Reaction score
10,206
Hi Folks,

Over the weekend, I grew a set, and I tried the mystery button. I turned it 'on' prior to starting the truck, and it started without anything out of the ordinary happening. I then tried moving the truck's shifter into drive, and again nothing out of the ordinary happened.

So, it remains a mystery, and I am not interested enough in solving the mystery to spend any more of my time on it. I have put the switch back to the 'off' position.

I thank you all for your suggestions and humor. Much appreciated.

Case closed, unsolved.
 

BRAAP

TYF Newbie
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
15
Reaction score
14
Out side of tracing the wiring, as mentioned, possibly security, view screen access when not parked, or... there is a kit available for BD that allows 2wd Low range for maneuvering trailers without being in 4lo, (select 4lo but it doesn’t allow the front axle to engage and also satisfies the 4wd modules requirements of what it requires to engage 4lo without engaging front axle), utilizes similar aftermarket switch.
https://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/bdd-1030711.pdf
 

bill1013

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2020
Posts
460
Reaction score
989
Location
Waianae, Hawaii
It could be an after-market starter isolation switch or anti-theft device. Turn it to the "OFF" position and you can start the vehicle. Switch it "ON" and the vehicle will not start no matter what. It also prevents "hot wiring" of the vehicle.
 

RET423

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2017
Posts
134
Reaction score
156
Sometimes people lose the heater/ac fan midule and instead of spending 25 bucks for a new one they run a hot wire to high speed fan terminal; if that is it when the switch is off your ac/heater fan won't run.
 

iamdub

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Posts
20,821
Reaction score
44,950
Location
Li'l Weezyana
Hi Folks,

Over the weekend, I grew a set, and I tried the mystery button. I turned it 'on' prior to starting the truck, and it started without anything out of the ordinary happening. I then tried moving the truck's shifter into drive, and again nothing out of the ordinary happened.

So, it remains a mystery, and I am not interested enough in solving the mystery to spend any more of my time on it. I have put the switch back to the 'off' position.

I thank you all for your suggestions and humor. Much appreciated.

Case closed, unsolved.


You suck.

At least try it at night to see if any lights come on or quit working. Maybe you have a sweet underglow kit and didn't know it?

Could it be a stealth switch? Back in my street racing days, I wired one up that killed all lights, just in case I needed to vanish. If I needed forward lights, I had some dim yellow fog lights down low on the air dam. Never had to use stealth mode, but I thought I was cool.
 
OP
OP
Joseph Garcia

Joseph Garcia

Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
7,478
Reaction score
10,206
You suck.

At least try it at night to see if any lights come on or quit working. Maybe you have a sweet underglow kit and didn't know it?

Could it be a stealth switch? Back in my street racing days, I wired one up that killed all lights, just in case I needed to vanish. If I needed forward lights, I had some dim yellow fog lights down low on the air dam. Never had to use stealth mode, but I thought I was cool.

Accepted.

However, I have far more interesting things to do with my time, than to chase down a button that has never impacted me since I purchased the truck.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,713
Posts
1,873,067
Members
97,536
Latest member
BigBodyBurban
Top