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Thorzdad · Aug 1, 2011, 04:13 PM

My wife just got a 2010 Honda Fit. Nice little car. Gonna save a bunch on gas. Anyway...
I was looking around in it and I noticed this odd, small button-like thing mounted at the lower edge of the knee panel, just below and to the left of the steering wheel. It's obviously a third-party add-on and no one here has any clue what it might be. There's a wire leading out of the bottom of the thing and runs back up behind the knee plate.

You can push the red button but nothing seems to happen. What looks to be a light on the top of the thing doesn't blink or anything when you push the button.

Anyone have any idea what it might be?

Laminar · Aug 1, 2011, 04:20 PM

That's an odd one. Garage door opener maybe? You might have to trace the wiring to find out where it goes...

Thorzdad · Aug 1, 2011, 04:33 PM

I wondered if it was an opener. I hope it is. But, of course, I'd need to know how to program it to work on my garage door...

besson3c · Aug 1, 2011, 04:43 PM

Have you tried saying "open sesame"?

mattyb · Aug 1, 2011, 04:45 PM

Its for the ejector seat.

Dork. · Aug 1, 2011, 05:47 PM

It's mounted with screws. Unscrew them and see what it's attached to.

bstone · Aug 1, 2011, 05:57 PM

Where is the wire going to?

andi*pandi · Aug 1, 2011, 07:05 PM

It's to activate the Chameleon Circuit, but it obviously isn't working.

brassplayersrock² · Aug 1, 2011, 07:27 PM

"UP, UP AND AWAY!" It looks like the button to start the rocket boosters.

residentEvil · Aug 1, 2011, 07:36 PM

the hatchback release? for like golf clubs? turn the car on, but put it in park. does the hatchback open when pressed? a way for someone to get access to the back without the driver having to get out.

seen similar buttons in other cars. would make sense if the previous owner was a golf fiend

Thorzdad · Aug 1, 2011, 08:19 PM

Mystery solved!
We were out running an errand, so we just dropped-by the Honda dealership to see if they knew what it was. Turns out, the base Fit does not come with a keyless entry system. My little whatchamacallit is part of an aftermarket keyless system the original dealer had installed. We never noticed that the remote fob that came with the car wasn't a Honda piece. Doh!

imitchellg5 · Aug 1, 2011, 09:04 PM

Interesting. So what is the function of the button then? I've been keeping my friend's '88 BMW 318i for the past few weeks and it has an aftermarket keyless entry (obviously, it's an '88) that doesn't seem to work at all. Whenever I press unlock once, the car beeps and doesn't unlock, if I press it twice, the obnoxious invasion-alert alarm starts going off.

Laminar · Aug 2, 2011, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Interesting. So what is the function of the button then? I've been keeping my friend's '88 BMW 318i for the past few weeks and it has an aftermarket keyless entry (obviously, it's an '88) that doesn't seem to work at all. Whenever I press unlock once, the car beeps and doesn't unlock, if I press it twice, the obnoxious invasion-alert alarm starts going off.

Ah, the 318. The car for when you want to be able to tell everyone that you own a "Bimmer" but you only have $900.

imitchellg5 · Aug 2, 2011, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Ah, the 318. The car for when you want to be able to tell everyone that you own a "Bimmer" but you only have $900.

At least it's an E30. Quite gutless at this altitude.

Thorzdad · Aug 2, 2011, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Ah, the 318. The car for when you want to be able to tell everyone that you own a "Bimmer" but you only have $900.

Now, now. I once had a fresh-from-the-factory '84 318i (with the Getrag 5-speed manual) and I wish to heaven I still had it. Not powerful, to be sure, but a great combination of revvy engine, nice gearbox and nimble chassis. It was just so much damned fun to toss around. Pitiful and hopeless in an Indiana winter, though.

mattyb · Aug 3, 2011, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Ah, the 318. The car for when you want to be able to tell everyone that you own a "Bimmer" but you only have $900.

Never seen it written bimmer.

The Final Dakar · Aug 3, 2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Never seen it written bimmer.

That's a bummer.

brassplayersrock² · Aug 3, 2011, 04:08 PM

Your face!

reader50 · Aug 3, 2011, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Thorzdad

I was looking around in it and I noticed this odd, small button-like thing mounted at the lower edge of the knee panel, just below and to the left of the steering wheel.

It's a pity this had such a normal explanation. It would be more interesting as an independent movie.

Person buys a used car. Finds mysterious button nearly hidden on the knee panel. After awhile, the driver notices that if he pushes it at the beginning of a trip, ... {insert movie plot} ... he starts to wonder if this might also have something to do with the disappearances around town. Further testing with annoying cousin ... {movie plot thickens} ... annoying cousin is lost, but we learn important things about the girls in black hats ... {insert battle with aliens to conclude the movie}.

Thorzdad · Aug 3, 2011, 04:30 PM

We still don't what the button actually does.
I mean...You arm/disarm the system from outside the car with the remote fob. I suppose it might disable the system completely. Not sure I really want to play around with it until I can locate an owners' manual somehow. Google is failing me completely on that. It's made by KARR, but I'm coming-up empty with a model number or any resource for a manual.

The Final Dakar · Aug 3, 2011, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Thorzdad

We still don't what the button actually does.
I mean...You arm/disarm the system from outside the car with the remote fob. I suppose it might disable the system completely. Not sure I really want to play around with it until I can locate an owners' manual somehow. Google is failing me completely on that. It's made by KARR, but I'm coming-up empty with a model number or any resource for a manual.

brassplayersrock² · Aug 4, 2011, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by Thorzdad

We still don't what the button actually does.
I mean...You arm/disarm the system from outside the car with the remote fob. I suppose it might disable the system completely. Not sure I really want to play around with it until I can locate an owners' manual somehow. Google is failing me completely on that. It's made by KARR, but I'm coming-up empty with a model number or any resource for a manual.

OMG! YOU'VE GOT A KITT!]Error all caps please

Laminar · Aug 4, 2011, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Never seen it written bimmer.

Let me google that for you

brassplayersrock² · Aug 5, 2011, 12:23 AM

I've never seen it written bimmer either.

hayesk · Aug 7, 2011, 07:32 PM

The button is likely to re-sync the key fob codes in case they get out of sync with the receiver. e.g. When you have to replace the batteries in the key fob.

MacNNUK · 12:15 AM

Is the button to lock all the doors once inside the car ?

Thorzdad · Aug 7, 2011, 09:20 PM

I managed to track-down some scanned copies of manuals for a couple of different KARR brand alarms. From what I can tell, the button is a sort of "valet" function to disable the alarm system, so you don't have to give the valet your security fob. I'm not sure why you'd want to do that, though.