Unknown switch function.

Anyone know what is this for?
It is similar like a choke for a carburettor,I can pull it out and then back in.
So far it seems to do nothing at all.
I looked into the manual and that location should be for extra features (like heated seat etc) but I still can't find what it does.
It is a 1998 T22 (4AFE) (I think made in UK).

That doesn't look like it's factory installed. Then I would have expected a clear label or symbol to indicate its function. Alarm, immobiliser, extra lights? Pull the panel out and follow the wiring...

The car is second hand so the previous owner might have installed an aftermarket one. The car has no alarm and has an immobiliser(from the factory AFAIK).So the I was thinking the same about it being a light switch. I have both rear and front headlights. The rear headlights I can open using the switch that has all the light functions,but the front ones won't turn on. I will try to look for the wiring and post a picture when I get to my car in a day or two.

Any tips on how to remove the panel? I haven't messed with something similar before.

They are usually held top and bottom or left and right sides. Either pull straight out by holding the switch or pry carefully along the edges.

I popped it out,but I could pull it all the way,I have to remove the plastic panel around it but I didn't have any tools with me right now.

So I see some wires hooked up to the switch, is there any chance I can narrow down what this is for untill I pull it out all the way?

Maybe the color or type of wires help?

Do you have a separate rheostat for the dash illumination? That switch look like a common one that both switches and adjusts. Does it turn as well as pull? (like 300 degrees) I'm wondering if it is a fix for a broken original rheostat.

If not - check lights front and rear when you switch it on and off. Otherwise you'll have to start tracing the wires. Or ignore it and live with it 🙂

No, it doesn't turn,only push-pull,if it is for the dashboard,then it doesn't work because then illumination is unchanged.

I will measure if there is any voltage in the wires that go to that switch, with  open/closed dashboard lights.

I would probably have to remove a lot in order to trace the wires,so I guess I won't find out. 🙄

It looks like a pin switch. I've used them with aftermarket alarms to secure the boot and bonnet.

The switch could be a makeshift immobiliser or connected to an old aftermarket 2-wire alarm. They used to be activated using a rocker switch which was advised to be concealed on or under the dash.

If you can't trace the wire, try leaving the switch all the way out when using the car. It could be that whatever was previously installed was removed by the previous owner.

4 hours ago, 1.33 said:

It looks like a pin switch. I've used them with aftermarket alarms to secure the boot and bonnet.

The switch could be a makeshift immobiliser or connected to an old aftermarket 2-wire alarm. They used to be activated using a rocker switch which was advised to be concealed on or under the dash.

If you can't trace the wire, try leaving the switch all the way out when using the car. It could be that whatever was previously installed was removed by the previous owner.

It looks very similar. The car has immobiliser from the factory so I guess this could be the 2-wire alarm as you mentioned.

Why should I leave the switch all the way out? I found it pushed in(but tried pulling,nothing changed). Is pulling the switch (normally) the off function of whatever this thing could be?

On 6/24/2024 at 10:01 PM, paner said:

Why should I leave the switch all the way out?

If this is a pin switch, leaving it all the way out would activate whatever is connected. Pin switches are normally spring loaded to stay in the on position. When the switch is pushed in, it disconnects the power supply.