What is the button under my dash for?

rmadsen55 · Apr 26, 2003

There is a rubber covered push button under the dash of my 68. It is on the left where the instrument panel attachement screws are on the bottom of the dash. It currently is not wired into anything and I am curious what it was for.

thanks,

novaderrik · Apr 26, 2003

probably something that someone added- maybe it used to activate the "Dukes of Hazzard" horn a previous owner installed.

Geezer · Apr 27, 2003

A Chitty Chitty Bang Bang button?

dnult · Apr 27, 2003

Passenger Eject perhaps?

-dnult

click · Apr 27, 2003

I found a push once to turn on, push again to turn off type button bolted to the area near my steering wheel too. It was wired to the coil to cut off power to it as an anti theft device. I disabled it for now, but Im guessing that button was the same thing.

SY1 · Apr 28, 2003

Robin,

did your car come with a rear window defogger / blower assembly from the factory? YOu can tell because the hole will be cut out in the rear shelf. It's possible the rear package tray has been replaced if the blower is not there, so you need to check from inside the trunk. Also I believe it is a large diameter purple wire that runs to the blower assembly, from my memory, I had a 68 with this option years ago. The switch was located below the dash instrument carrier, but looked like a round knob, like you find on the wipers or headlight switches. It's possible that switch failed and was replaced with a standard style switch over the years. The correct switch to my knowledge is not available, nor is it being reporduced by anyone.

Of course it could just be a switch like the others suggested was installed for any number of owner installed options over the years.

Dave

69X11SS · Apr 29, 2003

Oh god, what you can find on a car. When I bought my 75 Camaro back in 83, it had two toggle switches under the dash. Apparently the ignition switch failed and the goober that had the car before me installed these and they were wired directly to the starter and the distributor. You flipped one switch to get power and the other one to engage the starter and then flip that one off when the car started. Needles to say, I had to rewire the entire engine bay. So, don't be supprised by what you find.

Vintage 68 · Apr 29, 2003

let's see - could be NOS or the JATO Engine like in that Urban Legend story.

Like 69X' said - really no telling. Mine worked the starter and the horn? You didn't want to get that one wrong while you were starting the car or pi$$ed at someone! All fixed now.

Not stock or a RPO is the bottom line.

red69camaro · Apr 29, 2003

see if it has one on the passenger side too. If it does, you may want to check it out with a geiger counter. Times were crazy back then!

68ragtop · Apr 29, 2003

It's gotta be an instant "freak out" button, gotta be...

rmadsen55 · Apr 29, 2003

sy1,
now that you mention it there was a large guage purple wire that looked like it might have been ripped off the switch. I will have to look for remnants of a defogger.

SY1 · Apr 29, 2003

Robin,

Starting to sound like you had the factory rear window defogger in your car originally. The switch was located and is the same switch as the convertible power top switch. When installed as a power top swith an extra bracket was used to locate the switch slightly forward, the bracket is shown as part number 3925771.

RPO C50 is the factory installed rear window defogger and was $21.10 in 67 and 68 and could also be a dealer installed option part number 978244. Factory assembly manual also has the following information on the defogger:

Blower Switch 3861697
Retaining Screws 9422543
Blower Switch Knob 3899716
Blower Assy 3014891

The factory harness plugged into the ACC terminal on the fuse block. Knob was held on blower switch with a set screw, much like the windshield wiper knob. The only other below the dash knob or switch I am aware of in that location is the speed minder knob. It attached to a cable and is much smaller in size. Both are quite rare options. I seem to remember during the frame off I did on that 68 the purple wire to the rear window blower ran down the drivers side of the car, through the wire trough below the sill plate and up through the rear seat area in the trunk. There should be a cut out in the rear shelf between the speaker openings where the blower mounted in the trunk. I think the blowers were also made in Canada and were stamped as such.

If you need a picture of the installation let me know and I'll email you what I have on it.

Dave

[ 04-29-2003, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: SY1 ]

rmadsen55 · Apr 30, 2003

Dave,
I looked in the trunk today and sure enough there was the cutout and the mounting holes for the blower. Thanks for answer the question for me.

SY1 · Apr 30, 2003

Robin,

Glad to help. I know it was probably more info than you needed, but I thought if you wanted to look for the defogger to add it someday it may help.

I see your in New Hampshire. I bought a 69 Camaro drag car there a couple years ago in New Swanzey (spelling may be wrong) near Keane. Just wondered if it was near you. Nice people out there and sure is scenic.

Dave

rmadsen55 · May 1, 2003

Dave,
sure is! I'm in Marlborough about 10 minutes from keene. Are you from these parts or where you just passing through?

SY1 · May 1, 2003

Just drove out to pick up the car, then took it back to Michigan. We are planning a trip with the whole family to NY, NH, RI, Maine then back through Quebec and Ontario this Summer. Hopefully we'll have more time to spend out that way than we did when we picked up that car. I work with a few guys that recently transfered from Conneticut and they say the colors out that way in the Fall are spectacular, I hope to see them someday.

What is the button under my dash for?

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