I recently bought a second hand octavia and I found a switch, for which I don't know what it does. I can't find it in the manual either. It's located on the cover behind the steering wheel. I checked friend's superb and it has a hole in exactly the same place.

 

Any ideas what could this be?

Was going to say possibly ex-plod but seen as yours is left hand drive I don't know if they fit the same auxiliary gear on cops cars abroad!

 

Is the switch live? Does it light up? Have you tried it with engine running, pressing it and seeing if you can remove the keys and it still runs???

 

 

Steve

That is definitely not a factory fitted switch. It has been fitted after the car has been supplied to its first owner.

 

The fact that your friend has a hole in the same place would suggest that both cars have been used for the same purpose at some point in their life.

 

Have the cars been used as taxi's (switch for the meter or roof light)?

 

Which country are you from?

Good evening.

We have a small flick switch in all the ambulance RRVs for the handsfree radio set in that location. So could be something along those lines? Mine has the bull horn switch there.

Police vehicles are not high spec? We had two vRS's which had everything bar full leather so not always the case Mike but will vary force to force, depends who gets their mitts on the order book!. Our ARV are S-max titanium spec, complete waste really as they get bashed a lot inside with all the kit but hey-ho.

 

Just a thought as it's a common place for run-lock where space else is limited or could interfere with the cars original systems.

I know where your coming from Mike as if a force just orders the "normal police spec" they get just that, a very basic one with even items removed that are otherwise standard in some cases to the public! However they can order any spec they want and with what kit they want like our lot as ours are too high a spec for what they do.

 

You clearly know your stuff Mike but one of the easy ways is just peeking through the drivers window and looking for the NRs sticker on the speedo face for calibration, only really if it's been traffic but a dead give away and some only ever had black faces so if the car had fancy clocks it looked stupid!! The obvious of holes in bumpers etc is also a good indicator :-)

 

Still intrigued as to what this switch is/was though!!

Both cars came from Germany and were driven by salespeople, so no special equipment.  If I switch the button on, red light on it lights up (ignition on/off, car locked/unlocked, doesn't matter), but nothing seem so happen, no warning lights, no sounds.

According to the Octavia 1Z manual, the Aux heating is accessed through the maxidot menu for pre-set times and can also be directly switched on/off via a button on the climatic cluster, the mystery continues!

Have you looked around the outside when it's switched on to see if any lights are on? Might be an ex getaway car and that switch disables the brake lights to help evade the pursing cops!!

I doubt it is anything OEM related, that switch is 100% aftermarket.

Have you looked around the outside when it's switched on to see if any lights are on? Might be an ex getaway car and that switch disables the brake lights to help evade the pursing cops!!

 

No, it doesn't change the way the lights are working. I guess I will have to open it up, to see where the wires are going:) As many of you suggested, when I looked closer, I see that it is 100% aftermarket.

Edited 25 February, 201511 yr by Insect_repellent:)

Sounds like a plan mate, some form of auxiliary but for what is anyone's guess at the moment!

 

Let us know what you find :-)

Possibly a switch for an electronic barrier or garage door.  From the photographs it looks like the switch, when on, is visible from the outside, so you could see without the need to open the car door if you had left it switched on.

 

Didn't some transmitters for automatic garage doors jam laser guns, you did say they were salesment!! You could possibly see the red light reflected off the window without having to crane your neck to carry out a visual check if you had left it switched on, if pulled over by Verkehrspolizei!

 

Fin

On my VW Touareg there were 2 switches on the back of the steering wheel, on 1 side it was for the heated steering wheel option and the other side turned off the illumination on the steering wheel controls.

Just thought I would throw that into the mix !!!!

After market parking sensors ?? or some sort of immobiliser ?   

After market parking sensors ?? or some sort of immobiliser ?   

 

Parking sensors are original factory fitted. I was thinking about immobiliser too, but it would not be so smart, to put the switch on such location:)

 

I will tear it apart and let you all know what I find.

Edited 26 February, 201511 yr by Insect_repellent:)

Have you looked around the outside when it's switched on to see if any lights are on? Might be an ex getaway car and that switch disables the brake lights to help evade the pursing cops!!

Like the sound of that, Where can I get one, Lol.

Coincidently I have a very similar switch in my lower dash, near the flip out tray. Still don't know what it does and had the car for 3 years now.

Flux Capacitor.

I've seen those switches used for a variety of lights/ siren functions in both police and ambulance vehicles. However, there's usually at least a couple - one for siren and one for blues or alternating headlamp flash.

Normally light and siren controls in modern vehicles have proper panels not a collection of switches like they used to.

This is out of a work skoda.

Normally light and siren controls in modern vehicles have proper panels not a collection of switches like they used to.

 

Don't be too sure of that. We have at least two fire service Scouts bought form some police force or other and they have a few random switches. Most brigades/forces/whatever have a motor services or comms department which just fit various things into cars when the specific vehicles need them and they often look similar. Won't necessarily have lots of individual switches but VERY common to have odd bits & pieces, expecially in the fire service.

Previous owner has fitted extra high beam lights. They shall be connected to work together with the cars original high beam lights, but a on/off switch is also required (in Norway anyway).

Forces cars are built to a bespoke spec typically. Bit like the numerous Vectra VXR's that looked much like Vectra SRI's with Design spec wheels. Once you knew them you could spot them a mile off. I see the odd old marked car thats being privately run and other than the fact its probably been to hell and back think its got to be the ultimate sleeper car ( and road rage deterrent!).

The early E90 330d BM's the police use were mechanically correct but otherwise much to ES spec (crap steering wheel, no climate control etc). I guess the Police just need them to go, stop and handle well enough but dont need all the gismos with all the police specific equipment they bang into them. I guess so long as it has AC and a means to keep the rear windows locked thats all they really care about for creature comforts.

I guess as the retrofits have become cleverer though (and causing less if any damage to the bodywork or interior) the newer cars are probably more akin to the regular models as it likely helps resale at the end of its useful life.

I concur though, the cars likely seen some sort of service...very likely an ex taxi or similar if the mileage on the vehicle is pretty high.

Edited 28 February, 201511 yr by pipsyp

Forces cars are built to a bespoke spec typically. Bit like the numerous Vectra VXR's that looked much like Vectra SRI's with Design spec wheels. Once you knew them you could spot them a mile off. I see the odd old marked car thats being privately run and other than the fact its probably been to hell and back think its got to be the ultimate sleeper car ( and road rage deterrent!).

The early E90 330d BM's the police use were mechanically correct but otherwise much to ES spec (crap steering wheel, no climate control etc). I guess the Police just need them to go, stop and handle well enough but dont need all the gismos with all the police specific equipment they bang into them. I guess so long as it has AC and a means to keep the rear windows locked thats all they really care about for creature comforts.

I guess as the retrofits have become cleverer though (and causing less if any damage to the bodywork or interior) the newer cars are probably more akin to the regular models as it likely helps resale at the end of its useful life.

I concur though, the cars likely seen some sort of service...very likely an ex taxi or similar if the mileage on the vehicle is pretty high.

It looks just like the one I had in my old Sedona for charging up an auxillary battery in my caravan.