2003 Tahoe LT mystery plug in drivers footwell??

[AJK93]

Hi all!

I'm new to the forum, so apologies if I make any convention mistakes.

I just picked up a very nice and clean 2003 Tahoe LT for my growing family. I grew up with a suburban, so I'm happy to be back in a familiar vehicle.

One thing I noticed that I hadn't seen before, and the previous owner didn't have any answers for either, was this plug/LED light in the drivers footwell (see attached photo). I've done some searching, but I haven't found any explanation for what this is! Does anyone know what I'm looking at here?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Big Mama]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia. No idea here except maybe a trailer brake controller??? Others will chime in with better ideas.

 

[AJK93]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia. No idea here except maybe a trailer brake controller??? Others will chime in with better ideas.

Thanks for the quick reply Steven! That's a good thought. The truck looks like it's equipped with a tow package.

 

[OR VietVet]

With that red light there I would assume it has something to do with an aftermarket alarm/ignition interrupt set up. May have been unhooked because I would guess another piece has to be plugged in to it for it to start and without that and you are starting, it makes sense that it is now unhooked. Does the light light up when is started?

Welcome to the forum from Oregon

 

[AJK93]

With that red light there I would assume it has something to do with an aftermarket alarm/ignition interrupt set up. May have been unhooked because I would guess another piece has to be plugged in to it for it to start and without that and you are starting, it makes sense that it is now unhooked. Does the light light up when is started?

Thanks for the response! I haven't noticed the red light illuminating at all (but I've only been driving it for 2 days or so). There is a blinking red light on the (stock) stereo when the truck is locked that looks like a standard alarm light.

The person I bought the Tahoe from was the original owner and said that was there from the dealer, but that he never used it. Makes me think it might have been a dealer installed option?

 

[OR VietVet]

It is not factory. Maybe a dealer add on and then deal fell thru on a purchase. Time to track the wires from it and see where they goes.

 

[BatsTDK]

It looks like one of those cheesy alarm systems that uses a chip on one of those casino player's card bungee cord lanyards. I remember seeing these as a kid. You had to reach down and insert the chip every time before you started the engine.

 

[AJK93]

Hmm thanks all! I'll have to track the wires. I had pulled the dash trim to take a peak behind the stereo. All I can say is that the stereo wiring definitely looks like it's been hacked up a bit (although the head unit is stock and everything works fine), and that the wires from this mystery plug seem to go up behind the instrument cluster and not into the stereo.

The instrument cluster actually isn't functioning correctly, so I ordered a replacement from ISS Automotive Solutions. When it arrives and I pull the current instrument cluster, that'll be a good chance to try and see where the wires go.

 

[OR VietVet]

It looks like one of those cheesy alarm systems that uses a chip on one of those casino player's card bungee cord lanyards. I remember seeing these as a kid. You had to reach down and insert the chip every time before you started the engine.

That ignition interrupt set up is what I was trying to refer to as well. I just couldn't remember how it all worked, like you just said. If the thing starts and runs without that chip, then I would say it is disconnected but someone got lazy and did not remove that plug and wires in the pic.

 

[BatsTDK]

Hmm thanks all! I'll have to track the wires. I had pulled the dash trim to take a peak behind the stereo. All I can say is that the stereo wiring definitely looks like it's been hacked up a bit (although the head unit is stock and everything works fine), and that the wires from this mystery plug seem to go up behind the instrument cluster and not into the stereo.

The instrument cluster actually isn't functioning correctly, so I ordered a replacement from ISS Automotive Solutions. When it arrives and I pull the current instrument cluster, that'll be a good chance to try and see where the wires go.

You shouldn't have to dig too deeply to track the wires. If you pull off that panel that this mystery plug is attached to, you will probably trace it to the BCM which is directly below the steering column just above the air vent for the floor.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Folks are already chiming in with their thoughts and suggestions.

 

[AJK93]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Folks are already chiming in with their thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you for the welcome Joseph! Pics attached.

I have to be a contributing member to the forum! I tend to always have older vehicles and motorcycles and I enjoy the forum communities that tend to crop up to support other folks with the same vehicles!

 

[BatsTDK]

Great color! I have a 2000 Suburban with the same. Protect that hood... that color is super prone to sun damage. Denali wheels too, nice. Did you put those on?

 

[AJK93]

Great color! I have a 2000 Suburban with the same. Protect that hood... that color is super prone to sun damage. Denali wheels too, nice. Did you put those on?

Thanks! Nice to see a follow CA forum member too. I'm up in Monterey.

Since you mentioned the paint... pretty much the only area where the paint isn't perfect is about a 1ft area on the hood, just from the sun exposure I think. Otherwise, it's about the cleanest 2003 vehicle I've ever seen!

The Denali wheels were put on by the original owner. I do like them, especially with the tires that are on there. I think it gives it a little bit of a rugged look.

 

[BatsTDK]

Ah yeah... I've been on the hunt for a good condition hood for awhile now. Never found a clean one. If you ever decide to change those wheels, let me know. I need the center caps lol.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Great color! I have a 2000 Suburban with the same. Protect that hood... that color is super prone to sun damage. Denali wheels too, nice. Did you put those on?

Funny--mine is on my roof. Seemed like it popped out of no where.

Had mine dipped, because the salt here in the winter is rough on the clearcoat.

Not the original hood, but the original hood was in great shape. Wasn't faded at all.

Another NE issue--

Rear dogleg rusts out. I put a little rtv on it, but it's getting pretty bad.
This is on the lower sill above the running board--

 

[AJK93]

UPDATE:

My new instrument cluster came in today, so I pulled the old one and replaced it, and checked out my mystery plug while I was at it. There are a number of black wires and one red wire coming out of it, and they all seem to route up under the steering wheel. So it seems so kind of ignition cut off is a good bet. However, the truck starts and runs fine, and all of the wires seem to be connected to something... So it's either not functioning or somehow disconnected, or that's not actually what it is?

In my poking around it seems there is a fair amount of non-factory looking wiring. I know the previous owner mentioned he used to have a TV system in the back. There's still a AV hub thing under the rear seats that aren't connected to anything. It seems like he probably has some kind of after market stereo too by the looks of the wiring. I had been thinking about wiring up a new stereo on my own (I've done a couple in the past), but after seeing all the rouge electrical (including a purple wire going right into the fuse box???), I think if I decide to do a new stereo, I might let a shot take care of it.

Attached a couple pictures of the black and red wires from the mystery plug, some of the weird non factory looking wiring, and the nice new looking dash!

Thanks all!

 

[Big Mama]

Looks great

 

[Tonyrodz]

UPDATE:

My new instrument cluster came in today, so I pulled the old one and replaced it, and checked out my mystery plug while I was at it. There are a number of black wires and one red wire coming out of it, and they all seem to route up under the steering wheel. So it seems so kind of ignition cut off is a good bet. However, the truck starts and runs fine, and all of the wires seem to be connected to something... So it's either not functioning or somehow disconnected, or that's not actually what it is?

In my poking around it seems there is a fair amount of non-factory looking wiring. I know the previous owner mentioned he used to have a TV system in the back. There's still a AV hub thing under the rear seats that aren't connected to anything. It seems like he probably has some kind of after market stereo too by the looks of the wiring. I had been thinking about wiring up a new stereo on my own (I've done a couple in the past), but after seeing all the rouge electrical (including a purple wire going right into the fuse box???), I think if I decide to do a new stereo, I might let a shot take care of it.

Attached a couple pictures of the black and red wires from the mystery plug, some of the weird non factory looking wiring, and the nice new looking dash!

Thanks all!
View attachment 267677View attachment 267678 View attachment 267679 View attachment 267680

I don't have the steering wheel buttons--they estimate your miles to empty?

 

[AJK93]

I don't have the steering wheel buttons--they estimate your miles to empty?

Yeah the steering wheel buttons let you cycle through odometers, hourometers, range, fuel economy, then also things like seat memory, curb view assist, etc.

My fuel gauge wasn't working until I replaced the instrument cluster, so I had been keeping it on range.