camaro1185

I got a 88 IROC L98, 700R4, and on the left side of the steering wheel I have the lights switch and the toggle switch for the fog lights. On the right side I have the cigg. lighter and a red indicator light.

Does anyone else have that same indicator light?

What is it an indicator for?

Is it factory? (I does NOT look like it was hacked in there, it looks very factory.

Did these cars ever come with a security system?

I have no idea what its for, I have never seen it go on, flash etc.

Ill snap a pic if needed.

Any help would be appreciated.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

id like to see

camaronewbie

All I've ever seen below the cig lighter is the rear window defrost switch - so I'm assuming it's a mod from a PO.

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

I will use the banned word "rare" but if its what I think it is, it was actually a dealer installed option. I have seen it only a few other times, the RPO code was F#394 . Evidently it was some system called ID-KFA that was part of the throttle body system and was some sort of performance indicator. From what I remember, it came on when you hit "Full Engine Power" . I think it was a California thing because my friend had a "California IROC" in original condition that came with this option. .....

camaro1185

Well my car did come from california, but its not a "California IROC"

The RPO code is listed as F394?

camaro1185

Heres the pic.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

no window defrst correct? probably part of an old alarm system, I have seen them without rear defrost and just a regular block off plate there, best bet? pull off the cover (two screws) and see where the wire goes. no way it can be F394 because RPOs are 3 digits, also all F codes are suspension related

camaro1185

See thats the thing, it has had 2 previous owners, which I am in contact with. Other then the tires and a new rad, the car is the way it rolled off the floor. Im baffled on this one. Maybe ill pull the plate and see where they go.

Thanks

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

someone installed an alarm somewhere along the line. My convertible had one in there too. To my knowledge there was no factory alarm to choose from now that isn't saying you couldn't get a dealer installed alarm but not positive what was there to be offered.

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Doh... I forgot to mention that I mad that story up... pure

On the other hand, my old RS actually had a similar switch and I am pretty sure it was the rear defroster.

camaro1185

Ok, I got it, your one for those guys who has no life but to search the forums and make up BS storys to boost your post count.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

ok lets not have something escalate here, though i will say that was pretty dumb goku, and a little demeaning to his intelligence >.> at least we pretty muchh know what it is, like i said, pull the panel and see where it goes, could have been an alarm light, coulda been a confirmation light for something like the cooling fan

TheMonster

Wow goku that was pretty sad, but Do what chevy said and track that wire!

mikeiaz

that is an indicator/warnnng light for an old VIPER alarm system - seems like lots and lots of 3rd gens had this system installed when new

camaro1185

Interesting. I have no remote that came with the car. Where were these alarm modules hidden, I would like to try and get it to work if it is infact an alarm system.

ellocojorge

iTrader: (1)

it an old alarm, u prob have it there since u have fog lights... mine is on the other side

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

if the alarm was still hooked up the light would go on and flicker when armed.
sort of a warning. some people just hooked up the light to make people think it has an alarm on it.

just noticed someone else said it. mine had a black widow arlarm and got that red light.

its aftermarket.

i took a few pics - light and the sticker.

it was probably the same product in the same box with a diffeent lable. viper here blackwidow there. probably had hundreds of names.

my wife decided it was making her battery go down so i had to have it taken off. lots of hanging wires. installed in march 1990 and took it out of her car within a year. my 91 - bought in april 90 had the same one for 6 5 years.

mikeiaz

use the search function to find one of my posts/questions from 6/24/09 titled VIPER alarm problems - in the responses to that one there is a link to a website where you can download PDF installation guides for various alarm systems - if it was a VIPER alarm it is likely a model 300, the control modules were usually mounted under the console (loosen the shifter plate and look underneath) - there is a picture of the control module on my car in that post I referred to, and there probably would be a valet/bypass button or switch mounted under the dash on the driver side, maybe in the plastic hush panel cover above where your shins would be. If you have not already done so look underhood to see if you can spot an alarm siren - they usually had an approx 4" black megaphone style horn and are obvious to spot.

Brennan

mine has an identical light in the center console and it belongs to my alpine alarm system. my control module was under the drivers side dash

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Bah.... im one to admit when im wrong, im not usually the type to do that sort of thing. My apologies for the ill placed comments camaro1185. I'll refrain from this point forward.

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

If it is of an redeeming value, after seeing that picture, I would agree that it is an aftermarket alarm system. It might be wise to trace down this alarm and if you cant make use of it, remove it. I had an alarm/kill switch in my car for some time and it stopped working well so I disabled it (or so I thought) . I come out to start my car one day, and I can't get the ignition to kick over. It ended up that I needed to remove that system altogether because it was still connected to my ignition wire and somehow it was activated. But at the same rate.. these are thirdgens with 80's technology so "if aint broke then don't try to fix it" may be applicable here.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

agreed with the whole finding and removing deal, i used to work for a GM dealership and ive seen alarm modules go bad, they tend to cause no-start conditions as well as dying while driving, and i gotta say goku, ive been a long time lurker, short time poster, you are probably the first poster i have ever seen admit fault and not cause a HUGE case of BS. you have my respect man lol.

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

a common trick was putting a fuse inside of the wiring bundle under the hood - where there are wire covers that can be split and hidden inside of them. very hard to trace them.

mtflyboy

Hey i have that lil red light in my 91 z28 too! But there is no alarm system that i can find. especially no mini megaphone thing.

camaro1185

well i took the panel off to see where it was hooked up to and to my surprise, it looks like its a dummy light. mine wasnt connected to anything, in fact the wires werent even stripped.

Heres a pic.

Chevy8588

iTrader: (1)

lol that is your run of the mill radio shack red LED that when powered, most likely flashes, probably put in as an attempt as a faux theft detterent system

fubar_1179

I have the same red light in the same place. I drive an 89 rs 305 TBI and i have no alarm system(just vats) and i have always wondered what it was for cause it has never came on. I guess i will pull it out to see if its hooked up to anything.

mechanic1992

I have two red indicator lights on my 87 IROC one below the cig lighter and one infront of my shifter, same thing?

Krik

iTrader: (4)

That second picture has nothing to do with a alarm. Its for the VATS system.

camaro1185

What does it have to do with the VATS system? Care to enplane.

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

well above the vats sticker which came with my 90 and 91 there is a sticker that says black widow. that was the aftermarket alarm system. not the part that said vats.
part of the discussion had to do with different types of alarms that used the same light and probably the same alarm with a different lable on the box.
VATS - Vehicle Anti Theft System - did not want anyone to get confused by the two signs.

Krik

iTrader: (4)

My old eyes totally missed the black widow sticker.


Thanks for catching that one for me Tony.

mechanic1992

ok, still, i have two of them in my 87 IROC. and i dont have that VATS sticker on mine. is it still the fake security system?

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

if your talking little red lights that has nothing to do with vats - its just that the aftermarket installer put it by the factory vats sticker.
the red light has nothing to do with vats. completely separate.
and like i said the red lights were sold separately at some stores so you could just hook it up and it operated with a battery so you could switch it on and it would blink like you had an alarm and you would not have to tie into the actual electrical system.

as for 87 - dont really know when vats started. i had two new camaro's a 90 and 91 and both had vats from the factory, but the red lights were added later with the aftermarket alarm.

before that i had 5 other's bought new including a f/b and i dont think they had vats - actually im sure they didn't.

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

I have the same red indicator light in my 92 RS, and it has something to do with security. My light is under the headlight switch though.

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

I had an identical annoying blinking led there:

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

double post

ROCFATHER

ALARM LIGHT! Mine is located by the shifter and its a viper alarm. The actual unit was removed i bet.

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

I just removed a little bull horn device on the drivers side. Nobody gives a hoot when they go off anyway. My little red light still stays on anyway. Just gonna leave it I guess.

Is this a part of a viper alarm? Dealer installed?

AC

iTrader: (3)

Matt, that's just an indicator light for some aftermarket accessory or system someone installed. Could be a fan light, security system, etc. They're VERY common or atleast used to be common with different aftermarket systems. I personally would NOT want any 80's or even early 90's security system in my car. They're typically an ignition kill type of system. I've had 4 bad experiences with that type. 2 in my first Camaro and another 2 in different vehicles. They are sub-par IMO to systems of today.
Think of it this way. When you remove the pilot light you have a pilot hole to drill for the line-lock system switch

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

that looks like an old alarm light that told you if the system was armed or not my kitt had it as well but my old viper system worked amazingly

now if i can find some old viper alarm logo stickers that would be awesome

camaro1185

Ya i pulled the panel and its not hooked up to anything, so im thinking i dont have an alarm system. I also looked under the hood for a different "alarm horn" and looked under the shifter area for the alarm module and dont have either. I think it just a light that i can connect to whatever i want.

Iroctopless

VATS started in '89 on the Camaro. A year earlier on the Corvette. It's simply a resistor (one of a dozen or so different resistor values used) that's found in the key. If the ignition system senses a key with a resistor and of the correct resistor value, the car would be allowed to start. That's it. It had no alarm, no blinking light, and didn't need to be armed or disarmed. It was a totally passive system.

As mentioned by others, that light is totally aftermarket and you can do with it what you please.

mechanic1992

oh ok, thanks guys

firebird904

The camaro i just got from my dad has that light but its underneath the headlight switch

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

That's where my little red light is also. It has something to do with the security system.

mechanic1992

Yeah, like i said ive got two one under the cig lighter and one on the shifter panel. i dont know why the second one is there really but oh well haha

fubar_1179

Well i have one below the light switch on the left side of the steering wheel, And a whole under the Cigarette lighter where it looks like one used to be. The one under the light switch has one blue wire coming out of the light, didnt trace it yet. But it looks like the light was supposed to have 2 wires coming from it but one had pulled out prolly from the PO.

THEBEAST84

iTrader: (2)

well i must add i have a yellow lights that pops out ! located in the middle left on my dash on my 92 ! talk with the po no alarm and no hacked up fuse box and ideas ! ill snap a pic tomorrow fellas thanks !