Hi Folks, Just joined the forum as I read it so much I thought I might as well get involved a bit more.

I was cleaning out the drivers side footwell on the RR and noticed there is a small rocker switch mounted on the underside of the kick panel (so not visible unless you get on bended knee and look upwards). It is basically at the base of the steering column. It has two arrowvs pointing left and right and so , due to curiostiy, I clicked the left side which I think turned my LCD dashboard display on for a few seconds. Could not find it in my car handbooks (as I expected) . Anyone got any ideas what it's for (mines a Vogue SE by the way in case this has any bearing on the matter).

Cheers, Steve

Main car : FFRR L405 Vogue SDV8
Other car : Vauxhall Lotus Carlton
Past cars : FFRR L322 Vogue TD6 SE (Sept 2006 MY07) ; LandCruiser SWB ; 4-Runner ; Supras; XJS V12 LeMans

If memory serves me it's to disable the cars electrics during delivery and is disabled during the dealers PDI. From then on it's main purpose is to confuse the curious  2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

Last edited by axle on 19th Apr 2009 7:40pm. Edited 1 time in total

This had always had me curious too. So post PDI is it correct to say it has NO function?
Could I disconnect and use the switch for something else?

Muddy Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 - L405 (now sadly sold)
BMW i3 (fantastic little runabout)
Kioti NX6010 Tractor
Yamaha Big Bear ATV
And a whole heap of other kit...

Are you mad? For all we know you might end time and stop the Universe!
I might be wrong but do you want to risk it?  2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

Last edited by axle on 20th Apr 2009 8:50am. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks for that folks. Funny thing to have in such an accessible place. Mind you, it did take me 15 months to spot it in the first place I suppose!! Why do I know I'll end up clicking it to the right at some stage, unintentionally of course.
Ta Steve

Main car : FFRR L405 Vogue SDV8
Other car : Vauxhall Lotus Carlton
Past cars : FFRR L322 Vogue TD6 SE (Sept 2006 MY07) ; LandCruiser SWB ; 4-Runner ; Supras; XJS V12 LeMans

Before delivery Later L322's are shipped with a special orange relay unit connected to the battery + terminal, onto which the original battery terminal feed is also connected and a small 2 pin plug.
It is designed to disconnect the cars entire electrical system unless sufficient current is drawn, as in starting the car, or the over ride switch (hidden as described) is turned on.


The first step on PDI, which i have myself completed, is to remove this relay unit, and connect the cars + battery terminal directly. the 2 pin connector is then simply shoved down the side by the battery and no longer used for the cars life.

flipping the switch should have no effect.

Thanks for the extra info. Any knowledge of these things much appreciated.
Ta Steve

Main car : FFRR L405 Vogue SDV8
Other car : Vauxhall Lotus Carlton
Past cars : FFRR L322 Vogue TD6 SE (Sept 2006 MY07) ; LandCruiser SWB ; 4-Runner ; Supras; XJS V12 LeMans

Mine doesn't have this switch under the sterring column. (06MY) Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

I believe it was only the later more fully CAN bus vehicles that had it. Not sure if they still have the Pyro Isolater fitted, which can, by control from the Airbag ECU, explosively disconnect the positive battery Lead.

The poster's vehicle is the same age as mine though so that doesn't make sense. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Diesel L322's did not get converted to CAN BUS until the introduction of the TDV8, with the exception of the entire infotainment system which was fitted from 2005 on to all models and is is all linked together by the MOST fiber optic bus. Therefore a 2006 Petrol is mainly CAN and a 2006 Diesel mainly BMW.

BY CAN BUS i mean fully integrated and connected to the Diagnostic bus rather than where just a few ECU's have a private internal bus between them.

Nice clarification!

Top Marks, GO TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASS!  Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Can someone explain what is the use of the funny shaped hole near the lamp (the circled one)? It doesn't seem to have any visible purpose...

RRVSE - I found this switch some time ago (took me just less than a year! ). The consensus is that it shouldn't actually do anything. If you press and hold it in either direction then the whole ignition system stays live. Interesting from a theft perspective I think......

Dealer has told me that it ought to be rectified and will be next time I'm in there. Read more here:

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic943.html The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom

adara wrote:

Can someone explain what is the use of the funny shaped hole near the lamp (the circled one)? It doesn't seem to have any visible purpose...

The buzzer/gong goes in there:

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge