Help identifying knob....

[fj40z]

All right I know this is gonna make me look stupid but I cant figure out what the knob below the fasten belts/brake light on the dash of my '79 40 is. Its different than all the other knobs, like the ones for the fan and the hazards, its a little smaller and and its made of hard plastic. Sorry about the lack of a picture but I dont have a good one of the inside.Thanks in advance for any help. Ijust posted a pic of it on down the page.

 

[DanS]

choke cable?

 

[Poser]

does it have anything printed on it?


H


V


????

 

[BC Cruiser]

If you can pull it out and the engine revs up its either a choke or hand throtle

 

[Landpimp]

pretty sure there is no stock knob below the fasten seat belt light on a 79.....me thinks its PO added something or other

pic of a 82, 79 I think would be the same

 

[fj40z]

No theres nothing printed on it, and im pretty sure its stock because I saw another one in a guys rig but he didnt know either, Its not the choke or a hand throttle im sure of that. I'll see if I can get some pics of it.

 

[fj40z]

I think you can see it in this pic its the yellow one. I think it was originally silver plated and it has worn off. The other guy I was talking about had one in the same place,same type of knob and everything.

 

[Poser]

Not stock...


What happens when you pull it?

 

[Bad Coco]

Not stock...


What happens when you pull it?

If not falling for that old trick

 

[fj40z]

OK I just dug up my original owners manual and on page 12 (overview of instruments and controls) it shows it as the four wheel drive control switch. When I pull it I cant tell that it does anything. But I cant get my drivers side hub to lock in, could this have anything to do with it?

 

[Poser]

But I cant get my drivers side hub to lock in, could this have anything to do with it?

No.

 

[fj40z]

Just reading up on this and on page thirty it calls it a vacum operated four wheel drive control, and it is used for going from H2 to H4 without having to come to a stop. It says "You may shift in and out of 4-wheel drive-in high range- while you are driving." Does this sound right?

 

[rgentry]

No. Your cruiser did not have vacuum actuated 4wd though it might have been available overseas on your year model. My guess is that what was originally in this hole was a black plug. The PO added a switch for something. Turn yourself upside down and find where the wires to this switch are going. Off road lights? Compressor?

 

[greytandy]

Maybe an overhead dome light? I kept fumbling around with an unknown knob in the daylight hours trying to figure out what the heck it did. One evening I pulled it and the dome light came on. Mystery solved.

 

[Martian]

No. Your cruiser did not have vacuum actuated 4wd though it might have been available overseas on your year model. My guess is that what was originally in this hole was a black plug. The PO added a switch for something. Turn yourself upside down and find where the wires to this switch are going. Off road lights? Compressor?

My late '78 FJ40 has a black plug in that location. Factory Service Manual has a "Front Drive Vacuum Control" section, and shows a knob that says "FD". I agree with rgentry that the PO probably added something. MY PO drilled a hole in the dash for another accessory rather than using an existing plugged hole!

 

[Rocky_LC]

Is it an electrical switch, or a mechanical thing?

If it's electrical, and the wires don't immediately disappear into a wire harness, it was installed by the PO. I've got something like that that was set up for fog / driving lights (that no longer exist).

Follow the wires....

Rocky

 

[Trollhole]

No.

X2, x3 and x4

 

[fj40z]

I really dont have a clue what it is for, I had a feeling it wasnt anything for the 4wd, but the owners manual threw me a little bit. Im gonna chase the wires down and find out. I'll post when I find out.But I think you all are right it is probably something po added.

By the way I think PO stands for 2 things, previous owner, and
p!ssed off, because your generally p!ssed off at the stupid stuff they did.

 

[AATLAS1X]

What year owners manual?

 

[fj40z]

Im not real sure,the front cover is gone but im pretty sure its a 79,it has a lot of writing and stuff from all the previous owners.