Blank Dash Switch / Button Uses?

[Lckitty]

So, we've got a blank dash button (lower left). What shall we do with it? I seem to have some sort of need to make it do something...... ideas??? What have you done? You know you've thought about this.

[lynnpreston]

Parking brake override switch for head unit video.


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[Dlamps57]

Ejector seat?


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[Lckitty]

So far all I've got is some sort of passenger pee absorbsion unit deployment.

[tbd_Evora]

Originally Posted by Lckitty

So far all I've got is some sort of passenger pee absorbsion unit deployment.

Now that is something that the world has been looking for!

[Plackslayer]

Exhaust switch to go from straight pipes to muffled

[Justin182]

Heated seats

[squidward]

put a smiley face sticker on it. it's a faux button.

if it was a real button, I'd wire it directly to the trunk solenoid.

[abechen]

You could buy the button and pretend that you have left right heated seats and a trunk release.

I was thinking how nice it would be to get the cruse control buttons and wire them up to a head unit remote unit to control my audio system.

[squidward]

that's a great idea.. do it!

[Lotustwn]

Originally Posted by squidward

put a smiley face sticker on it. it's a faux button.

if it was a real button, I'd wire it directly to the trunk solenoid.

So there's no actual button push action mechanism?

[invictusmaneo]

Originally Posted by Plackslayer

Exhaust switch to go from straight pipes to muffled

I've looked into this for my setup (essentially what you describe.) Right now it is controlled wirelessly but I would prefer a hardwire switch in one of the knockout locations-just haven't had the time/huevos to rip the dash apart to take a look at the knockout-I found the source for the switches that Lotus uses and browsed their catalog but couldn't find exactly the same one..so I would probably just use a push button switch and attach the knockout to it so it looked stock.

[abechen]

Originally Posted by Lotustwn

So there's no actual button push action mechanism?

No. It is just a plate with three round facades. You will have to order the button from Lotus. That has all three buttons on one.

The wire harness for it is there too. You may be able to use the wires.

[Plackslayer]

Originally Posted by invictusmaneo

I've looked into this for my setup (essentially what you describe.) Right now it is controlled wirelessly but I would prefer a hardwire switch in one of the knockout locations-just haven't had the time/huevos to rip the dash apart to take a look at the knockout-I found the source for the switches that Lotus uses and browsed their catalog but couldn't find exactly the same one..so I would probably just use a push button switch and attach the knockout to it so it looked stock.

You should post the link to the manufacturer of the buttons so we can find the right one.

[invictusmaneo]

i would if I still had the link anywhere or remembered the name..unfortunately

[West-of-Hethel]

Originally Posted by abechen

No. It is just a plate with three round facades. You will have to order the button from Lotus. That has all three buttons on one.

The wire harness for it is there too. You may be able to use the wires.

Only true for 2012+, not for 2010 or 2011 model years.

On the other side of the steering wheel, Federal cars have a blank spot where the rear foglight button resides for ROW cars. That wiring is in place for all model years, and installing the rear fog light on Federal cars would be just a matter of getting the ROW switch and a fog light unit (replaces one of the two backup lamp units in a Federal car). This is the blank that the OP was talking about.

[Certified Lotus]

remove the blank dash button. Add lightness.

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by Plackslayer

You should post the link to the manufacturer of the buttons so we can find the right one.

I know that I am speaking from ignorance here because I don't remember what the Evora buttons looked like (don't own one, just drove one for an slightly extended period ) but the Elise/Exige buttons are manufactured by APEM. You can find them at DigiKey, Mouser, etc...

They are IP series round illuminated membrane switches like these:

IPR3FAD2L0S APEM Components, LLC | 679-1145-ND | DigiKey
IPR3FAD2L0G APEM Components, LLC | 679-1144-ND | DigiKey
IPR1FAD2L0G APEM Components, LLC | 679-1142-ND | DigiKey

Maybe they are the same ... maybe browsing through APEM's catalog you can find exactly what you want (SPST, momentary or latching, etc)

If they are nothing like the Elige switches... sorry... move along, nothing to see here.

[invictusmaneo]

http://www.apem.com/files/apem/broch...ton-AV-ENG.pdf

I'm pretty sure that was it..and all I could figure is that it was one of those that had been ordered to work with their dash as far as mounting behind.

[West-of-Hethel]

Originally Posted by invictusmaneo

http://www.apem.com/files/apem/broch...ton-AV-ENG.pdf

I'm pretty sure that was it..and all I could figure is that it was one of those that had been ordered to work with their dash as far as mounting behind.

Actually they're nothing like that. I have an assembly in front of me right now.

It's a small circuit board carrying all three buttons in each rank as well as some diodes etc, and the switches are surface mounted. Will be very hard to recreate at home.

No manufacturer name that I can see.