What is it?

[Fathawk]

I have an 04 XLT. On my windshield, just to the right of the mirror, I have a box. Said box is about 3/4" X 1.5" and stuck to the inside of the windshield. Protruding from the sides of the box are two antenna elements about 1.5" long.

I cannot find anything in the owners manual about this little device. Anyone know what it does?

 

[Curtis]

sounds like the antenna an aftermarket remote start or alarm system

 

[Fathawk]

Whats another place you can look to see if such a system is installed? I have really never messed with one of these before.

 

[Curtis]

You could follow the wire across the top of the windsheild and down the drivers side pillar, to under the dash and see where it goes. There should be a module its hooked to.

That still probably wont tell you want it is, remote start or just an alarm.
I would tend to think its a remote start.

Do you have any remotes with the truck?
Are they factory remotes?

try pressing a combination of buttons.
like lock and unlock the same time etc.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

It sounds like a remote start system. My friend has one through Vipir, it was one of the lower cost ones. Description fits perfectly.

Go to an aftermarket install place, and they can probably tell you what it is really quick.

 

[Fathawk]

Well after five minutes of VERY light thinking.....light cuz I'm obviously not that smart.

I realize my remote is not the factory remote and it has a lock, unlock, panic and instead of the hatch button like on the factory remote it has a "key" button.



Must be a remote start. I'm thinking the dealer didn't mention it because,

a) they didn't know about it, or

b) it doesn't work.

 

[Curtis]

Well after five minutes of VERY light thinking.....light cuz I'm obviously not that smart.

I realize my remote is not the factory remote and it has a lock, unlock, panic and instead of the hatch button like on the factory remote it has a "key" button.



Must be a remote start. I'm thinking the dealer didn't mention it because,

a) they didn't know about it, or

b) it doesn't work.

Dont down yourself, you never know what you can do. Ive done some repairs I never thought I could do but in the end were not as hard as I thought.

Did you play with the remote?
Does it unlock the doors? - will confirm the battery is good
Does the "key" button do anything? - if it does not start, there is sometimes a switch mounted to the dash - non factory looking - or maybe its just tied up under the dash. Of the remote starts Ive had I didnt want an ugly switch on my dash so I had it zip-tied up under the dash. If you find it try switching it, it may be turned off.

 

[Donner]

http://www.viper.com/Products/GPSTracking.aspx

Anything like this?

 

[Fathawk]

Tried the remote as soon as I got home and it did nothing. Held the blue key button for a second and the horn beeps and 2-3 seconds later the engine turns over...cool.

So it is a remote start. Later that evening my step-son finds, buried deep in the owners manual folder thing, a window sticker which looks to be the original. Added to the options is "Dealer installed Ford Remote Start".

Double cool, it's OEM, as long as it lasts longer than the 5r55W, we'll be all good.

 

[Curtis]

Tried the remote as soon as I got home and it did nothing. Held the blue key button for a second and the horn beeps and 2-3 seconds later the engine turns over...cool.

So it is a remote start. Later that evening my step-son finds, buried deep in the owners manual folder thing, a window sticker which looks to be the original. Added to the options is "Dealer installed Ford Remote Start".

Double cool, it's OEM, as long as it lasts longer than the 5r55W, we'll be all good.

Im envious !