The fun never ends with my new Mondial! While searching for my front hood release I found this rheostat below and to the left of the steering wheel. When I rotate it all the way, a red indicator briefly lights up on the lower left portion of the dash panel below the fog light switch. This location is listed in the owner's manual as "available for switch." I think it may be some kind of stealth radar detector installed by the PO. If that is true, it seems like it still may work OK. I have not had a chance to take it out on the road and test it yet. I will let you know when I do and if it still works. Anyone have any other ideas on what this could be? Alden Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My car has the same red light for alarm in the same place, but no Rheostat like yours. I think its an aftermarket Rheostat that the PO installed on your car might be for motion sensitivity alarm device.
Bumping this for anyone who missed it the first time. I think it is a remote radar detector due to the audio "squawk" it makes for a second or so when I turn the rheostat all the way up, but I need to take it out with my plug in detector installed and find a cop who is "taking pictures" as we used to say on the CB radio back in the stone age. I will let you know what happens. Alden
Turns out it is a hidden radar detector, probably installed in the late 80's or early 90's. Only picks up K and Ka as far as I can tell, but there are not a lot of cops in my area so I will have to wait to find out for sure. Picks up the automatic door opener microwaves at Wally World very well though! Alden
When it "squawks", does the red light go on? That would be a sign of a radar detector install. As to hidden, I recently found one in my wife's vehicle after 4 years of ownership! Found a little remote marked "calibre". Sure enough, it toggled on and off a detector with front and rear antennae that had been off. She doesn't use it, and on long trips, I take the V1 with remote. But for around town, I guess it is Ok. A prior owner of my car did have a K40 installed, didn't measure up very well against the much newer V1. He did have a nice on/off switch, but I removed all that and now run V1 with the remote in the ashtray. Regards, Jerry
Yes, it does squawk when the red light goes on, unless you turn the rheostat all the way, then you only get the red light. This must be the "audio mute" mode. I have not done an extensive search for the sensor(s) yet. Probably mounted somewhere in or near the front grill I would think. Rear? I don't know about that. In the late 80's we were happy to know what was in front of us, I don't think rear sensing detectors came along until later. But I will look and report what I find. This car is just so cool, it never ends, lol! Alden
I found the remote mounted radar detector receiver hidden behind the grill on the front of my Mondial. Looks like it is wrapped in water proof duct tape or something similar. And it still works! Alden Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
