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Topic: Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience? (Read 3547 times) previous topic - next topic

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

So I'm in the middle of putting new carpet and front seats in the Vic and along with the jumble of cut wires and assorted police equipment there's a switch in the driver's floorboard. It looks exactly like a foot operated hi/low beam switch like cars used to have way back when (my stalk-mounted hi/low switch works perfect). It's to the left of the brake pedal, has 2 wires, and 2 screws. I've pushed it but can't figure out if it's doing anything.

Any ideas? Should I cut it out or leave it in? Above or below the carpet?

Thanks!

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #1 –
My '38 has that I love it! Of course it's just to the left of the clutch pedal on the floor, so I rest my left foot there and find my self accidentally hitting it a lot :hick:
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #2 –
It could possibly have been used like this:

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5771303-description.html

Brent
:cougarsmily:
1985 Mercury Cougar XR-7 - 5-speed 
One of 1,246 built

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #3 –
It could be a siren tone change switch. We don't install 'em in police cars here, but some siren boxes have provisions for a foot switch that changes the siren tone from "wail" to "yelp" and back, and provide a "squelch burst" (supposed to sound like an air horn) for getting attention when approaching intersections.

A high beam switch should have three wires
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #4 –
iworking at a parts store I can tell you that most floor mounted dimmer switches have 3 wires not 2.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: ipsd;199136
iworking at a parts store I can tell you that most floor mounted dimmer switches have 3 wires not 2.

Keep lookin!
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #6 –
Sounds like Brent or Carm had it right. The wiring went towards the center console area but was hacked off at the end. It's also a momentary switch (it was just crud encased). I threw it in the junk drawer just in case.


In other news, I found a LIVE 12 gauge slug in the passenger footwell under the rubber floor! The local Sheriff's office came out and got it. I've got pics and the story of the new carpet and seats going up in my User's Rides thread in a few minutes...

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #7 –
I've read that emergency vehicles have a hands free radio mic switch on the floor, which would make it safer while driving at higher speeds instead of using a handset radio mic
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
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5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #8 –
paul would know
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #9 –
If it's what I think it is then it's probably been disconnected.  Try this:  With the headlamps on and the car in park press the switch.  Stomp on the brake to do a light check on the brake lights.  Anything?  Now try to put the car in drive.  What happens?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #10 –
It was cut at the other end so it doesn't do anything. Had about 7-8' of wiring going towards the center console.

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #11 –
Yup It's what I thought... PM me if you want to know.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #12 –
my grandpa had 1 put in his nova that went to the batt as a anti car jack and if he was parking in a bad part of town

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #13 –
Not only was that switch used "way back when"

but,,

It is also stock equipment in 1990's vehicles.  ie- 1990 ford bronco.

Foot operated hi/low beam switch? Carm, anybody with cop car experience?

Reply #14 –
When Ford made the body redesign in 92 to the trucks they switched to a stalk dimmer.  Our 91 F150 has the floor dimmer.  I like them.
One 88