50 desoto-mystery button

[50desotocoupe]

Question for the experts.  There is a button underneath the dash of my Desoto just to the left of the ignition switch.  What exactly is it for? 

[Don Coatney]

Be nice if it were an orgasmatron  button but without a photo it will be impossible to tell.

[50desotocoupe]

Duh, sorry.  I thought I attached it.  Here it is.  The round circle next to the "Lite".  Is it aftermarket I wonder?  I suspect it isn't as nothing on this car has been messed with.

[DonaldSmith]

Horn button?  Has anything been done to the steering column?  Do the horns work?

Can you trace where the wiring to the button comes from?   

[50desotocoupe]

From what I can see everything is all original.  Horn works from the button on the wheel, key works.  don't see anything electrically that has been hacked.  heck, it is even has the heat shield over the fuel pump.....

[Don Coatney]

If you push it what happens?

[DJ194950]

Time to play Rubberman and trace wiring if still hooked up?

 

DJ

[LAKOTA169]

How about a windshield washer?

[Plymouthy Adams]

LAKOTA169, on 26 Oct 2014 - 8:41 PM, said:

How about a windshield washer?

bingo....looks like the one that was installed on my Ply Suburban

[Oldguy48]

Be nice if it were an orgasmatron  button but without a photo it will be impossible to tell.

Would that have been a dealer installed accessory??? Just wondering.

[Jerry Roberts]

Would that have been a dealer installed accessory??? Just wondering.

For sure they would have charged extra for that . 

[BobT-47P15]

Would that car have an electric pump for the windshield washer?   

 

The 40s cars had a foot operated air pump with a bulb you had to step on......shown as part of

the Jiffy Jet brand washer.  

 

[50desotocoupe]

Thank you for all the responses.  I hit the button and hear nothing.  I need to limber up to get under the dash and see where the wires lead.  I think there is a foot pump for the windshield washer but honestly I can't remember.  Not that it is back on the road after the new interior, disc brake and multiple other small tweaks.  Now I am driving around my neighborhood putting trust miles on the old gal. 

[martybose]

Another possibility is a release for an electric gas cap.  That is the recommended location for the button when I installed the kit on my car.

 

Marty

[Dodgeb4ya]

That button should have two 1/4" vacuum hoses connected to it and will lead to the engine compartment to the engine and washer bottle.The washer bottle- probably an anco is vacuum operated.

[jhm1mc13]

Electric gas cap would be my guess.   I had one on my P-15 dealer installed in 1948.

 

Jim M

[Dodgeb4ya]

Electric gas cap has a 1/4" black push button as I recall.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Some pics of factory installed washer buttons on a couple of my cars and electric gas cap button......

[50desotocoupe]

Very cool, thank you.  I will look at it this weekend. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

As I said earlier I have that switch and nozzles on the wagon when I got it..the actual jets are missing from the nozzles and thus not slated to go back on the car at this time..I also believe that stock location for a Mopar gas door switch is right of the steering column and very low..that is its location on my Town Sedan and looks like the one posted by DodgeB4ya

[50desotocoupe]

I looked last night, at first pushing the button did nothing.  After the car ran for a little bit I could hear a "whoosh" when I pushed the button....It is for the washer bottle.  Thanks again for all the insight into this! 

[greg g]

Need to build vacuum before it operates?