Unknown flashing light device under dash
 

I have this black device about an inch long under my dash. I believe its an alarm system but my alarm has never gone off even if I attempt to touch my car when its locked. I believe the previous owner had it installed but I'd like to know how I can enable/disable it. It has a button on the back but doesn't seem to do anything; it blinks red on the front. Heres some pictures.

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Suggestions?

That's part of the OEM PATS. The explanation below applies to all FOrds that have the system in place.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=234975

I don't think that's OEM. Can you follow the wires?

Actually, it looks like that's the valet switch for an aftermarket alarm. The device in this thread looks similar.

So I read both the threads.. Still not quite sure what its main purpose is used for? Sure, you can activate auto lock. But what is the benefit of this device? I would only consider it beneficial if it activated the alarm upon touch of any kind. Not entirely sure. Thoughts?

I think it allows you to temporarily disable the aftermarket alarm.

That's definitely not OEM. Just look at how it is mounted - across a seam. Trace the wire and see where it goes.

Says the guy with a 2013 mustang.

I have an 08 and it has the IDENTICAL device on it. My wife's 06 Ford Escape also has the IDENTICAL device on it. It's part of the anti-theft system. I haven't looked at my owners manual (not service manual) in years so I don't know if there's any info in it there or not.

OP, take it to the dealer service center to show you how to use it. If it's not OEM (As in from the factory) the Dealer installed it. Both of my vehicles purchased brand new had them.

And I had a 2006 with the factory anti-theft system. That was NOT on my car. The mounting across the seam wouldn't be done at the factory either - they wouldn't do that because the parts move independently and will break or tear through at some point.

It isn't OEM, it might be anti-theft but that is an aftermarket and not a factory issue. The lights for the OEM system are all in the dash. You won't find that one in your owner manual for either your car or your wife's.

To the OP: It is not stock. It must have been aftermarket from the dealer or the previous owner. I had an 06 and I have a 13 and neither of them had anything like it. I currently have an 06 F-150, I had an 02 F-250, an 05 F-150, and an 01 F-150 and none of them had a black box like that. Also the mounting is crappy (across 2 panels as mentioned), part of the plastic is broken (meaning cheap), the plastic is deformed where it was screwed into the dash (meaning no factory hole), and the wires look like they are poorly covered in black tape (whoever installed it was lazy and didn't care how it looked or how easy it would be to change if needed).
I agree that you should follow the wires and see what they hook up to, see if they are spliced off at all as well. If you find a black box with a lot of wires going into it, that could be the brain to an aftermarket alarm, some installers don't mount those to anything, the one in my truck was just hanging under the dash by the wires so you might be able to pull on it and see the box, but don't pull too hard because if it disconnects it could disable the car.
to Derf00: I would go talk to your dealer and figure out what he did to your car and why, and how to use it correctly. It isn't stock no matter how much you insist.

Hope I helped clear up the confusion a little.