I originally thought it had something to do with the trailer brakes, but now I don't think so... I did some research and found the available factory plug under the dash for a trailer brake controller. (Grey factory plug can be seen on the right in my last photo) So if nothing is plugged in there than what is this thing? It only has that "tested" sticker, no brand name or part numbers. There are 3 wires going into it and that's it, on the front is 6 openings but no contacts for any sort of plug. I also was unable to follow the wires as they run through everything else under the column so maybe a pro or factory install? I'm completely at a loss as to what it could be :/

 

Maybe part of an aftermarket alarm or remote start? Just a guess.

 

Pry the cover off. My guess is an alarm.

 

I'll try to pop it open tomorrow but would an aftermarket alarm work alongside the factory alarm? I bought an oem key dongle and programmed it to unlock the truck using the oem method of turning the key in the ignition x many times etc

 

Unless someone with that same device chimes in, the only way to know for sure what it is/does is to trace the wires from it to see where they are connecting to.

 

I remember seeing something similar to this on this forum a while back. It turned out to be some sort of testing / diagnostic device the factory uses when building the truck and it just got left on there.

Not saying that's DEFINITELY what this is, but that's what theirs was.

 

From the one photo, it appears it was mounted (with screws??) at the lower end of the panel, so I doubt the factory would have done that.

 

Its a security device. Years ago I worked at a car dealership where we installed them. It takes a special "key" which completes the start circuit. To disable it you just splice the original wires back together or install a shunt, which was basically just the key with no grip. The ones we installed had 5 pins. Two of them were the circuit and the rest went to ground. If you unsuccessfully tried to jumper around the device you'd blow a fuse and then the car couldn't start unless you jumped it at the starter.

 

Seems easy enough to defeat