Jim Chambers

Still exploring my new car (OK, I've had it 6 weeks already!). Pulled back the passenger carpet and found no toe board over the electricals. Stewed about that for a week or so, then pulled the entire carpet piece out to discover that the toe board was flat on the floor under the carpet and had a black box screwed to it. Box has two coax type cables and what looks like a multi-pin computer cable. Box is branded NEC.
Further looking about finds another black metalic device strapped to the steering column under the dash (Pic 4). Also branded NEC.
Pics attached. What is this stuff? Alarm? Phone gear? Left over audio components (I think the car once had a monster audio system).

I really want to eliminate it all but there's lots of cable going who knows where so would like to know a bit more before getting myself in trouble.

lawndart

old cell phone, the part on the column is the speaker.

John Speake

Coax cables suggest mobile 'phone gear.

jayc67

The A5M3W device is an old analog cell phone transceiver amplifier. The computer cable thing would have gone to the actual handset unit.

Jim Chambers

Thanks all. Sounds like I can eliminate it all without fear of creating a problem.

IcemanG17

it never hurts to ask 1st before ripping stuff out and wondering why the car doesn't run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

86'928S MeteorGrey

It's sad how many center consoles and arm rests have holes drilled in them from the old cell phones. I guess back in the day if you could afford one of these cars, the extra for a mobile phone was just chicken scratch... I just wish they could have used double sided tape.... Has anybody found a use for this old junk, or is it pretty much just landfil material?

Jim Chambers

I have 8 or more small holes in the carpeted fiber board trim on the right side of the console where the hand piece holder once was. At least the armrest and hard plastic of the console was spared.

jayc67

And to think a lot of that was done on brand new cars. Drop today's equivalent of $110,000 on a car and have the dealer drill it full of holes.

Insane.