So has anybody noticed the little black box under the passenger seat on the frame just under the cushion with the wiring harness running out of it. Who else has this? Is it an amp for the stereo or a CDR for data logging?

 

Our trucks are equipped with data loggers. It supposed to record up to 5 sec after an emergency brake application or sudden hard sharp turns, or if the air bags deploy.

 

I do accident reconstruction and have used recorded crash data in many cases. Most of the time it won't be a "black box", in fact I've never seen a black module, its always been a little silver or aluminum box. They are sometimes located under the passenger seat though.

Oh, in my 2008, it was located in the center tower behind the radio. I totaled that truck and asked a buddy to download the CDR, but I turned the truck over to the insurance company before we could do the download.

BTW any vehicle equipped with airbags has the capability to record crash data. We just don't have the ability to download every manufactures box.

 

If it is what I think you're talking about, it's the power inverter for the 120V AC outlet on the dash.

 

Why would that be under the seat?

 

So we can have that pretty little plug on the dash......

 

I understand what it does, but it has to be behind the dash not under the seat...would be stupid to run it out under the seat next to the jack when there is plenty of room behind the dash.

 

I assume it's for ventilation reasons, but that's definitely it, underneath the passenger seat.

 

There's nothing wrong with it being under the seat, is there? Hasn't bothered me there.

 

From the service manual.





DESCRIPTION

The inverter module is located under the front passenger seat it provides a total of 400 watts of power. The A/C outlet is mounted in the right hand side of the instrument panel center and in the back of the center floor console. The inverter module provides A/C power for user accessories. The inverter converts the 12 Volt DC from the battery system to a 115 Volt AC output.