GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

i've been wondering this since i got my vibe (about a week ago)...what option uses that 'third' button on the dash below the A/C and recirculate buttons?it reminds me of the 'space' that was in many VW golfs around that spot which was used in my K2 for the heated seats.

I used my labelmaker and put "EJECTION SEAT" on mine for those pesky people!

My guess would be that it would be used if the navigation system was there, but I am not sure because I have never seen the Nav system. But that is just my guess.

Quote, originally posted by redlava »My guess would be that it would be used if the navigation system was there, but I am not sure because I have never seen the Nav system. But that is just my guess.Nope... I've got the nav system, and the third button is STILL a dummy.And I don't think the recirculate setting of the A/C does JACK SQUAT for fuel economy. I think it just improves cooling. You may be thinking of jet airliners, where reciculating cabin air somehow DOES improve fuel economy.

wish i had thought of that

Quote, originally posted by adventurer »I used my labelmaker and put "EJECTION SEAT" on mine for those pesky people! Dude that's brilliant!

I know on the left hand side they have a botton for the tire pressure sensor on the '05.

THe Voltz has a different switch module that uses the third button,. Also, it looks like in the 05 matrix, they are going with a more Voltz-like center console, and won't have the dummy third button either. Not sure why there is a dummy third button, since there is no configuration that uses that Vibe center console trim piece with a functional third button. At one point I would have spent money to get a switch module out of a Voltz to make the third button do something, but not anymore.I attribute it to the same guy who labelled the stock radio button "CD/AUX", when we've come to find out that there is no way to use the "AUX" button (at least on the 03s and 04s). It is a subtle marketing ploy. You see the possibility for something you don't have, and are more likley to buy more options the next time so you don't get the feeling that you are missing something. Cursed psychomarketers in the design cycle again

Okay...looks like a dummy button. Smells like a dummy button... but what's up with the cable attached to the rear of the button? What's that for?

it is not a dummy button, it is a mount point for the recirc auto off cable. when you have the a/c on recirc and switch to defrost that cable pushes the recirc button back out turning it off.

I'm pissed. There was an auction on ebay for a complete bezel kit supposedly ffrom an 03/04 Matrix, but it must have been from an 05 because the part around the radio is like the new trix, but the auction went for more than I was willing to pay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...S%3A2

Huh... so from the pic it looks like the Matrix used the top button for rear defrost and pushed down the A/C and Recirc buttons to 2 and 3.Looks like they also added a clock where the rear defrost used to be. I think I remember hearing that Toyota also gave up the Delphi radio head units and went with something else? Must be it doesn't have a clock, else it seems silly to include one in the bezel.

Looked in a Matrix once and it was occupied by either the Rear window defogger or the hazzard button, I dont remember which. There was also a clock where the Vibes passenger seat belt light is.

Doesn't Toyota use Alpine head units? That's probably the reason for the other clock -- because the head unit's display is used for so much other stuff, and I think the clock is optional.

I think it's the rear window defogger that is moved to the third button.On a base matrix, things like air conditioning and power mirrors are optional, maybe putting a clock in the dash lets them make a radio optional.

The new Matrix Center Dash:Got the attached pic fromhttp://www.toyota.com/vehicles....html

Attached files

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »The new Matrix Center Dash:Looks like a mirror image of the Voltz.

I believe they use JVC

I'm going to try to move my odometer button over to that third position. The one below the instrument panel is hard to use quickly... Not quite as brilliant a use as the "Ejection Seat" function, which is easily my favorite proposal for the dummy switch

Quote, originally posted by CompSci8 »I'm going to try to move my odometer button over to that third position. The one below the instrument panel is hard to use quickly... Not quite as brilliant a use as the "Ejection Seat" function, which is easily my favorite proposal for the dummy switch I'm not sure if you realize this or not, but the third button is not just "empty." There's gadgetry behind it which causes your recirculation button to deactivate (if activated) when switching the fan mode to either defrost setting.As you can see in this picture, this button is by no means a button.Right at the top of the picture you see some white with a round black cable protruding. That's your recirculate deactivation cable, and the stuff that makes the button pop out.

I believe Pontiac just put the recirc. shut down cable there because the Vibe and Matrix are so much a like that they are almost going off the same plans but, that they cant do everything the same so toyota did what they did with the " third button " And Pontiac did some thing different so they wouldnt be exactly alike after all they are pushing it on that one.