1999 Camry: Weird thingy on the dash and other questions

[spacedoggy]

I just got a 1999 Camry XLE V6 in great shape with only 83K miles. I've been noticing some quirks about it, and also some nice upgrades from my earlier car, a 1995 Camry XLE V6. So far the mileage seems to be better on the '99, even though they are both rated the same (20city/28hwy). Also, everything feels a little better designed and more solid. It's a great car.

So I have a whole bunch of quirks and questions (bear with me):

- On the right side of the dashboard toward the back, on the edge of the long slot where the vent pushes air out to the inside of the windshield, there is a little plastic cylindrical stubby thing, say about the diameter of a quarter and about an inch high. Anyone know what this is?

- How do I know if the car has the optional side air bags? It has the leather package, but I'm not sure if it has any other extras. Also, I know '99 XLEs came with ABS brakes, but was traction control available for this model, and is there a way to tell if it has this as well?

- I *finally* figured out what that square push-button thingy is overhead next to the map light (a garage door opener holder), and I have the original sunglasses holder piece to replace it, since I don't have a garage door opener to worry about. But I can't figure out how to get the damn thing off the hinges so I can replace it with the sunglasses holder. I don't want to force it and break the mechanism. Anyone have experience doing this who can provide some tips?

- Did the '99 XLE V6 come with a factory-installed car alarm? Online specs seem to imply that it does. It has a flashing red light for "security" on the dash display, and a panic button on the key fob, but there is no "chirping" sound when locking and unlocking the car with the key fob (something I was used to with the old Pursuit alarm system that I had installed in my old Honda Accord). I haven't tried holding down the panic button to see what happens, because if there is an alarm I have no clue how to shut it off. What else would cause the alarm to go off? I haven't heard any chirps or any other alarm-like sounds after driving the car for a while, so I suspect that there's either no real alarm or that the sound has been disabled (or I could just have no clue about this type of alarm). If the alarm sounds, how do I turn it off? There's just "lock", "unlock", and "panic" buttons on the key fob.

Thanks in advance for replying to the novel I just wrote.

[Tukkus]

I have a 97 Camry V6 XLE so it should be pretty much the same as yours.

I dont think I have a round thingy that you are talking about so I'm not sure what to say, can you get a pic of it ?

I dont have airbags on my car and I dont think you have them either. If you do, there will be some kind of lettering like what you have on the steering wheel to let you know it's there.

I have traction control on mine and there is a button you can press for it, it should be a black rectangular button next to the steering column on the left hand side. It will say " Traction control" on it if you have it.

Mine has a factory alarm so I assume yours does too, mine also doesn't chirp when I lock it with the remote. In the 7 years I have owned my Camry I have only made the alarm turn on once so I know it works and I believe I used the panic button to turn it off.

[Luc]

If you have the automatic climate control, that domed part is the sensor. As Tukkus said, there would be a "TRAC" panel w/button next to the security panel if your '99 has traction control. If not, then that option wasn't included. The chirping sound was probably turned off, but you can try pressing and holding 1the panic button to test the alarm. If it works, then it's fine, and press and hold the button again to turn off.