While doing some cleaning in the interior, I pulled the cup holder out, revealing a small cover screwed into the console. Of course curiosity arises, and out comes the Torx wrench. Under that cover is a red fabric loop handle, that attaches to what I do not know. Any idea what this is?

 

Don't have the 5.0, but if I had to guess, it would be an emergency release to get the car out of 'Park' if the battery were dead, so the car could be towed.

 

If you need to move the car and the engine is either dead or cannot be started for one reason or another, and the car is in either Drive or Park, this is used to manually put the car in Neutral.
Regards,

 

Nice to know! Thanks

 

Ejector seat? :- 0

 

beat me to it

I would assume it is the EPR. From my 2010 manual:

 

That is correct, it is the tranny release to put the car in neutral when dead.

Mine doesn't have the screw (previous owner must have had use of that option) in the hatch and I left it that way, if I need to get to the release strap at some point I don't need a tool. I also let the Wife know that it is there so that if the car dies when she is in it and needs a tow she will be able to inform the driver.

 

It's the Shift Lock!

 

I was hoping it was an ejector seat release! But that is good to know, and now I remember seeing that section in the manuel.

 

DON"T PULL IT! You'll be ejected.......

 

Nah... That's the passenger ejector cord, and you let the passenger do it, kind of like telling 'em "Pull my finger".


Another cool option would be if that was the 'Emergency parachute rip cord', you know, for those times when you need a little extra help getting those 500+ ponies under control.

 

Well if we're going there, I want missile launchers behind the headlights. Machine Guns at a minimum.