Snake might be overkill, but maybe if you want to see it in place. You can get to the spike pretty easy by removing the plastic panel then pulling the two clusters of 3 bolts that hold the steel bracket that supports the panel. I think they take an 8mm socket.
Now I'm going completely off-topic, but I had to mention Cherpumple:
"A cherpumple is a holiday novelty dessert inspired by Turducken, where several different flavor pies are baked inside of several different flavors of cake, and then stacked together."
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YoTerryH
2001 Ford Econoline E250
GTRV camper conversion
Snake might be overkill, but maybe if you want to see it in place. You can get to the spike pretty easy by removing the plastic panel then pulling the two clusters of 3 bolts that hold the steel bracket that supports the panel. I think they take an 8mm socket.
I would use the snake camera to see what or how the part interfaces with all the lower dash trim pieces in place. I tend to run with nearly everything removed anyway and can say there's not much to see.
So the elusive part still is goes unidentified and its use/purpose equally mysterious.
From the photos I agree its part of the driver knee crumple zone. An expensive waste of a welded part number....so from my couch... I'd even guess it was added as a last minute solution to failures during crash testing.
It also may serve as a vehicle disable "switch " as it pierces through the wiring harness during a heavy hit.
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GTRV Ford Econoline 250 - 2006 - 5.4l