1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

mystery box tied into harness behind drivers rear kick panel... anyone?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by sukatoro, Aug 5, 2018.

  1. sukatoro

    sukatoro Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2017
    37
    14
    0
    Location:
    Houston Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    hi everyone, was installing a backup camera today and when removing drivers rear kick panel I found... well I don't know what it is, but looks spliced into the factory harness, and is wired in with a type and gauge of wire seen nowhere else in the car. part of an aftermarket security system, or... do not know. can anyone identify?

    its the black box with grounding hole, no identifying marks on it, no manufacturer name at least.

    mystery box — imgbb.com
     
  2. sukatoro

    sukatoro Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2017
    37
    14
    0
    Location:
    Houston Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    huh, nobody recognizes then? it looks kind of out of place
     
  3. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2010
    1,157
    288
    66
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Is there a blue button with a blue LED that is attached somewhere in that area with one screw? If so, it's a KARR aftermarket system.
     
  4. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Could it be a LoJack transmitter? Call LoJack and give them your VIN and they may be able to confirm.
     
  5. sukatoro

    sukatoro Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2017
    37
    14
    0
    Location:
    Houston Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    no button as far as I was able to spot, so it definitely isnt a factory part of the car then I take it? according to techstream I don't have a security system aside from the factory immobiliser..
     
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,782
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Chill. Millions of people don't see posts here instantly like they might on Twitter.
    Jumping to that conclusion after only 10 hours or so is probably not justified.
    ESPECIALLY when most normal people are ASLEEP during those 10 hours !! :D

    There aren't any markings on it that look like Russian, is there ????
     
  7. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,111
    4,039
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Some people hibernate during the day and not seen this post yet.
     
  8. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2010
    1,157
    288
    66
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It kind of looks like a relay or flasher? I see it has a tiny red reset button on it too. I'd say don't mess with it or it might take down part of the headlight system. Are you the original owner? Has anyone upgraded the headlights or added fog lights?
     
  9. sukatoro

    sukatoro Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2017
    37
    14
    0
    Location:
    Houston Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    sorry for any perceived impatience friends, really wanting to button up the car and not really inclined to leave it in place, getting a better look now, here's a better pic of how it looks the way I found it..:

    IMG 20180806 150708 — imgbb.com
    [​IMG]
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,693
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's probably security, just ignore it.
     
    dubit likes this.
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,782
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    OK, much better picture.
    That looks very much like an inline fuse holder......or maybe a power lead filter/choke.
     
    nekoashide likes this.
  12. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I agree with Sam Spade 2. It appears to be some sort of filter. The wire looks like a coaxial cable or antenna lead for a transceiver.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,662
    38,207
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The perceived impatience is mostly in the eyes of one responder. :rolleyes:
     
  14. nekoashide

    nekoashide Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2013
    25
    8
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's an inline fuse mounted and instead of leaving it hanging they got a mounted one, typically for aftermarket and tied directly into the battery at some point. Have any aftermarket work done? Or maybe if you bought it used they took out the aftermarket stuff and left you with that guy.

    edit: look for signs of a tow hitch
     
  15. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    How many wires go to it?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,597
    3,771
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Looks like an inline ATO fuse holder to me with a pop off top to access said fuse. I assume you're not the original owner and thus guessing about aftermarket items?
     
  17. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,270
    15,068
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    What's the location? I can't really tell from any of the pictures (except it seems to be near a retracted seat belt buckle), and I'm not sure what "driver's rear kick panel" means to you. Is that the left rear seat belt showing, so this thing is maybe on the rear wheelhouse, past the aft edge of the rear door? Is that the rear door switch showing in the photo?

    You might put me down for the noise filter for the rear window defogger. In my Gen 1 it was up in the C pillar closer to the window, but Gen 1 was a sedan. In the liftback it might be in the actual hatch, but I don't know.

    We're all going to keep guessing until somebody whose techinfo subscription is paid up goes and finds it in the wiring diagram (or doesn't, and that would make a stronger case that it's something aftermarket).

    -Chap
     
  18. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    2,325
    1,811
    18
    Location:
    Chicago western burbs
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    +1. Was the car bought used? Was it ever a leased vehicle?
     
  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,782
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    And nasty comments like that are useful to anybody.......how exactly ???

    What I said is absolutely TRUE.
     
  20. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    998
    756
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I think that is the very point Mendel Leisk was trying to make.

    Just because something is true doesn't mean it needs to be said. Also, how something is said is often more important than what is said.