# What is this? Found under my hood **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [March 23, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085 "2019-03-23T20:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mk.brass\_149852](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Mk.brass\_149852](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mk.brass_149852)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/1 "2019-03-23T20:13:50Z")
Just took my 07 Corolla in to have the starter and fuse relays looked at. Came home and found this laying loose on the passenger side under the hood. What is this and should it be secured to something? There are two holes so I’m assuming it screws to something. Thanks!! ![IMG_20190323_125914](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/e/eeb0310ae7a0ef0d919b0264cc9443361603eeac.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/2 "2019-03-23T21:05:36Z")
😐 It’s been a while since we’ve seen common\_sense\_answer — their last post was in Mar '19. **THANK YA, THANK YA VERY MUCH!** 👏 Looks like an aftermarket accessory, like maybe a remote receiver for fog lights, remote starter, etcetera. See if you can follow the wires and see where they lead you. They possibly go to a relay. You should have inquired while the fuses and relays were being probed. Does the car have fog lights or evidence that it had them or remote start? Perhaps the CIA is recording your every move with that device. _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 P.S. Is that container of black liquid in the photo your brake fluid or clutch fluid? It should be nearly clear liquid. Perhaps it needs changing and some other maintenance done, too. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/3 "2019-03-23T21:09:44Z")
I’m guessing that’s power steering fluid, cap says “ATF”. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/4 "2019-03-23T21:16:35Z")
I suspect a remote disabling device once installed by a Buy Here Pay Here used car dealer. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/5 "2019-03-23T21:20:57Z")
> [@texases](#): > > I’m guessing that’s power steering fluid, cap says “ATF”. I can’t see “ **ATF,** ” but that makes sense because it’s apparently on the passenger side. I never have owned an Asian car and therefore never saw a reservoir like that for P/S. Anyhow, whatever it is, it looks dirty/neglected. _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/6 "2019-03-23T21:41:39Z")
ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid! ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/7 "2019-03-23T22:00:11Z")
> [@Docnick](#): > > ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid! A lot of cars use “Automatic Transmission Fluid” for power steering fluid. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/8 "2019-03-23T23:10:42Z")
It could be some piece of one of the auto-shop’s test instruments. What do the two wires connect to? If they connect on the other end w/ alligator clips, good chance it is something the shop wants returned. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/9 "2019-03-23T23:29:09Z")
That looks like a cheap ballast for an add-on HID headlight however there are only 2 wires shown in the picture, are there more wires? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/10 "2019-03-23T23:49:46Z")
I agree with that; the local Nissan dealer gave me ATF for my wife’s Sentra. ---
**Author:** ![Mk.brass\_149852](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Mk.brass\_149852](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mk.brass_149852)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/11 "2019-03-25T22:43:12Z")
I’ll have to take a closer look. That could definitely be the case. I’ve never noticed this before. ---
**Author:** ![Mk.brass\_149852](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Mk.brass\_149852](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mk.brass_149852)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/12 "2019-03-25T22:45:09Z")
I can’t see any additional wires, only the 2. I have to take a closer look to see where they lead. ---
**Author:** ![Mk.brass\_149852](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Mk.brass\_149852](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mk.brass_149852)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/13 "2019-03-25T22:46:06Z")
The car has a Killswitch that was installed by the dealer. Is it possible this is related? It’s in the neighborhood of the starter. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-found-under-my-hood/137085/14 "2019-03-25T22:53:27Z")
> [@Mk.brass\_149852](#): > > The car has a Killswitch that was installed by the dealer. Is it possible this is related? It’s in the neighborhood of the starter. Very likely it is related, and that is just part of the collateral damage that frequently results from buying a used car from a “buy here pay here” dealer. 🤔