It's a seal that's supposed to be installed somewhere under the car. I found two of those in a plastic bag in the lower glove box.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Dec 29 2006, 08:05 PM) [snapback]368442[/snapback]</div> Search for the new owners checklist. It's a plug that goes into the fram back near the rear door. The checklist has a better description of where.
I found the checklist and there's an image of a similar plug but it's rubber and not plastic and it appears more circular than oval, but it does go under the car.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bugmenot @ Dec 29 2006, 06:12 PM) [snapback]368419[/snapback]</div> Looks *exactly* like the solid plastic "grommet" that our child seats' belts use between belt and seat.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bugmenot @ Dec 29 2006, 10:57 PM) [snapback]368479[/snapback]</div> No, it's definitely not that rubber seal. Now as to what it is ... I suppose if you can't find a hole anywhere that it would fit, then I wouldn't worry about it. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Display Name @ Dec 29 2006, 10:58 PM) [snapback]368480[/snapback]</div> It does look like some sort of a piece of trim for a seat belt, doesn't it?
I'm not sure if it's for the seat belt since my interior is gray and I don't see any similar black trim parts. It's just one piece and it looks like it's been pryed a bit.
I can't tell from the picture how large the part is. If you happen to have 1,200 thread count sheets that you photographed that item on, then that part could be quite small, which would make a difference in what hole to hunt for. On the other hand, if you happened to take that picture on a bed at Motel 6, then... well, you get the idea. It would help to have a sense of scale. What are the dimensions?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Dec 30 2006, 09:12 AM) [snapback]368567[/snapback]</div> Yes, except this is not one of those.
I feel like I am part of Ask This Old Prius. Is what I see on the surface instructional pictorial markings? Might be a clue to its purpose.
It is probably a part from another car that the robots that build these cars were throwing at each other because they were bored.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bugmenot @ Dec 30 2006, 06:18 PM) [snapback]368782[/snapback]</div> That pretty much settles the size issue. It is not the plug. Where did you find it? In the bad old days when I worked on the assembly line for FoMoCo if we dropped something into the car during assembly it did not always get picked up. We would reach in the bin and grab another. Speed was key. I will go back out to look again! I love a mystery!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bugmenot @ Dec 30 2006, 11:56 PM) [snapback]368821[/snapback]</div> Somebody found it and stuck it there. Possibly could have been done at the shop and forgotten, who knows. By door holder I'm assuming you're referring to the interior door handle. Have you interviewed the passengers (assuming it was adjacent to a passenger seat)? Family members like to stick things in the door handle.
