Hi All, Looking at a 2007 prius, looks in great shape except I am baffled by something, underneath the hood right near the hood latch there is this stuff that looks like dirt but it's finer and in a small area, almost looks like brown powder, the dealer is baffled as to what it is but has a smell to it, my best guess is dust or dirt that went through the radiator and was shot out, but then again i'm not mechanic. Any ideas? You have to put your finger under the hood to feel it sitting there, there isn't much of it, I might be paranoid also, but I wonder what it could be. I also had one other question, does the prius come with one keyfob or two, what is the cost of each one and that associated programming. Thanks, Greg
Can't help you with the dust. The car comes with 2 fobs. Replacing & programming one can be expensive. I wouldn't buy a car that doesn't have all the keys.
Oh a non SKS key fob can be got on ebay often and you can use this; http://priuschat.com/forums/knowled...lly-how-program-non-sks-key-fob-detailed.html to set it up on your car. I have done it! I wonder if it works with a SKS system too?
I'm not much of a mechanic, but after going thru some radiator problems (on a previous car), I would think any outgassing or escaped fluid from the radiator would be greenish in color and would appear to be more like a dried liquid or oily substance. My guess is road dirt/grime sticking to the grease in the latch and then falling off. Have you looked up at the latch part after lifting up the hood? Is the car dusty in other areas (driven on dusty roads possibly)? (I believe red dirt roads aren't too uncommon in the far south).
My brother said it might be rubbing compound possibly, it is brown, but does rubbing compound turn to powder when it is buffed?
