Charred Mystery Component.

[numquamsine]

Hi there. New guy here with a really specific question.

A charred component was pulled off of the car after it was extinguished.

The component was found with small flames, smoke, and sparking. It was discovered 2 hours after car had been turned off.

The component was found hanging by the wires.

The component was located on the underside of the car, adjacent to the left rear wheel.

My car is a 2001 Lexus RX300.

My question: What is it?

It rained pretty heavily today and the car was driven though it.

I'm thinking this might just be a simple case of "electrics+water=death".

If anyone can tell me what it is, can we also discuss what other components are probably damaged as a result of the short?

If I had to guess I'd say it's a towing relay of some sort, but I don't know much at all about this car.

Mods/Admin: I've already searched extensively, both on this website and on others. I'm not a noob when it comes to car forums. I'm just a noob with Toyota/Lexus.

Pics attached.

Thanks for any help!

[MrLatifa]

Coil perhaps? feel like im on a gameshow. What color are the wires EXACTLY? One could look thru the schematics and see, but it would be easier to look at the engine bay I would think... Where it came from (exactly), would be invaluable at this point.

[numquamsine]

My original post: "The component was located on the underside of the car, adjacent to the left rear wheel."

To elaborate, it was found hanging by the wires off of the undercarriage of the car, adjacent to the left rear wheel well and the gas tank.

The fact that it was just hanging there is weird. I would expect that if it were secured by some sort of bolt-on bracket there would be remnants of that left on the component. This fact makes me think this piece was not OEM. My biggest question is "what is an electronic component doing on the rear side of undercarriage of the car with no real indication of permanent installation.

curiouser and curiouser. haha

any other input?

thanks MrLatifa

[lenore]

that is weird, do you suppose it was road debris that kicked up and got caught on the undercarriage.?

[numquamsine]

It was wired into the car. Like I posted in the original post, it had rained a lot that day, so it may be that the component became saturated and shorted and caught fire.

[jaswood]

It was wired into the car. Like I posted in the original post, it had rained a lot that day, so it may be that the component became saturated and shorted and caught fire.

As a general rule rain, wet, does not result in "shorts" for 12 volt sources. Salt-water SOAKING, maybe.

[numquamsine]

It was wired into the car. Like I posted in the original post, it had rained a lot that day, so it may be that the component became saturated and shorted and caught fire.

As a general rule rain, wet, does not result in "shorts" for 12 volt sources. Salt-water SOAKING, maybe.

Thank you for the reminder. Yes, at that voltage, there is probably not enough electrolyte in rainwater to cause anything to short. Especially if the circuit is fuse protected. So yes, as a general rule, cars don't catch on fire for reasons like this.

I would like to thank everyone for their input so far.

Now, has anyone worked on the undercarriage of an early 2000s RX300?

[jaswood]

It was wired into the car. Like I posted in the original post, it had rained a lot that day, so it may be that the component became saturated and shorted and caught fire.

As a general rule rain, wet, does not result in "shorts" for 12 volt sources. Salt-water SOAKING, maybe.

Thank you for the reminder. Yes, at that voltage, there is probably not enough electrolyte in rainwater to cause anything to short. Especially if the circuit is fuse protected. So yes, as a general rule, cars don't catch on fire for reasons like this.

I would like to thank everyone for their input so far.

Now, has anyone worked on the undercarriage of an early 2000s RX300?

Yes, 2000 and 2001, 2001 still sitting outside in the driveway, but I don't remember seeing anything like your pictures. I'm going with some sort towing module.

[lemon]

Looks like the charcoal canister for the emissions control (or if not the canister, the leak detection pump, also for the emissions control system). Aside from the electrical wiring, were there tubes running from this thing. It looks like it in the picture.