strange white substance on carpet in back seat

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bmparent, May 18, 2019.

  1. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    So I've noticed this white powdery stuff around the floor in the back seat. It's been there for a while, I didn't pay much attention because I thought I must have spilled some flour or something (I bake a lot). But I can see not that it's not flour but something more like a mold. The carpet is never wet. It's very fine and powdery almost like what you get around a better terminal when they're corrosion. That's what's coming to mind. Pics attached! IMG_2741.JPG IMG_2742.JPG
     
    #1 bmparent, May 18, 2019
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    58,759
    40,461
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Ever get the interior professionally cleaned? Maybe some solution they used in past, didn't properly extract? Have you owned the car since new?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 18, 2019
  3. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,150
    1,682
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Looks to me a bit like what happens when foam (as in used in seat cushions) starts to breakdown. Looks to be in the right place for it, also.

    Of course, if you -- whoops -- not going to say it. :cautious:
    Kris
     
    #3 cyberpriusII, May 18, 2019
  4. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Never had it professionally cleaned (but it really does need it!) I've had it 5 out of the 12 years it been around.
     
    #4 bmparent, May 18, 2019
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    58,759
    40,461
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Might be some action by the past owner(s) then, hard to say. Think I'd pull the carpet up and check below, especially around this:

    upload_2019-5-18_10-21-23.png

    Looks odd.

    Or, might be that's where aforementioned desintegrating seat cushion is leaking down.

    What does it feel like, what texture? Crystalline, for example? A little foolhardy, but taste it? Then rinse out with copious water, lol.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, May 18, 2019
    landspeed likes this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    112,128
    51,023
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    looks like that effervescence that comes up from my garage floor
     
    #6 bisco, May 18, 2019
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,491
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I suggest you vacuum all debris and see if it returns.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, May 18, 2019
    Montgomery and Mendel Leisk like this.
  8. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    2,254
    2,241
    2
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Whatever it is, it doesn't look safe. Vacuum it up, and like Patrick Wong suggests, see if it returns.
     
    #8 Montgomery, May 18, 2019
  9. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    dude your a genius. How come I didn't think of that! No really, I didn't even.
     
    #9 bmparent, May 18, 2019
  10. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yea, they'll be no taste-testing here.
     
    #10 bmparent, May 18, 2019
    bisco and Mendel Leisk like this.
  11. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2007
    361
    208
    0
    Location:
    NZ
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I would definitely check the interface between that metal bracket, the floor of the car, and the bolt that is holding it in place. In case something electrolytic is going on, as that would be a bad place for corrosion!
     
    #11 landspeed, May 18, 2019
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)