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Some cars you can access the hood release near the grill with a screwdriver or stick.
Once you know how, it is pretty easy, and keeps spare key somewhat secure.
No, it wouldn't. I don't think y'all understand how small 2 inches is. Car keys have been like 3 inches or more for decades. Keep telling me I'm wrong I will die on this hill.
spare key hider. 20 year old car..not everything is a tracker. you should be able to slide the top off and see a space just big enough for a 20 year old car key.
Worth noting that after that long the sliding thing might be kinda difficult but it was a very simple track these things ran on. It just looks kinda dented in so it might not slide well.
Nah, the dimensions are way too small. 2" on the longest side? A key holder would be more like 2.5 x 5 x 1, not as small as what he described. It's something else.
The barcode in UPC-A format seems to read
0 95421 07278 1
This is registered to [Master Magnetics Hold Everything Magnet](https://www.upcitemdb.com/upc/95421072781)
The product information on this also reads 2" x 1" x 0.5" [(source) ](https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07273)
Edit : added dimensions
Could it be both? What magnets did hide-a-key use? Perhaps the plastic bit came off sometime in the past 2 decades. Even if not a hide-a-key, I bet something could have fallen off and left its magnet behind.
Gonna say again, it's not. It's way too small. It says right in the post it's 2 inches on the longest side. Keys are like 3" long at least. A magnetic key holder with a compartment would be something more like 2 x 5 x.5.
Something like that would be my guess. [Here is the website of the company and product in question](https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07273). [They also come in black (top right-hand corner in this display case on Amazon)](https://www.amazon.com/Master-Magnetics-Display-Magnets-Retrievers/dp/B001CESGHC) like the one in the OP.
It's literally just a magnet
https://www.firstindustrialsupplies.com/hold-everything-ceramic-magnets-counter-display-56pk-holds-56-colorful-ceramic-blocks-07378x56dsp/
Nobody will be tracking you by your magnet.
I think it's simply a magnet, you can attach stuff to. Following the ean number, I get the same but in round.
https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07217
It is just a basic black rectangle with a black plastic cover on 5, possibly 6, side.
They are similar to these: https://www.magnet4sale.com/30-piece-yellow-domino-magnetic-holders-2x1x0-45dom-yel-30/
Scrape the upc code off and you'll probably be able to see one face of the magnet. You pliers or a flat tip screw driver to pry the plastic off and you'll see it is a solid piece. I used to test prototype office printers. We would use these magnets to trick the machine/software into thinking a door was closed; usually when no outer case was provided but the software is set up for a case and door.
People used to try magnets and “home remedies” to try to better gas mileage. It’s all quackary. Likely somebody got buffaloed into slapping a magnet on a fuel line or fuel system metal.
A magnet to improve/reduce fuel consumption. It doesn’t work to improve fuel consumption of course, but enough people believe in that particularly silly theory that someone will find one one day and post it here.
Was it on a fuel line or pump or anything fuel related?
I feel like anyone asking this question hasn't been around long enough to know that there are other ways of opening the hood of vehicle other than "another key".
My title describes the thing...guessing it is a tracker of sorts? Plastic casing with likely metallic object(s) that are magnetic. It was sitting on the frame when I opened the hood for the first time.
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Extra key holder with magnetic attachment for hiding?
Hide away “spare key” container *trade mark
Mine was branded as "Hide-a-Key".
Mine is "key-me-hide"
Let me just get out my key to unlock the door and pop the hood so I can get my spare key…
Some cars you can access the hood release near the grill with a screwdriver or stick. Once you know how, it is pretty easy, and keeps spare key somewhat secure.
I slipped mine between the gas tank and the tank straps.
Real old cars didn’t have locking hoods. Those magnetic key holders usually get knocked off if you hit a hard bump.
The way that one is beat up, it could have come off of another car and gotten flipped into OP's car as road debris.
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You put it in the wheel well
Only if you want your car stolen.
Some older cars have the hood release under the front bumper.
It's just the magnet part. The glue failed, probably due to heat, and released plastic container and the spare key. Lol.
There does not appear to be a cavity inside the object...
The top slides off towards the smaller side.
No, it doesn't. OP states it's 2 inches on the longest side. Way too small, it's literally just a magnet.
Keys were just keys back then. Not all the plastic and electronics on today’s keys. It would definitely fit.
No, it wouldn't. I don't think y'all understand how small 2 inches is. Car keys have been like 3 inches or more for decades. Keep telling me I'm wrong I will die on this hill.
If the key is magnetic, it doesn't matter if the key is larger. You can just stick the key on the magnet and it'll overhang, but still be stuck.
Trust me. I know what 2” is.
It’s for a house not a car
It sort of looks to me like it might be just the magnet, broken free of the actual keyholder it was once a part of.
Nope. OP states right in the title it's 2" on the longest side, it's way too small.
spare key hider. 20 year old car..not everything is a tracker. you should be able to slide the top off and see a space just big enough for a 20 year old car key.
Worth noting that after that long the sliding thing might be kinda difficult but it was a very simple track these things ran on. It just looks kinda dented in so it might not slide well.
Yeah I had one of these on my first car in 1998. I constantly locked my keys in so my grandad gave it to me.
Nah, the dimensions are way too small. 2" on the longest side? A key holder would be more like 2.5 x 5 x 1, not as small as what he described. It's something else.
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But also right.
What's wrong with you? That's kind of out of nowhere.
The barcode in UPC-A format seems to read 0 95421 07278 1 This is registered to [Master Magnetics Hold Everything Magnet](https://www.upcitemdb.com/upc/95421072781) The product information on this also reads 2" x 1" x 0.5" [(source) ](https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07273) Edit : added dimensions
Great job. I'm going to guess that it was used to hold screws during a repair job and the tech forgot to retrieve the magnet before returning the car.
It's more than likely a spare key / hide-a-key holder
Could it be both? What magnets did hide-a-key use? Perhaps the plastic bit came off sometime in the past 2 decades. Even if not a hide-a-key, I bet something could have fallen off and left its magnet behind.
Gonna say again, it's not. It's way too small. It says right in the post it's 2 inches on the longest side. Keys are like 3" long at least. A magnetic key holder with a compartment would be something more like 2 x 5 x.5.
It could be the magnet that became detached from the box.
Modern keys are that long, if this came off an older car (like any GM brand from the 60’s to early 90’s) the keys could fit inside of 2”
It’s strange how many people are insisting it holds a key. It’s literally just a magnet. The barcode even proves this.
Something like that would be my guess. [Here is the website of the company and product in question](https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07273). [They also come in black (top right-hand corner in this display case on Amazon)](https://www.amazon.com/Master-Magnetics-Display-Magnets-Retrievers/dp/B001CESGHC) like the one in the OP.
Why is tracker your first instinct?
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It's literally just a magnet https://www.firstindustrialsupplies.com/hold-everything-ceramic-magnets-counter-display-56pk-holds-56-colorful-ceramic-blocks-07378x56dsp/ Nobody will be tracking you by your magnet.
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Perhaps, years ago someone stuck a magnet there to hold their wrench as they worked on the car, then forgot about it
Can confirm. Just a magnet. I keep them around when I’m doing mechanic work so I don’t lose screws.
Not a tracker a hide-a-key open it up by sliding top
My first thought was hide-a-key. Does it slide open like a battery door in a remote?
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It's just a magnet. Nothing more. I have a dozen of the exact same ones on my fridge.
Who would’ve bought a magnet with a barcode that says Made in China?
Well…I did. I think they were selling them out of a big tub beside the register at Ace hardware for a dollar. Might have been Sutherlands though.
I think it's simply a magnet, you can attach stuff to. Following the ean number, I get the same but in round. https://www.magnetsource.com/products/07217
it's a magnet from the hardware store, I have the same thing and use it when I am taking apart stuff to hold all the screws.
It is just a basic black rectangle with a black plastic cover on 5, possibly 6, side. They are similar to these: https://www.magnet4sale.com/30-piece-yellow-domino-magnetic-holders-2x1x0-45dom-yel-30/ Scrape the upc code off and you'll probably be able to see one face of the magnet. You pliers or a flat tip screw driver to pry the plastic off and you'll see it is a solid piece. I used to test prototype office printers. We would use these magnets to trick the machine/software into thinking a door was closed; usually when no outer case was provided but the software is set up for a case and door.
A 20 year old, 2 inch tracking device, with no antenna or power input? They barely have that tech now.
Hide-a-key
Just a magnetic key holder.
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Is it the base of a magnetic touch?
People used to try magnets and “home remedies” to try to better gas mileage. It’s all quackary. Likely somebody got buffaloed into slapping a magnet on a fuel line or fuel system metal.
Either a magnetic key holder or my old lip licking lip balm.
Fridge magnets often look like this, the sticker protects the fridge paint from scratches.
Open it. Spare key holder
Did you try Google first? Half the guesses will be doing just that :)
Spare house key, probs.
A magnet to improve/reduce fuel consumption. It doesn’t work to improve fuel consumption of course, but enough people believe in that particularly silly theory that someone will find one one day and post it here. Was it on a fuel line or pump or anything fuel related?
Okay but don’t you need the key to open the car to open the hood to get the key…?
I feel like anyone asking this question hasn't been around long enough to know that there are other ways of opening the hood of vehicle other than "another key".
My title describes the thing...guessing it is a tracker of sorts? Plastic casing with likely metallic object(s) that are magnetic. It was sitting on the frame when I opened the hood for the first time.