water damage in transmission????

Your state's Insurance Director is a 'next step' for you.


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Red flags all over in this one. Who would install water in tranny? How and why?

 

Was your car ever driven through high water or allowed to sit in high water? That is the only way that I can see of getting water in the transaxle.

I can understand the dealership balking at repair.

 

I think I smell a fish.

 

After being under my car replacing the passenger axle, I don't see how water would get into the transaxle unless you drove through high water or it sat in high water. High water would be submerging just about half of the wheel in water. That is just about the height where the axle fits into the transaxle. Water could seep in from that area.

I can also see why the dealer would balk at this falling under warranty work.

 

So has anyone actually changed the transaxle fluid and took pictures of this 'water'?
What exactly is this "water damage" in the transaxle? How is it quantified? This is weird......

The Prius transaxle does not have an open vent at the top. It has a pressure release valve.
It is not open to the atmosphere. It is spring loaded and only lets air out at high temps.

Water can't get in at the axle shaft seals, just like the ATF can't get out of those seals.

How did you get sold on tires? Return them.

How is the brake system related to any of the other issues? Are there warning lights on when you are just driving?
If you braked hard on a slippery road you will have a different feeling in the brake pedal when ABS is working.
And if you were corning hard on slippery roads you will get traction control and vehicle stability kicking in and flashing warning lights and beeps at you briefly.

You could have an independent shop change the ATF (again?).
Save what comes out. If it had water once there will be traces of it still in there.
You could send off a sample for oil analysis. I'd really recommend this if you are being told your transaxle has "water damage". It costs $15 for an oil analysis kit, postage paid.

 

You are correct to question water in the trans-axle without a sample. However shops in effected areas usually recognize water damage, whatever the source. Two shops in this case. To the OP, was this car purchased new or used, and are you telling us everything?

 

But I was asking 'How exactly is water damage recognized?'. What are the symptoms, tests performed, etc???
Either you drain the ATF and have two separate liquids come out or you don't.

If it had water and the first shop drained and changed the ATF, there is still going to be traces of water in the next drain. And this can be quantified by getting a sample and having an oil analysis done, $15 for the oil analysis and $40 for the ATF and whatever labor an independent shop would charge.

But then the OP is not giving enough details to tell WTH has been performed on his car so far....
Other than to being duped into buying tires to fix a mystery noise.
This is sort of 'fishy'...

OP, I hope you are keeping detailed records.
What is the noise? What exactly makes your car 'freaken useless'?
Take it to every Toyota dealer in your area and ask.
Play nice. Smile. Don't talk too much. Just ask about the noise. Spare them the long story. Bring donuts ???

Good luck !!

 

In the opening statement the OP said: " ok this sucks!! No one is taking the responsibility for the water in my transmission."

He was subsequently told by two shops that there is water damage possibly from a known storm, not stating water in the tranny, just water damage.

The shops actions, reports of water damage, suggestion to file with insurance, unexplained "noise", complete brake failure, implication the Toyota Dealer damaged his car and "no further clarification from the OP" leads me to believe the car was involved in a flood like condition, either known to the OP and/or one that happened prior to purchase....if used.

slaino if wrong, I sincerely apologize right now, but something does not add up.

 

Frodo,

I see what you are saying.. no clarification from the OP.
"Water damage", what/where ? Does the interior smell like low tide?

slaino,

You posted on Friday, ( I missed that ) and haven't responded since then.
What's the deal? If you were making some sort of 'recorded statement', you have lots of responses and no replies.

I hope this wasn't a waste of time and advice.....

Good luck anyway!