potential flood damage?

Glad I stumbled on this thread. I don't drive my car in the rain or winters but still should have those plugs put where they were designed for. I'll wait to find the answer as I wouldn't want some greasy mechanic sitting in my car let alone jacking it up.

Mike

 

We paid cash & therefore didn't bother with comprehensive insurance...ah, yes! We did replace the padding & carpet...wasn't cheap! The main thing is to get the carpet up to dry out as it is rubber backed and therefore the pad remains moist & no powder, chemical or ozone can get to it.

 

Those plugs go on the rails at the rear wheel wells. Those rails are enclosed and the rcavity doesn't penetrate into the floor pan or passenger compartment. Installation is necessary to prevent water and road salt from getting inside the rails and rusting out the area.

Not one poster has mentioned the large opening in the floor pan of all Prius models. This opening is for the exhaust of the HV battery pack cooling fan. That's got to be exactly where the water came in.

So, that opening means that one should never drive a Prius into water deeper than a couple of inches.

 

Hey Mike could you be more specific on the location of the holes as I found my plugs in the glove comp too when I took delivery.

 

Just look under the car behind the rear wheel, You'll see an oval hole in each rail. Just snap the plugs in. The holes were for the hooks that tied the car down on the drive on-drive off deck of the car transporter ship. I recall inspecting one of these ships for the Government in 1992 at the Sparrows Point Shipyard in Baltimore Harbor.

 

I read some of these posts before I recently purchased my first Prius, an 05 model. And to my surprise, what do I find in the glove box but these plugs still in the original clear plastic bag. I'll be glad to find out where they go.

 

The holes are easy to find. My dad's 2003 Corolla was missing them. I got a pair from his dealer and shoved them in in 10 minutes.

 

Rubber plug locations

http://www.vfaq.net/docs/TSBs/PD016-03.pdf

Page 19.