Hurricane Harvey flood question (pics uploaded)

You really need to get the car inspected by an expert. Todd from Tampa Hybrids is a very well respected independent shop and should be able to give a better opinion. He is active here from time to time and several members here have purchased cars from him.

 

I wondered about that. Please update your profile here.
I guess a dealer estimate may be an option unless you find a good independent hybrid expert in Houston that is not still under water.

 

sorry to hear it!
if it's running fine, it may be fine. before you accept an insurance claim, consider the ramifications of trying to sell it with flooding on the record.

 

Agreed.

Toyota bulletin T-SB-0229-12, “Flood Damaged Vehicle Inspection & Handling,” November 21, 2012, provides a guide to safing, inspection, and repair. The bulletin lists areas to be inspected, depending on the level of water intrusion, whether it was fresh water or salt water, and whether the vehicle was driven in flood waters or just parked. Be sure to read the cautions on page 3.

 

The most important is : fresh or salt water?

 

Yes reminds me of Hurricane Sandy in NJ, which I presume is the timing of the 2012 service document.
At that time, the new Prii flooded with salt water on the shipping docks had some smoldering issues with the HV battery.

To be honest I'd be careful buying a used 2012 Prii unless I thought I knew it was not from that period/region.

PS- I am not quite sure how Gen3 design is but Gen2 has a vent port from the HV Batt over the passenger rear tire, so you want to make sure no water came in under the false floor by the 12v and HV batts in the spare tire well./

 

You need to check on something....since you already officially opened a flood damage claim, that may follow the car through carfax much like a wreck and repair. So even if the title doesn't specifically get listed as a flood car, if flood repair work or even inspections shows up ANYWHERE that carfax might pick it up, you will have a hard time selling it. For instance if Toyota looks at it as a flood inspection that will show up and scare people from even looking at it. I think if it's possible at all I would push the insurance to total it and you go get another one. I think being a hybrid you could probably get away with it....especially if it's salt water.

Also, once you open a insurance claim it's now on your claim history and going to follow you around and make your rates higher. Even if you say it's fine and insurance pays ZERO it won't matter, you now have a claim that will follow you for several years. So you may as well make the most of it because it won't matter if they pay $0 or $10k it will affect your premiums the same.

 

That sounds good! Well you may want to call your agent and try to convince them you weren't intending to open a claim you were just talking to them about it. The point would be to try to get them to delete it as opposed to closing it. If they just close it you will have it on your claim history and it affect your rates. If they can't just delete it like you never called then try to make it worthwhile since it will affect your future rates.

But glad to hear the car is okay!

 

The high voltage cabling runs under the car. It's well protected, but just so you know. Most of the electronics is up front, other than the traction battery and its computer.

 

Your car should be fine, as others have mentioned. I had the same thing happen two years ago in a thunderstorm (parked on a street with a clogged drain); I didn't bother involving insurance at all since nothing critical was submerged. I did--and you may want to think about doing this--remove the carpet entirely and get it absolutely dry; the jute under the carpet can hold a lot of water even when the carpet above it seems dry, and you don't want to deal with mold issues.

 

Many times, people I know have gotten into fender benders. After they called the insurance agency and realized that after the deductible and the future increase in rates....they decide to repair the vehicle without filing a claim and receiving insurance money.

AFAIK, these accidents were not reported in carfax, assuming the insurance companies didn't pay out. At least, that is how I thought it worked.

 

Fresh water should be OK

 

Hope it's all ok! Definitely ensure it's fully dried out before firing her up again. What's the flooding like? Has it begun to subside now? Posting from the UK...

 

if it were mine and its paid off Id rip the carpets and seats out and replace them ASAP
put a fan in the back for a few days to dry it out and spray the inside with rubber under coating to prevent rust
new carpet, used seats ..
if it was salt water let the insurance company total it.

 

suspect a lot of suv's in south texas future, not that there's any shortage currently.