Prius v - Inverter Converter Radiatior - Warning

I've noted that unprotected cooler while approaching the car and your cautionary note reminds me to look into a "rabbit wire" or nylon mesh protector. Approximately what diameter was the rock, if I may ask?

 

Ask your insurance company as it is not normal wear and tear but rather the result of an accident, like a rock smashing a window.

 

I agree that insurance is the best bet, but no way is it Toyota's responsibility. Stuff happens, and radiators get damaged every day. Around here you can puncture one by hitting a tumbleweed.

 

It's not a product defect and it's not Toyota's fault, but your insurance should cover it under your comprehensive insurance coverage.

 

sorry to hear it man, that's gotta be a first timer. why does canadia have so many rocks?

 

I agree with insurance. It is an accident caused by a road hazard.

SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2

 

Most cars offer no protection in front of their radiators in order to maximize airflow through them, which is a good thing.

 

Most radiators are sized for stationary cooling, with electric or engine-driven fan assistance on thermostatic command. They are significantly oversized for cooling while the vehicle is in motion, create excessive drag at higher speeds, and could be choked dramatically, thereby reducing drag, and still cool adequately.

A layer of wire or nylon mesh an inch or so ahead of the cooler face does almost nothing to airflow through the radiator core, whether due to free stream dynamic pressure ahead of the face or fan-driven scavenging behind the face, but will stop damage from random attacks by foreign object debris.

This weekend's project.

 

I wonder if the OP could share a few more details. 80kph works out to 50mph, and maybe I've led a protected life, but I have never heard of anyone getting a holed radiator element from a rock on a paved road at that speed. It's almost like someone shot it at him (other vehicle spinning its wheels in gravel on the shoulder?).

 

Good grief - how the OP came to the conclusion it's Toyota's fault for the rock in the road is beyond me. What if it hit the windshield and cracked it, or worse. I guess that would be Toyota's fault too?

 

Now you get an idea of what customers say to the service departments when they're clueless

 

Easily done at 50 mph, even easier done if hitting a piece of crushed stone falling from a truck moving at 50mph in the opposite direction.

 

It's a somewhat exposed cooler location by design, but I take your point. The windshield complaints usually have more to do with cowl/body flex which tweaks the transparency to failure.

 

Sorry all but I also agree its a design fault.

Most other cars have a grill or screen if you will, that catches any sizable stones that could damage a radiator.

Since the inverter is sensitive to heat, the inverter radiator could use some protection.

I had a stone put a hole in the inverter radiator, let the cooling fluid drain and kill the inverter.

It was covered as a road hazard on my insurance but was a $4100 charge for radiator and inverter.

I'm installing inside grill work this weekend as the car was down for a week.

When it happens to you, you'll understand.

 

My v has both a lower and upper grill. It may not stop all stones but they'll stop the larger ones, probably damaging the grill in the process. Some car don't have anything protecting the lower part under the bumper - just an open hole straight to the radiator.