Help Prius damages while traveling

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by eastprius, Mar 23, 2013.

  1. eastprius

    eastprius Junior Member

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    Hey everyone I have a question about my 2011 Prius 4 and was traveling out of town and was pulling into a shopping center and went into a puddle that was hiding a dip about 6-8 inches and went through it at about 5 mph over the front driver wheel. It pretty hard and got out to look and take a picture it looks like the protective cover under the engine was cracked and knocked loose on several bolts I am attaching a picture. It seems to drive ok but does anyone know by looking what it is and if I should be worried or is it just cosmetic?

    Thanks so much
     

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    #1 eastprius, Mar 23, 2013
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  2. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    I would be a lil worried about the radiator core support possibly having a lil damage
     
    #2 sfv41901, Mar 23, 2013
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Looks cosmetic to me. As long as you are not loosing fluids you should be fine.
     
    #3 spiderman, Mar 23, 2013
  4. The Dude

    The Dude Member

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    dude, does it sound like this guy knows what a radiator core support is??? Lmao
     
    #4 The Dude, Mar 24, 2013
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  5. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    I agree with Spiderman, if it still drives OK and no fluids are leaking you are good to go. Just keep and eye on coolant levels and look under it when you have parked it overnight to be sure nothing is leaking.
     
    #5 tumbleweed, Mar 24, 2013
  6. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    :ROFLMAO:........he can ask if he doesn't.
     
    #6 sfv41901, Mar 24, 2013
  7. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Yes, I agree but until the lower covers are removed we're all just guessing.

    I had a customer (fellow Gen3 owner) come for an oil change. While he was here he asked me too look at some minor damage his kid had done. He said he noticed a piece of the engine cover was hanging......so I look at it. At 1st it looked cosmetic but when I looked closer, the driver core support was pushed up about 1/4". This caused a gap I between the hood & the driver headlight. The car still drove straight & wasn't leaking any fluids yet there was some structural damage.

    My point is this: just because he's not leaking fluids or driving fine doesn't mean there wasn't any structural damage done.
     
    #7 sfv41901, Mar 24, 2013
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    While it's possible that there's hidden damage, that area is not highly prone to damage and based upon the photo I think you're fine letting it go until you can get home to have it more carefully checked...unless/until you see error codes or leaking fluid.
     
    #8 efusco, Mar 24, 2013
  9. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    True enough Sean, but that is the best we can do with what we got to go on. Just about everything said on here is opinion and should be treated as such.
     
    #9 spiderman, Mar 24, 2013
  10. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    I agree, that's why I said we're just guessing (y)

    Just want to make sire the op got the best & worse case scenario :D
     
    #10 sfv41901, Mar 24, 2013
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