Lost parts of car going through a puddle on the freeway!

Meesh

I was doing about 60 Wednesday night in the pouring rain and hit a low spot on the freeway that had about 3" of water in it. I didn't see it soon enough to avoid it so I just hung on to the steering wheel and prayed. The car slowed down quite a bit but kept going straight spraying water everywhere. The noise from the water hitting the ubnderside of the car was deafening.

The next day the check engine light, VSC light and 4x4 light, came on. I stopped by the dealer on my way home to have it checked.

I was in the waiting room a few minutes when the service mgr. came and got me saying he wanted to show me something. We went out side and he pointed to the vehicle. There were two hoses hanging from the car below the drivers seat. It seems there was a plastic canister behind the charcoal filter that recircs tank fumes back to the engine. It must have gotten ripped off when I hit that puddle. I explained to him what had happened and he told me that warranty wouldn't cover the damage (~$150.00). I told him that I had never lost car parts by driving through a puddle in my 47 years of driving. He was unsympathetic to say the least. The worst part about this is the parts are on backorder from Toyota and they don't know when they'll have them. Until then, the lights are on on the dash.
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summerwind

Quickdtoo · Posted: June 9, 2006, 11:53 am Post subject:

Meesh, I appreciate the heads up, thanks!! I just made a simple shield out of 1/8" aluminum scrap that should keep it from happening, the component is really exposed to wash on the underside. The shield mounts under the canister mount using the same bolt.

I guess this is one of the kinds of things we have to endure when buying a new model year, hopefully they'll have a recall and install a shield if it happens enough.

I left the shield unpainted until I took pics..

Tim

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Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

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Meesh · Posted: June 9, 2006, 11:59 am Post subject: Shield

Tim,

Thanks for posting that. Guaranteed Illl be making one of those up when mine gets replaced.

Service manager didn't want to hear that it might be a design flaw.

Thanks
Bob
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SeriousBlack · Posted: June 9, 2006, 12:01 pm Post subject:

Hoses ripping off due to driving through a puddle is a defect and should be fixed. I'd go to another dealer.

RAYDAHS · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 629

Tim, Meesh posts an issue and in less than 1-1/2 hours you have a bracket made and installed! Now I see where the "QUICK" comes from.............A.K.A.......MacGyver Thumbs Up

Quickdtoo · Posted: June 9, 2006, 12:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I'd have been done sooner if I didn't have ta mess with the digicam memory card and the gash in my finger from working with the sheet metal!! Embarassed

I figured that if I didn't take pics when doing the install, I'd just have to remove it and take the pics later anyway, you'all would have made me do it!! Laughing

One of the advantages of retirement, doing whatcha want, when ya want!! Cool

Tim

BarnyFife · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 363 V6 Limited 4WD

Your card looks like it has rusted out already!

Quickdtoo · Posted: June 9, 2006, 1:27 pm Post subject:

summerwind · Posted: June 9, 2006, 1:46 pm Post subject:

Quickdtoo · Posted: June 9, 2006, 2:43 pm Post subject:

And I'm now doing mechanical drawings!!! Razz

The double lines are bends. I didn't give a measurement for the hole position, I just drilled the hole a bit oversize to give me a little wiggle room in mounting. Once you get it bent, you'll know better where the hole needs to be. If you're like me, if I had to make another one identical to this one, it wouldn't happen....but it would be close enough!

Tim

Please click image for fullsize

summerwind · Posted: June 9, 2006, 2:45 pm Post subject:

John E Davies · Posted: June 9, 2006, 3:06 pm Post subject:

LOL! I think it's a hoot that other threads are debating how off-road worthy this trucklet is, and a 3 inch puddle rips parts off! Oh the irony!

John Davies
Spokane WA

OzRavioli · Posted: June 9, 2006, 3:21 pm Post subject:

I must be missing something here, I had a look under my Aus Rav and can't see the bit you refering to here. I took some photo's of what appears to be a sheild over the whole area....

Very Happy

Please click image for fullsize

Now all I have to do is work out how to put those neat links or pics in here....
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Quickdtoo · Posted: June 9, 2006, 3:28 pm Post subject: