Drive through flooding - parking brake, VSC system failure

[ISZ]

Hi,

I draw with my Avensis 2010 through a flooding approx. 3 seconds. After I went through the Engine check light, Check Parking Brake System and Check VSC system warning lights came up. Did any of you had this problem?

Could you advise please? I didn't went to any service yet because they are closed at the moment, waiting for Monday. I couldn't find any topic relating to driving through flooding.

Thanks!

[Heidfirst]

Hi Istvan, welcome to the forum 

Did the engine continue to run?

1) Which engine? The air intake for many engines is low down so can take in water if driving through floods - this is bad news.

2) the EPB actuator could have taken in water - again this could be bad news as it is a £1k fix if it corrodes & fails.

[ISZ]

Hi Heidfirst,

Thank you for the welcome!

The Avensis is a 1.8 petrol.

But goooood news. I didn't used the car all day, and now in the evening I started the engine and... surprise... all the light turned off. I presume it just required a good ventilation and drying. Thank you for your suggestion, it looks like it won't cost me anything after all . But i learned my lesson, or drive slowly through flooding if you don't have another choice or just avoid it, find another route.

And yes, the engine was running perfectly after the warning lights turned on, i drove it a good hour after the lights turned on. The engine was running smoothly as before, the parking brake was working fine, the VSC was working good too.

 

 

[Heidfirst]

if the epb actuator has had water ingress it could still corrode over time.

[Konrad C]

I will never drive through any large puddles of water, if I can avoid them. I did this with other cars because there are other components that can be affected!

I knew the EPB weakness when I bought my car, so I am extra careful. This also applies when washing the car.

 

[Cyker]

How much flooding are we talking about here?

I will happily drive through water up to the width of the sidewall of my tyre (So just under 1/4 of the diameter of the wheel); Anything more and I will try and find an alternate route because I don't want my brakes getting wet!.
 

[Konrad C]

I would say up to the bottom edge of the wheel and the bottom of the car just clear of water. The brakes will be clear of the water. The EPB unit seals may not be watertight, so water could enter the unit. Driving carefully to reduce splashing or wave over the EPB unit.

The EPB circuit board should be made corrosion/damp resistant! I think the OP EPB system recovered, if the system dries quickly.

Also remember some components under the car like the exhaust, suspension and subframe are not protected fully against corrosion, especially in voids and welds.