Water in 2008 Highlander hybrid battery
Car wouldn't start, electric came on but it wouldn't turn over. Towed it to Toyota Dealer. Trouble reported in window was "Check Hybrid System" and " Check CVS? and one other but don't remember. After leaving the dealer and arriving home, I had a call advising me that there was water in the hybrid battery to the tune of $6K. Manager told me that the car had to have passed through standing water or water rose to level where batteries were contaminated. Don't know of any flooded areas around here and no evidence of water on the carpet so how does water get into the batteries. Manager advised me to call insurance company to have them pay for it. Nothing surprises me today but how does water get into the system without flooding the car? Thanks in advance for any input.
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I would suggest going to another dealer or bypassing the dealer and calling Toyota Corporate (listed on the back of your owner's manual, or in it) and complaining. I just don't see (at the moment) where the evidence is to deny you a warranty claim.
Your insurance company is sure as hell going to ask for evidence, so the dealer had better come up with some.
I suppose flooding the battery compartment could cause a short in the batteries, but you say that never happened---so that leads one to suspect perhaps a faulty inverter, or an engine malfunction (if the engine isn't running right, that could damage the batteries).
So you have your work cut out for you. I also don't know where this $6,000 price tag comes from.
None of this currently adds up I must say.
Had towing hitch installed this week and lighting harness had to be replaced. Also did standard servicing at dealership this week.