So I was driving my 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid with 159,000 miles when I went through an area that was totally flooded. It was very deep but was able to make it through. Once out I am able to turn on the electric portion of the car but the engine will not start through it appears to try to start to charge and run car. Am I going to be out the vehicle after this adventure? Had to end up getting it towed after about a mile of driving on electric only.
Strangely enough, it seems like the electric motor and battery was okay, but the actual gas engine may have been compromised.
Engines, like humans, need air to breathe. When you drove part of your car underwater, it could no longer breathe.
In other words, water probably got into the intake and into the engine. Potentially hydro locking the engine.
Best case scenario is it dries out and the engine runs. Worst case scenario, which is more likely, is that the engine has been damaged beyond repair.
Thanks for the truth....Hope that it comes back I love my car.