While driving to work this morning as I was coming down a mini-bridge I noticed an obscure substance in the roadway in my lane. I couldn't tell what it was (it was dark) and by the time I noticed it, it was too late to change lanes. I ran over it and heard a disquieting sound of solid interacting with the bottom of the car. It might have been a piece of wood because it looked (in my rearview mirror) like it broke as part of it rolled into the next lane The car drove fine, and I didn't see any obvious damage from the outside when I pulled into the parking lot a minute later. My questions: 1) Other than looking for fluid or hanging parts, is there anything else I should do when I get off work tomorrow morning? 2) Is there anything critical in the undercarriage of the Prius that is easily damaged that I should pay particular attention to? Thanks for any help you can give me.
I've run over a road debris in a previous car and it pierced the gas tank. Insurance covered a new tank under comprehension.
If you can get a look underneath it and verify that there are scrapes on the plastic but all the mounting clips are there, it might give you peace of mind. Otherwise, I'd just keep an eye out for leaks or any change in the way it handles over a few days, and, if nothing, probably not worry. The only way you could be absolutely sure would be to get it up on a lift and inspect it (yourself if you're comfortable with that, or have a mechanic look). I agree w/ JimN, though--the car is so low and the undercarriage (up front anyway) has a plastic cover and, as long as it's not flapping in the breeze, probably no worries. No absolute way to tell without looking at it thoroughly, though--probably you need to be the judge of how bad it sounded and whether it warrants taking it to the vet, so to speak.
