Hydrolock'd the wife's VW Passat!!! Oops...

[saejin]

***Not really B6 material, but the engine is the same, plus I own a 2002 A4, so I thought posting this here would be fine. Mods if you want to move it, no problem.***

Got caught in a flash flood down in Tampa, FL. Didn't realize how deep the water was while driving down the road. Hit the water and then the car died.

For those of you who live in Florida or even in Tampa, you know what I mean by flash flood. When it rains the water builds up quick and doesn't drain off the roads fast enough. The downpours are sporadic too. It may be raining cats and dogs where you're at, but over on the next block it's just a sprinkle. The heavy rain must have just past through the area where I was driving. I thought the road was clear, but it wasn't.

Dealership is being pretty cool about, but won't cover it under warranty and I don't expect them too. My insurance is sending out an adjuster this week, the dealership is putting together an estimate for him. When I called the insurance, they were pretty familiar with what happened. I guess it's a common thing down here in Florida.

VW roadside service was pretty good. After I scoured the manual for the number and called them, it took the guy about 90 minutes to get to me. He showed up in a flatbed even though I had a FWD. Towed it to the local dealer no problems.

So, what do you guys think is broken? Car turned over later on in the night, but it's running very rough. White smoke came out the exhaust too, but it's cleared up now. CEL is flashing also. Dealer said I might be lucky and it'll be fine after changing the filter, plugs and oil. I don't think it will be that easy. I heard how the motor was running...very rough and a tapping sound, plus some sporadic knocking.

thoughts please...no flaming please, I've heard enough from my wife already ...thanks

[oBluu]

Thoughts are it *might've* been okay with a fluid drain and filter replacement until you turned the thing over again with water in the cylinders.

You know what hydrolock is right?

Not trying to be preachy. I've seen some engines that fired back up after fluids were changed and the head was pulled to drain the water. No clue as to what the longevity was though.

I'd feel better off taking the insurance deductible and having a new motor put in anyway. So starting up with water in the cylinders isn't really going to make much difference.

How much water are we talking about? I grew up in Florida and remember when we'd get about a foot of standing water, but that's about it....and you'd know it was there. The intake on the passat down at the bottom of the bumper?

"Okay, who's the u-boat commader?"

[JetBlue]

I had a friend do this to my G-60 Corrado during a flash flood here in Cali. My situation was different in that we were stuck in a shopping center that became an island. To make a long story shorter, he tried to drive the car out before it got too deep, but it was too late. Sucked water through the air intake and into the pistons. The engine was cold so the only damage was a blown head gasket. For longevity purposes I had the head resurfaced and incase there was any warpage. Remember that a fluid cannot be compressed so the stress goes into the head, head gasket, pistons, and connecting rods. If the engine was warmed up you pobably have serious internal damage from the water hitting the heated pistons. If you had just started the car cold you may get away with it.
MO

[saejin]

In Tampa the roads are very uneven and water tends to pool up in various areas near the curbs, in the center, or whereever there is a low point. The road may be clear, but up ahead there could be a puddle 1-2ft deep. I was driving through a light rain, so I didn't expect any puddles to be in the road. Before I realized it I was heading straight for one and couldn't manuever or stop fast enought to avoid it.

Yeah, I realize now I should have just left it alone and not try to start it. I just assumed the MAF got wet and killed the engine. Plus the engine was at full temp, so in retrospec the damage was already there before I even turned the engine over. Not sure if the insurance and dealership will attempt a repair or replacement. How much does a new engine cost anyways?

[JpnA4Quattro]

here in houston, everything is so flat that everytime it rains it floods. The first day i got my license, it rained and I ended up flooding my dads car(back seat about 1 1/2 inches)

[voodooA4]

one of my best friends at school hydrolocked his cherokee in december...had to get a whole new engine as well...

[DRA4]

I was in NJ last week, it was raining very hard, i don't know how i got home but i made it, my car is too low to be in a flood.

[saejin]

Just talked to the dealer today. Insurance gave them the go ahead and work on it until it gets too expensive.

They did a pressure test on each of the cylinders. 1, 2, and 3 measured 175 and number 4 measured 75. So I guess I jacked up something associated with cylinder #4. He thinks it's a bent rod, the insurance guys says its a bent cam shaft. They should know by tomorrow. SO once they get that fixed it should be OK unless they find something else.

The sooner they get it fixed the better. We moving to Colorado Springs in September and was planning on trading the Passat in for a Toureg. I just hope these repairs don't pop up when I try to trade it in. We'll see.

[Monchichi8]

I live here in FL too. The Rain is Crazy!...you might want to put a snorkle on it!!!...LOL

[saejin]

$3600 estimate!!!

Dealer said it was a bent rod on the cylinder getting only 75lbs of pressure versus 175lbs. Dealer also estimated in the cost of a replacing the bearings. All four rods need to be replaced even though only one is bent. Dealer said they come in a kit of four, so there's no choice in the matter.

Oh well, looks like I'll get back some of the insurance money I've been paing all these years. My rates shouldn't go up until the thrid or fouth claim, so no problems there.

[L0rd oF da Ring]

man what a nightmare that sounds like..weve had some crazy ass storms here in dallas this summer...north dallas got pretty messed up...luckily i live far away enough to avoid the mess ur in..good luck with that man