Flood Damaged Diesel Caddy Going to Auction

[Nordo]

Hi

My daughter recently drove her diesel Caddy through some flood water and sucked some water into the motor. This obviously did not do the motor a lot of good, and the insurance company wrote it off.

So if anyone wants a white diesel manual Caddy in good condition, it will be going to auction at Pickles Auctions, Acacia Ridge, Queensland, in the near future. Body, mechanicals, upholstery, etc are all perfect. Also 5 brand new tyres.

[Tornado T5]

Anyone have an idea on what the potential repair bill would be to have it "written off" although I'm guessing it'll be classified as a "repairable write off" by your state's motoring authority.

[mikinoz]

They write it off beyond economical repair as in this situation they would need a new engine and as soon as they say electrical then they say forget it. It would be requiring a new ECU etc, that being said, some clever cookie could get a bargain, fix it up and have a bargain.

[Transporter]

Check for broken crankshaft, bent conrods. When water gets inside the cylinders, engine goes to "Hydro lock" since fluid cannot be compressed.
You may pay more to get it repaired than what the saving would be if you buy a new one and still it doesn't have to be reliable - corrosion at electrical connections could resurface later.
I wouldn't buy it unless it's cheap and only for some spare parts.

[Golf Loon]

Was it still running when she handed it over to the insurance co?

How far up the car did the water go?

I have seen ones where every electronic module is fried, there is still one in Olis Garden and I have seen others where you change the battery and drive it away.

Get it cheap and gamble basically.

[Nordo]

Was it still running when she handed it over to the insurance co?

How far up the car did the water go?

I have seen ones where every electronic module is fried, there is still one in Olis Garden and I have seen others where you change the battery and drive it away.

Get it cheap and gamble basically.

I can find out a bit more from my daughter, but my understanding is that she drove slowly into flood water that was about door sill deep. The motor stopped. She couldn't get it restarted (don't know if it was turning over, or if there was no response). About 15 minutes later she got someone to tow her out. By that stage the water was half way up the doors.

The next day (water had gone), I tried to start the car. No reponse. Tried heavy duty jumper leads - no response. By no response, I mean the starter didn't turn. You couldn't even hear the solenoid clicking. Nothing worked including lights, dashboard, etc.

BTW, the Caddy has a quality towbar that may be factory fitted. I went to Pickles to try and remove it, and gave up after 2 hours.

I'm guessing that the electronic module is fried, but the motor may be fine.

[Jmac]

Hmm motor sounds locked up there, still im with Loon , i would trake the risk with that one.
If its cheap enough whats a motor in the scheme of things, modules can be sourced and im sure modules could be sourced from here there and everywhere.
Cheers
Jmac

[Nordo]

Hmm motor sounds locked up there, still im with Loon , i would trake the risk with that one.
If its cheap enough whats a motor in the scheme of things, modules can be sourced and im sure modules could be sourced from here there and everywhere.
Cheers
Jmac

OK

Had a chat to my daughter. She drove into the water in first gear. The motor started to lose power. She ended up with her accelerator flat to the board but still no power. The motor finally died. At that stage the water was about 300mm deep.

Hope that helps.

[Seano]

If the motor struggled to a stop then I'll wager good money that the motor is fine but the electronics are a bit 'rooted'. Along with the interior....

If water stops a diesel motor then it tends to stop it instantly....and 'with feeling'!

[Nordo]

If the motor struggled to a stop then I'll wager good money that the motor is fine but the electronics are a bit 'rooted'. Along with the interior....

If water stops a diesel motor then it tends to stop it instantly....and 'with feeling'!

My daughter's version sounds nothing like that.

I haven't looked under the bonnet of her new Caddy, to find out what is mounted so low that driving through a relatively low level of water creates so much grief.
If the ECU is lower than the air intake, then maybe the problem is "only" with the electronics.

I guess it doesn't have to be water getting into the ECU. Probably it just has to be water getting into some part of the electronics that will lead to an electronic failure.

The insurance company organised the tow-in, so I don't know who actually looked at the Caddy and provided the estimate that led the insurance company to write it off. Possibly some mechanic who knew absolutely nothing about electronics, and it scared him into adding $10,000 or so to his repair estimate.