NEED ADVISE: Vehicle/Engine submerged in flood water [MERGED]

**ehnriko** · October 15th, 2009 04:48 PM

What these recent severe weather conditions has brought us all are....

...Lessons.

First lesson... you obviously know by now.

Second... if you can't afford casa services - there will be many lessons to learn in dismantling and reassembling a car.

Third... if you want to really save your car - it has to be serviced as soon as the weather and time permits it. If it's going to be in a que - waiting for hundreds of cars to be finished... before you know it, rusting has already crept everywhere... also molds and bacterias. Your car is not just a mechanical wonder per se... it is also now an ecological environment for small living things.

Fourth... If you realize that bringing them to the casa and wait to be service with 800 cars ahead of you - is not really a good idea... then finding a reputable technician, shop, mechanic with with a knack for electronics and electricals should be done right away. If you don't do it soon... then your car is as good as junk in essence.

Fifth... If you have the luxury of time... you can do it yourself.... you have nothing to loose, but everything to gain by learning. Dont be afraid to break a plastic clip or two, it's part of the learning process... and it is a cheap way to learn and get to know your car better.

Everything inside your car is not made to resist water or water moisture... The starter for example must be disassembled and dried out and cleaned in order to prevent shorting.

The Headliner is composed of plastic and some paper based material which can easily rot at the slightest amount of water moisture....

The ECU can be fixed... or if you are one of the bold and daring - will just convert your ECU into a MEGA Squirt unit which will cost about P15,000 only including installation. Maybe it wont work with other high end cars... but it can on most of the average class.

The water contaminated oil in your engine internals, including the tranny should not be thrown or dumped on the ground... this is toxic and will contaminate our aquifers... If it needs to be drained.. please keep it in a PET bottle or any suitable plastic container and donate them to me or to anyone who can make use of it. GEET users can utilize this as supplementary fuel in their bubblers. The very cause of climate change is our disregard for the environment therefore, we should respect it. So lets be all conscious about where we are going to throw the waste materials from our flooded cars or houses. If we can't reuse, or recycle them... at least keep them stored or contained for the sake of the planet (those used oil with water), Just send them to me! - I can find many ways to use them... but I'm quite sure there are more people who can also use them.

It would be sick if I don't share some ideas... so here it goes...
engines with water in it the crank case or oil passages have a high chance of accelerated wear. The only way to protect it from water is to treat the engine internals with an oil metal treatment which can virtually make it water proof. Most of our fossil based oils are not designed to do that. But some synthetic oils are able to... I dont know if it will help if the treatment will be done after water has already entered it. Lucky for those engines treated before they were flooded. But - it's worth trying. You have already lost a lot and trying it wont do more harm than it already has been through.

There are some oils in the market already that can do that job.... to mention a few: Pertua, Aerolube, NewOil (what I am using)... and maybe some more. Daniels' Oil... like the EMF-2000 is also good. These are cheap solutions... you may also use these types of oil to treat all the contact or terminal connection points. Most of the company making these oils are not aware of their products potential... but I use them to make all my cars terminal and electrical connections water proof. Dont apply this on antennas... it will make your radio deaf - only works with close contacts...

You may also mix this with your grease... so when you have your wheels repacked... you can mix this with the new grease before you put back your wheel bearings. My Big Bike Racing Mechanic Friend use this approach when he is overhauling engines. Even Mr. X of Cebu... I know it's not going to promote businesses of the sponsors of this site, but this is an emergency and a disaster, every sincere help everyone can share is the call of the day.

I hope all will be well for all of the affected tsikoteers.

**Babnoy** · October 16th, 2009 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by daive

Hi everyone...:

I just want to share that both of our cars, including the Chevy Optra, are in running condition now!!! "Running" because it still needs work in the inside (mudy & murky still...) and the locks and windows are still a bit grounded. But according to Archie, the very good mechanic I found here, it'll get fixed as soon as the dashboard is removed and the wirings are cleaned and dried. I'm just so happy that I didn't have to spend so much money bec I really can't afford the casa fees!

Just sharing the blessing of finding and knowing Archie! Found it through a post of MrQuery (page 12) and via this link:

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/vi...tronic+tune+up
or
http://sulit.com.ph/1602593

He's young but very good at his job...and seems like an honest and good person too (not 'taga')!

He specializes in new model cars- his recent flood-damaged car clients are 2006 and up...but he also knows old school cars hehe (also fixed our 94 Esi).

Good luck, and I hope you are as blessed, with no damages to the ECU, aircon, power controls, lights, battery, etc. No replaced parts except for the oil, gas, air filter, and the spark plugs!

God bless and keep the faith!

Archie also fixed my flooded 2008 Vios. This guy is good and knows what he's doing. Highly recommended.

**Excalibur** · October 16th, 2009 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Babnoy

Archie also fixed my flooded 2008 Vios. This guy is good and knows what he's doing. Highly recommended.

To the tune of how much??

**bwiseat** · October 16th, 2009 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by mirokC

sir, i hope my comment reaches you before you try the ECU of another car on your previously flood-submerged vehicle. My mechanic discouraged me on doing the coz my vehicle moistened wi4ring harness may damaged the working ECUof another. Magiging 2 ECU pa ang problema pag nagkataon. I also wanted to have my ECU check through diagnostic test; he discouraged me too coz a flooded ECU more often than not may have a positive "damaged readings" coz of the moist/corrosion on it.

Case in point, my friend's Nissan Grandeur was brought to Nissan Manila. Initial quote for labor & parts was 180T++. This can easily go up since there might be "hidden" damages pa daw. Both ECU's for the engine & transmission were diagnosed as "damaged." He brought his Sentra to my mechanic. gumana ang kotse niya & his ECU's were not replaced. His stereo & gauges like fuel, temp, RPM are not yet working but he now uses his car.

Goodluck to all submerged-in-flood car owners!

Thanks sir! I realized that though I wasn't able to read your post up until now. Don't wanna pay two ECU's (if my aim is to save up by not bringing it to the CASA). My car is still not running up until now even after applying contact cleaners to the wirings and plugs. I guess susubukan ko yung mechanic na nandito sa thread. Can someone PM me how much it cost them to have their car up and running? TIA.

I'm happy for those who have running cars already. Drive safely everyone!

**k_buenviaje** · October 17th, 2009 06:06 PM

Good Afternoon Everybody!

I'm happy to share that our Honda Civic 99 (VTEC Vti) Automatic is 60% complete. We were able to get a good mechanic from Marikina, he was able to fire up the engine and had it running (na save na ako from Towing fee), we're down to the small details which happens to be the very laborious part. Truly God is merciful hindi nasira ang ECU (alam niya na wala ako pambili ng bago)

.

to those people who still upto this point,doesn't have peace of mind yet you're all included in my prayers and with God's grace we'll pull through.

God Bless you all!

**mirokC** · October 17th, 2009 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by bwiseat

Thanks sir! I realized that though I wasn't able to read your post up until now. Don't wanna pay two ECU's (if my aim is to save up by not bringing it to the CASA). My car is still not running up until now even after applying contact cleaners to the wirings and plugs. I guess susubukan ko yung mechanic na nandito sa thread. Can someone PM me how much it cost them to have their car up and running? TIA.

I'm happy for those who have running cars already. Drive safely everyone!

I spent P10T++ for my car to run c/o neocars. However, i still have some electrical probs like the annoying "ABS", seat belt, & other instrumentation panel lights taht are always "ON". I had replaced my stereo as well. there are still some expenses i expect to incur but not as much as those who brought their cars to the casas who'll be spending from 150-200T++. At least my car's road worthy now & the aircon is back to normal.

I guess it would be a different story for those whose cars aren't serviced yet coz the water would have caused greater damages to the engine, electricals,& what have you. I wish all you sirs/mams will have a happy ending to those woes we have experienced with Ondoy.

**daive** · October 18th, 2009 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by bwiseat

Thanks sir! I realized that though I wasn't able to read your post up until now. Don't wanna pay two ECU's (if my aim is to save up by not bringing it to the CASA). My car is still not running up until now even after applying contact cleaners to the wirings and plugs. I guess susubukan ko yung mechanic na nandito sa thread. Can someone PM me how much it cost them to have their car up and running? TIA.

I'm happy for those who have running cars already. Drive safely everyone!

Hi! It's P3,500 to get your car running and 4k if kailangan ibaba ang gas tank. Archie's shop in Pasig is open now so he might not be available for home service anymore. You may have to get your car towed to the shop. Yes, better have it fixed before corrosion sets in. Good luck!

**daive** · October 18th, 2009 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by Excalibur

To the tune of how much??

3500 po quote saken to get it running, but i paid 8k, pero for 2 cars na yun...nahirapan sya ibaba gas tank ng ESI e

**wendellburug** · October 18th, 2009 01:31 PM

hello mga tsikoteers..Nalubog din ba BAHA ang Valle verde sa pasig?thanks

**spyghost** · October 19th, 2009 08:41 AM

Hi,

I've dismantled my clutch kasi nanikit sya dahil ke ondoy.

Visuall inspeciton shows na rusted ang surfaces nila, flywheel, disc, pressure plate. The bearing is for replacement na kasi di na umiikot.

I've taken out the loose rust by sandpaper and blasted it with wd40 and check for flatness by using a steel rule and a light source. Flatness is still ok and surface is relieved from thick rust.

My clutch is just 10 months old with a mileage of just 15000km. the friction material is still thick. Should I buy another set or can I still reuse the disc and plate?