Drowned Pajero

[Alan Sampson]

Hi Guys

Advice please... My 2003 Pajero diesel was drowned up to roof level in the recent Cape floods. It was standing idle at the time with the battery disconnected. What needs doing (apart from cleaning - everything covered in silt!).
Eg. Air cleaner, oil, fuel??

Eish!

Thanks
Alan Sampson

[4ePajero]

Sad news!
Insurance?
Write off, IMHO

[jfh]

Just don't swing the engine. Play safe and first remove the glow plugs.

At least all filters and oils.

[4ePajero]

The water-logged wiring harnesses would be my main concern.

Claim from insurance, buy the wreck and break for parts.

[MBLife]

IMHO, write it off - to the roof ensures everything is well soaked.

Any and all electronics will give you sh1t forever...contacts and wires will corrode and you will end up replacing every component in that car.

I have worked on half drowned vehicles who were victims of poor boat launching, it was always a nightmare. Water gets in everywhere, the salts and fine mud wreak havoc with moving and electric parts.

Best of luck!

[Impi Adventures]

If you crank it you're done, it's gonna be in Hydro lock (water inside motor) Follow jfh advice, remove Glo plugs and or injectors (spark plugs if it's a gasser)
Crank it over little-by-little until all cylinders are empty. Drain oil pan and replace filters.
Take out carpets and leave doors and hood open in the sun for a month!.... While praying.

If however, your vehicle was sitting on idle during the flooding and shut down by itself it's possible that the damage is already done when water entered the intake.

I live in a disaster area on the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane's are a threat every year for a couple of months.
100 mph winds are common (that 160 km/h) with storm surge, like you guys are experiencing now.
Be prepared for a major insurance premium hike.

I am feeling sorry for everybody who suffered damage and or loss of life during this time, natural disasters like this is uncommon to your country.

[Hedgehog]

Yoh
You guys are war mongers


First check if the engine is free of water. And there is no reason why it would have water ingress into the engine

Then see if it starts.. and selects a gear

If it starts, turn it off and change all the oils.

Then treat it as a car that had its insides soaked.
The insurance could help you fix that

[Wilk]

I will not crank it before the oil is drained (and water). New filter and oil. Then you can can remove the Injectors and get the water out.

[clivemd]

Yoh
You guys are war mongers


First check if the engine is free of water. And there is no reason why it would have water ingress into the engine

Then see if it starts.. and selects a gear

If it starts, turn it off and change all the oils.

Then treat it as a car that had its insides soaked.
The insurance could help you fix that

Are you saying there is no reason why it should get water into engine,
well water will get in via the intake and the open valves into pistons, also up open exhorts valves, water can get into gearbox via breather pipe and engine breather pipe

[Alan Exton]

The water-logged wiring harnesses would be my main concern.

Claim from insurance, buy the wreck and break for parts.

I agree, write it off and start over. You dont really want to fix this car. It will drive you crazy in the future. Buy the salvage if you feel up to it and strip for spares.

[Alan Sampson]

Hi Guys

Thanks very much for all the comprehensive advice and info.

It is fully insured, and it was fresh water.

Unfortunately, it had a new sub assembly only 70000km ago, so it would/should have been good for many more miles... Also recently replaced all the relays etc. To get the 4wd working again - R25k job....

Any, if insurance offers to write iff, i will probably accept that.

Thanks again for the replies; very interesting...

Sounds like a huge project to save her - pity!!

[jonoB]

Hi Guys

Thanks very much for all the comprehensive advice and info.

It is fully insured, and it was fresh water.

Unfortunately, it had a new sub assembly only 70000km ago, so it would/should have been good for many more miles... Also recently replaced all the relays etc. To get the 4wd working again - R25k job....

Any, if insurance offers to write iff, i will probably accept that.

Thanks again for the replies; very interesting...

Sounds like a huge project to save her - pity!!

So sad about your Paj...
As previously mentioned, try buy it back and turn it into a toy? Strip the interior and make it a "play" thing?

[Janbakkie]

Hi Guys

Advice please... My 2003 Pajero diesel was drowned up to roof level in the recent Cape floods. It was standing idle at the time with the battery disconnected. What needs doing (apart from cleaning - everything covered in silt!).
Eg. Air cleaner, oil, fuel??

Eish!

Thanks
Alan Sampson

If you do any form of work on the vehicle, even recovering it off the beach or wherever it was, the insurance will use it as an excuse and will deny all liability. They want to assess first. Idiots.

[Surfer01]

My son is a game ranger and during a flood one of the Toyotas ended up being submerged to top of doors for 3 days. They dragged it out and towed to onsite workshop. Mechanic did a clean and the darn thing started with no issue! Everyone was quite surprised that no major work was required.

[m0lt3n]

please keep us updated?

[kamanya]

Does insurance have it?

If I may ask, if they did, what did you settle for?