Turned my D2a into a Submarine yesterday, OOOOPS!!!!!!!!

[Islandnomad]

My fault, didn't wade the crossing, my mate went thru an hour before said it was ok. Thought it was only 300-400mm but it was more. Stopped when I thought it was too deep, put into reverse, then car stalled. That was it right their, rising water, it then came up another 300mm went over the dash.


This is/was a great car RIP. I don't suppose there is any point trying to fix it??????? It is insured.

[Islandnomad]

I took the leads off the battery, good practice I believe!

[loanrangie]

When you say over the dash was that inside the car ?

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[scarry]

Strange it stalled,i have been through water over the bonnet in my old D2a,it kept going,did have a snorkel.

Maybe stopping and reversing was the issue.

[Islandnomad]

Yep interior flooded too. Straight over the top of the dash.


I've had water over the bonnet in this car too, always kept going....was going to put a snorkel on!!! Had to stop car was stalling. I feel so bloody stupid...

[Slunnie]

I would dry it all out first and then see how it goes. Computers near the battery and also footwell sides and under the passengers seat. I have heard of them drowning and then drying out and going again. V8 or TD5?

[scarry]

Some or all of the computers can be dismantled which helps drying them.
Do this before connecting up the battery again

[Islandnomad]

TD5 with a brand new ACM Head.


Took leads off battery straight away. Towed it out, air filter box full of water. Didn't try and start it, but it may have ruined the motor. Checked dip stick, no water there.


Tow truck driver said that as water went over the floor it will be a write off.


I am really tempted to buy the wreck from insurer. It's the devil I know!


Really tempted to go and Gerni out the interior today, but its in NRMA's Panel Beater's Yard.


Vehicle in Gympie, flood waters everywhere here.

[Islandnomad]

After I unloaded it at the panel beater, I connected the battery again to try and put the windows up. Just a heap of fault warnings, couldn't get windows up, disconnected battery again. Probably shouldn't have done that?


I think the electrics can probably be fixed its the motor that worries me.

[Blknight.aus]

if that was fresh water thats salvagable but your going to need a lot of fresh water and conctct cleaner to save the electrics.

get the oil out now and get onto your flushing procedure

[Islandnomad]

It is pretty clean fresh water. Not sure that I have access?? Subject to insurance claim.


If I could get access I am thinking I should take out seats, take out carpets, remove door cards, Gerni all mud out of doors etc and from underneath.


The issue is if the motors no good not worth doing anything I'm guessing??? But I don't know.


What should I do, what is the flushing routine you're talking about?

[Islandnomad]

So my job list:

take off door cards remove mud from nooks and crannies
dismantle computers and let them dry out
contact cleaner onto electrical connections
Drop all fluids? Flushing procedure?

[loanrangie]

For any chance of saving anything you need access asap otherwise will have to rely insurance, no snorkle in that much water it has to be cactus.

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[Islandnomad]

For any chance of saving anything you need access asap otherwise will have to rely insurance, no snorkle in that much water it has to be cactus.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app



Motor has to be cactus?

[PhilipA]

Petrol or diesel?
Petrol MAY be OK , as I have recovered an RRC which had a gutful. Plugs out turn over to blow the water out. Cleaned the ECU with clean water and dried with Coleman lamp and air bed inflator.

Diesel not likely to survive.

Really the car will plague you with errors from now on even if you get it going. Auto? if so the XYZ will have to be dismantled and cleaned.

I once recovered my brother's Vauxhall Viva after it had water half way up the windows in the 74 Brisbane flood. Even it with NO electronics used to plague them with rotting bulb holders etc .

IMHO you should cut your losses and have it written off.

Regards Philip A

[Eevo]

im sure there is a moral to this story

[Eevo]

Petrol or diesel?

he said td5

[loanrangie]

im sure there is a moral to this story

Yes , a car is not a submarine :)

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[Islandnomad]

Mmmm quite so!!!!!

[Islandnomad]

Feeling pretty stupid now, I'm dressing it up as "one of life adventures" but I just wrecked a really good car. Spoke to Gympie Landrover this morning he said that the motor should be fine, it's the electrics that'll be the problem. Bearing in mind that the binnacle and steering wheel went under.

[lewy]

walk away,now.

[bee utey]

Yes , a car is not a submarine :)

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Except when it is (http://izismile.com/2009/07/15/the_underwater_car_36_pics.html)


:eek::eek::eek:

[worane]

Bad luck, I feel for you.

[Blknight.aus]

If you havnt made some serious inroads to the de-watering process within about 72 hours don't bother. let the insurance company write it off.

[Islandnomad]

Ok will do thanks? With all this flooding not sure how long the assessing will take, but they are covering a hire car for me, so there is incentive for them to get it sorted.

[Islandnomad]

When you say dewatering process you mean, dropping oils from motor and diffs etc, or the contact cleaner on contacts. Need some direction on these critical 72 hrs.

[loanrangie]

Dont bother , i would be 99% sure that the engine has been hydraulic'd and this would be why it stalled.

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[Tombie]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

The vehicle is a "goner" - take your personal items, and let insurance take it.

If anything buy the wreck back if you get it for a good price and you may get some parts...

But diffs, box etc will need immediate strip down and lubrication before they rust solid...

[Tombie]

Pull the hose off the turbo inlet... Or the bottom of the Intercooler on drivers side..

If water got to the engine she will be full...

[Islandnomad]

Well the repairer in Gympie declared it a write off to the insurance company today. Everyone I spoke to said don't repair it, if I'd been handy with the spanners I might of had a go at salvaging it, but I have to pay someone to do that so out it goes.


Rest In Peace D2a!!

[PhilipA]

That is an expensive lesson and bloody bad luck mate.
I hope you can get a good one for the payout.

Regards Philip A

[northiam]

So this happened on a public highway?

So we can take a car or 4x4 off road either on private or crown land, drive into a flooded river as such and the insurer pays out?

[Islandnomad]

It is an expensive lesson yes, as I'd just replaced its head with a new ACM head. The car was going so well. Very disturbing to see it yesterday, starting to go mouldy on the inside.


This happened on a low lying country road in Gympie. I thought it was 300-400 deep and my mate had been through an hour before and said it was ok. I should have waded it. As soon as it stalled it was all over, would have been ok with a snorkel too.


I don't have a lot of experience with rising flood water. It came up and down another 300mm in the 15 minutes it was under, wrong place wrong time. I was pretty astounded at the water level height change. Went through there yesterday, dry as a bone.

[Redback]

So this happened on a public highway?

So we can take a car or 4x4 off road either on private or crown land, drive into a flooded river as such and the insurer pays out?

Yes you are covered on any gazetted road, regardless of where you are.

Been there done that, Christmas 2004:(

Baz.

[Tombie]

Unless it is proven as a deliberate act, or knowingly exceeding the capability of the vehicle.

[scarry]

Unless it is proven as a deliberate act, or knowingly exceeding the capability of the vehicle.

That is sort of what has happened,what is the wading depth of the vehicle?

[PhilipA]

Hang on fellas, I usually don't have much sympathy for blokes who drown their vehicles, but if you look on page 1 , there are photos which show there were no depth markers, as far as I can see anyway.

So in normal circumstances it is not expected by Qld transport to flood.
His mate had been through and said it was OK.
So give him some slack.
Regards Philip A

[Eevo]

His mate had been through and said it was OK.


an hour before hand....

[scarry]

Anything of depth i ALWAYS walk,crocs or no crocs:D

Not having a go at the OP,but i would have done things differently,and i have done heaps of water crossings.

And have turned around at some.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Eevo]

Anything of depth i ALWAYS walk,crocs or no crocs:D


or use someone else as bait

[scarry]

That is what the dog is good for:D;)

[123rover50]

Yes you are covered on any gazetted road, regardless of where you are.

Been there done that, Christmas 2004:(

Baz.

Fraser Island and other beaches are gazetted roads.
Are you covered there?

[DiscoDB]

If full insurance did not cover accidents and mistakes made by the driver (and we all make mistakes) then you would only need 3rd party, fire and theft coverage. You can now even pay a premium to protect your no claim bonus for when you make an at fault claim.

If the road had been closed by the authorities then it would be a different story.

[discorevy]

Oops , was looking for the thread on island nomads incident, but it appears I have stumbled upon a pseudo insurance assessors convention:eek:

[Islandnomad]

There were no depth markers, my mate said it was ok. Got the fright of my life when water appeared up over the bonnet a little, momentarily.


I had meant to get a snorkel, but they are so bloody ugly.


I guess with insurance they have to prove that you intentionally meant to take the car beyond its limitations, which I certainly didn't.


I don't normally like to publicise my mistakes, the reason I put it on AULRO is to remind everyone to remain vigilant with there vehicles, and to learn by others mistakes!


Having said that Eevo can throw as much s...t at me as he likes, I have a tough hide. And it was a stupid thing to do, regardless.

[Eevo]

Having said that Eevo can throw as much s...t at me as he likes, I have a tough hide. And it was a stupid thing to do, regardless.

no no, you admitted your fault. everything now is ****s n giggles

[Islandnomad]

NRMA just assessed it as a Total Statutary Loss due to Water Ingress, with a payout of $16,500, should be able to replace for that I hope.

[Pippin]

Great outcome!
Should leave you plenty of change.


Good Luck

[discorevy]

That's a great outcome , should give you enough to get another in top shape , maybe enough left over to buy back your old one for spares

[Redback]

Fraser Island and other beaches are gazetted roads.
Are you covered there?



Originally Posted by Redback https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/768.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/215887-turned-my-d2a-into-submarine-yesterday-oooops-post2324038.html#post2324038)
Yes you are covered on any gazetted road, regardless of where you are.

Been there done that, Christmas 2004:(

Baz.

Baz.