Thread: Drowned P38's squeal until dead... but they can be resuscitated!

There are not many photo’s available but I witnessed the drowning and subsequent resuscitation of a P38 last weekend. For those interested, check out the most recent VIC Trip Reports - Wombat Wonder Wander for pic’s and a little bit of vid.

The maddest part was that as the water hit the main computer under the seat the horn and alarm siren sounded then gradually over the next 10-20 seconds every other electrical component joined in (lights, fuel filler flap, wipers, washers, starter motor, etc). Effectively, we were too slow on the recovery and just missed pulling it out before water hit the computer internals (by about 60 seconds). Basically, the car was being hitched up and pulled out when the cacophony started. We probably had 5 minutes and took 6 (but don’t quote me on those times). Knowing what I know now, if it’s me in the driver’s seat with computer lower than water level outside next time, I will be squealing at those around to help me out within 60 seconds.

Note: It appears that the door seals did not leak. The owner is going to try and chase the course of the waters ingress as his cleaning drying job continues this week, but there were already theories of seam leaking on body or body to chasis bolt holes/mounts providing a path being discussed.

Anyway, when it was out and doors opened (and cabin beginning to be drained) we pulled the leads off the battery (to stop all the screaming and possible further damage) and towed her back to camp. Now this isn’t all of it, but back at camp, the driver’s seat was pulled out and then the computer was pulled out, pulled apart (very carefully) and cleaned (clean water rinse, CRC sprayed, very gently soft towel dried, then hair dryer – on 2Kva gen – dried, and finally left in a warm l322 engine bay for about half an hour to dry all chips, circuits, heat sinks, etc. right out). Of course a lot of other cleaning, spraying and drying was done to the case, connectors and the car in general but essentially the computer was then plugged back in and car given a kick in the guts… thankfully, it fired first time.

Having seen the youtube recovery posted here some time ago, we knew it was possible, but what a relief it was hearing that idling 4.6!

Tools that were essential (and those we didn’t have that would have helped big time):
-2 X computer technicians ;
-Torx Bits in larger sizes (checkout your seat mount for size, or as a few theorised change them out for std allen key or normal bolts before your next trip);
-Torx Bits in smaller sizes (to pull computer case apart);
-Clean Water;
-Soft Towels;
-CRC contact cleaner in a pressure pack can;
-2Kva gen and hair dryer (maybe a 12v one could have worked not sure though);
-Warm L322 engine bay.

There were also about a dozen sets of AULRO-ian hands wanting to help do stuff and it took probably about 2 & 1/2 hours all up. However, maybe 30 min’s of that time was spent pulling the seat with screwdrivers, punches, cold chisels and multi grips due to not having the large torx bits on hand. Also, there was a really huge amount of positive LR Karma flowing around the vehicle, and if nothing else that could be what got it back to life.

One things for certain… I do not want an afternoon like that again.

My advice from the experience: wade or even swim your P38 for short periods over do-able distances (including knowing you will not get hooked up on entry or exit) and unless you know you have good seals all round and are 100% confident about body seams, fire wall plugs, bungs and through body bolts, do not stay in (or stop in) water above your computer for any longer than a few minutes.

That's how water entered mine! I watched it seep in behind the door cards!