HELP!! Wet car.

[adsm08]

Ok, so what is the best way to dry out a car that has had a couple hundred gallons of water go through it?

My sister parked her car on the street near her school's campus and a water line exploded beneath the car, and needless to say, it got flooded .

I'd just go rip the interior out and let it air dry while I shop-vac the body, but I'm at school here in NEPA. She and the car are in Nashville...

At least the computer is in a water tight box under the hood, not behind a kick panel in the passenger compartment.

Oh, by the way, if any of you Tennessee guys could go help out with this I'd appreciate it. Could probably even come up with some $$ if you can help her.

 

[superdave1984]

Is she hot?
j/k
Prolly need to file an insurance claim and get the city to cover it.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Im in knoxville or Id give her a ahnd, well i still might, is she hot? j/k I cant afford to go to nashville, however if the car can make it this way id be willing to work on it when I could.

 

[adsm08]

Is she hot?
j/k
Prolly need to file an insurance claim and get the city to cover it.

That may have to happen, but I'm trying to avoid it because (and she doesn't know this yet) my dad found basically the same car but a turbo and about 5 years newer cheap because the PCM is fried. We were going to take her car, sell it to my uncle when he comes back into the country his summer and get her this other one.

Im in knoxville or Id give her a hand, well i still might, is she hot? j/k I cant afford to go to nashville, however if the car can make it this way id be willing to work on it when I could.

I'd say it probably can, but she can't get the hood open and I don't want her trying to crank it over until I know

A) there isn't water in the oil

and

B) there isn't water in the cylinders thats gonna hydro-lock it and bend a rod

So until she can get that hood open, it ain't going anywhere.

 

[Irokranger93]

what

 

[scott5640]

just let it sit in the sun with the windows open... itll dry out

 

[adsm08]

just let it sit in the sun with the windows open... itll dry out

That's pretty much the idea at the moment. The problem is that the doors aren't quite level with the floor, like a jeep, but not as deep.

I personally won't miss that car much, its fun to drive, but a pain to work on, stupid swedes.

 

[MountainMike]

Saab 900 / 9-3? Sorry man I had to make a guess, I'd question those electrics at this point more than water in the engine.

 

[OilPatch197]

Saab 900 / 9-3? Sorry man I had to make a guess, I'd question those electrics at this point more than water in the engine at this point.

Agreed, you need to GET RID of this vehicle, either file a Insurance claim....If not covered you need to make it a "New Orleans Special" and SELL/TRADE that car, quick to another!

If water got into the wiring, bad things will happen in the future

 

[erocka1982]

yea i agree too...its not your fault that water got all inside the car and we all know that car is never going to be the same again. youre gonna have big problems in the future. she needs to file an insurance claim or get a lawyer and make the city pay.

 

[adsm08]

Well, here is the news reel:
http://www.wsmv.com/news/23076509/detail.html

Not sure how to embed a non-youtube video.

I'm not as worried about water in the engine anymore after seeing this vid, she made it sound like it was sitting right on top of the break, not under the shower 20' away. Its still a mess.

As for insurance, lawyers, and cities, that's our dad's area, not mine. I just figure out what's broken and what I need to fix it, he worries about who pays.

 

[adsm08]

Saab 900 / 9-3?

Volvo 850 with the straight 5.

I really wish that engine would fit the M50D, or any other RWD 4x4 trans. Most of the engine electronics should be fine, not worried about the power driver's seat because it was already shot, same with the radio, it's the shifter lock-out and the column/console electronics that I'm more worries about.

 

[adsm08]

Update:

Dad called insurance today, they are considering it flood damage and saying they won't pay.

Here is a better link:
http://www.wsmv.com/video/23083113/index.html

 

[Iron Ranger]

How did all that water get in the car? Were the windows left open or does it have a sunroof on it?

Either way.................bummer.


City should pay for that since it's their valve that failed in their street!

 

[adsm08]

I don't think the windows were open, and there is not sunroof. I think it was just that much water coming down that hard for 2 hours. I mean at some point, something is gonna get in.

My best guess is that it ran down into the doors and out through the panels. But yeah, I think the city should pay for it too, and if it was my problem, I'd have gone to them before calling insurance.