smiledr996s

I recently had to drive through high water to get out of my subdiv in the flood waters in LA. I am figuring about 3.5 feet give or take. I have an 08 gl 320cdi. I mad it through the deepest part as my truck started to stall out. I was able to make it onto an median, before it died. Just before dying I had a high water temp message, had only driven a few minutes though.

After a few attemps , I was able to get it restarted and noticed alot of white smoke comming from the tail pipes, which I assumbed was burning off water from intake.

I drove about an hour to new orleans, stopped at a few places then headed to my girlfriends. A few hours later I tried to start the truck and it would not. Although later that evening it would start, with a check engine light.

The next day I had some weird electronic issues,such as the SOS telaid inoperable. The voltage while running was lower as checked by my brake controller. However the check engine light went away.

I pulled the cap and did not see any evidence of water, no milkshake apperance.

I took it to mercedes and they found water had pushed up a plug and let water enter the battery compartment under passenger front. They pulled up the carpet and dried it out. They are working with insurance company to repair.

Any suggestions as to what I may want to ask to be checked or changed?\

Thank you
Steve

Plutoe

My first question would be -----how much is the car worth in trade!!

smiledr996s

Not enough, probably better to total, which the Ins wanted to do by having it towed to copart. It has been a good vehicle and I really want to keep it so i drovie to to the dealership.

Probably would only get 12-15. I have probably half that in maintance over the past 4 yrs inclusing two sets of tires and airmatic.

I like the 08 for not having the urea tank but mostly having a spare tire. I am on the road alot. It would probably be hard to find a loaded on like mine with low miles.

alx

this truck is scarred for life.

flooded vehicles are the absolute absolute worst to repair.

i would try to get rid of it in a responsible manner at all cost.

smiledr996s

Although if any failure is flood related its covered for 10 yrs from Ins company. I plan to see how it goes for a bit.

alx

It will be an exercise of frustration. It is not going to be a truck you can trust and this is the worst for a daily driver.

Fourdiesel

White smoke (steam?) out the exhaust may have meant it swallowed some water into the air intake. You probably didn't get any solid slugs of water into the turbo or the cylinders or the engine would have hydrolocked with broken pistons and crankshaft.
It is fairly easy to pull the air intake filters and look for evidence of water there. If they have been wet, replace them. If they were wetted the whole charge air system should be taken apart and drained of liquid water (there will be some oil from the turbo seals). Solid water will easily damage the turbo compressor disk if the engine was producing much power when it went under. This too is relatively easy to visually examine.
Good luck!

a2j

Water went over the hood?

Fourdiesel

His post says he estimated the water depth as 3.5 ft! If there was any bow wave at all the water surly was over the headlights - even if he had remembered to set the ride level to off-road high!