Genjet

My daughter called to let me know she drove through some water and the GLK died. She had friends that pushed her to higher ground and I made sure she hasn’t tried to start it. She only turned the key on to put the car into neutral.

Any recommendations on what to look for before trying to start it? It’s been sitting for two days. Also, can anyone recommend an independent shop near the LSU campus in Baton Rouge? I have an inquiry in to the local MBZ dealer, waiting for their follow up.

Mmr1

How deep was the “puddle” ? To suck in water into the air intake that’s like 4 feet high, the intake is at hood level.

Genjet

She said judging by the people who pushed her out that the water was about ankle deep. It didn’t come up to the bottom of the door level.

If the intake to the air filter box is that high, I’m hoping maybe it just shorted out the neutral switch or some other low mounted component.

I’m hearing this is a common thing seen in the area given all the students attending the university. Usually it’s the ones who come from areas that don’t get flooded very often.

John CC

This isn't any help, but, if the water didn't reach the doors, I'm surprised it quit. I'd cross my fingers and try to start it.

Genjet

I was thinking of that after it sits for a few days and after checking to see if water got to the air filter.

John CC

Did it stop abruptly (hydrolock) or did it just sort of shut down?

Either way, if the water wasn't up over the front bumper then I wouldn't expect it to have swallowed any.

Mmr1

What the neutral switch ?

“But daddy it was only ankle deep”, right .

Once I was driving fast through many ankle deep puddles in my blazer during a storm, splashing everywhere, the air filter got soaked .

Genjet

Yeah, never know what the real story is without being on the ground there. Likely a splash event(?). I do have my trusted independent MBZ mechanic here who mentioned the neutral (electronic) switch, I’m thinking it’s connected to the transmission. He said to also check the air filter box.

Hopefully this will not be too expensive of a lesson after I arrange for the tow on Monday. Found a local specialized mechanic who sees this a lot among the students at the university.

This kind of experience is something you wished happened to someone else!

John CC

Yeah, that or she was going 45 mph when she hit the ankle deep water...

Genjet

Like a lot of things, we just don’t get the real story sometimes.

Van Ha Nguyen

Likely hydrolocked.

Discod

I have forded about a foot deep and there were no issues, but I was going 15mph or less.

Genjet

Since I’m not in town, I had it towed today to be on the safe side. I found an independent MBZ shop who has dealt with this in the past. He mentioned that he just had a similar case in there.. a college kid with a VW and it didn’t turn into anything huge. Hoping for the best so I’ll post what happens.

Genjet

It's been a process since this this incident happened. Turns out the engine did hydrolock. Ironically it was towed to an independent MBZ mechanic who will not rebuild it or install used engines -only new/rebuilt. It wound up at a Benz dealer and they will put a used engine in it. So they order the exact engine the insurance appraiser found from LKQ. While prepping it, they notice the block is cracked. They order another but it has over double the mileage (almost 80,000 mi.) and has no known history from MBZ or even Carfax. Not wanting to gamble on a mostly unknown part and a kid who will drive the car extensively away from home, I refuse it. A quick search comes up with an excellent candidate with a known maintenance history and the host car's total loss was caused by side damage. Insurance says they'll now include a (2 yr parts/labor $930) warranty even if the price exceeds the overall estimate.

Now the service advisor at the dealer calls and says instead of ordering a third used engine, they can get a rebuilt one from the Fatherland. Of course it will cost more but will be a zero time/mileage engine with a two year MBZ warranty. Waiting to hear back with the numbers, but it sounds like it will be not be prohibitively more expensive than what the insurance is allowing. When it first happened I checked with my local MBZ parts guys and they quoted me over $12K which obviously doesn't include labor.

Thinking now I should have trailered it home to my willing independent mechanic. Also, a friend of a friend runs a large shop that rebuilds big diesels but that's too far away. Talking to him on the phone, he made it sound like something I could do on a weekend, like he did. The movie Tin Cup came to mind. I wouldn't be able to beat a pro golfer even if he played with a baseball bat, rake, shovel, and hoe..

Experience is something you wished happened to someone else!

andreigbs

A new factory-rebuilt engine with 2yr warranty sounds the best to me, not knowing the price differences obviously.

A big rig diesel shop may know what they're doing, but only if they work on Sprinters a lot. Otherwise I don't think they'd have the special tools and experience to tackle an engine swap on a Benz.

Genjet

Yes (andreigbs), I think that's the best plan depending on the cost difference which I'll get soon. Talked with my independent shop earlier, he would take it on for a winter time project using an LKQ engine. He's an old Mercedes guy who also warned me about the special tools needed and issues that may arise based on Mercedes engineering. He wouldn't attempt a rebuild, unlike the guy I mentioned with the diesel rebuild company. He rebuilt his girlfriend's Saab over a weekend. Semis and huge building generators may be the same concept, but being familiar with Mercedes and having the special tools is a must. Me being 900 miles away from the car doesn't help, but either way, it should be fixed up soon. Hopefully it'll stay the great little SUV it's been up to now!

Mmr1

1000$ hindai and Kia in Chicago are top choises. My Glk is real nice , I don’t believe in blue book because I can’t find one like mine . So yes it’s valuable! .

Bill F

Did she think she was driving a Land Rover? I think kids like to drive fast through water or at lest saw several YouTube videos of it.

So glad my kids have moved on

calder-cay

Reply makes no sense considering the thread's subject 👍 ... and its age (closing in on 3 years).

Genjet

I agree! I keep getting these CARMAX maintenance reminders and it shows the trade in value which is waaay less than I would ever accept.

An update on mine from the original post. We drove it back the 900 miles in the fall for the new school year. Noticed the right front drive shaft developed an oil leak. Called BR MBZ dealer who did the engine swap and they denied any coverage for it. My question was why wasn’t this seal replaced with the engine since it runs through the oil pan? I simply took it to the indy there who I knew from the original
incident and services I had done there since. Easily
replaced but was $400.

The car now has 98,000 miles on it (engine 35,000 less). It’s been fantastic, reliable, and economical using my local independent shop. Looks as good as ever.

One funny thing. I just replaced the driver’s bottom seat cover. The kid’s boyfriend was kneeling on it as they were trying to figure out where the iTag was that I had hidden under the passenger footwell. Like many GLKs, the seam in the seat ripped as a result.

I found the seat cover online for $38 delivered. YouTube had good videos outlining the process and I did the repair in pretty short order. It fits great, looks to be an excellent match but the material is not quite as smooth so thinking of buffing it a little bit. Maybe it’ll make it a little smoother. One other thing though, as careful as I was, the heat element lost continuity. So before winter I’ll address that.

MB2timer

I think I know what hydrolock is, as used in this thread, I am not sure if I understand.
My understanding is the water has to make it all the way past the air filter, to the inlet valves, which if the engine is running can cause catastrophic damage.
Is that the hydrolock the replies are referencing in this thread?

Genjet

Yes, exactly. Water gets past the filter and on into the engine. The way I heard it explained, since water isn’t compressible it can bend piston rods among other effects. In my case I checked the reviews online for engine rebuilders and decided to go with replacement. Easy decision since it was paid for by the insurance and installed by the dealer. Even my Indy mechanic complimented their installation.

The dealer sent back the first engine due to a block crack and I refused the second one after it was delivered -too many miles on it. They put it on me after that (can’t blame them!) so I found a nice low mileage engine from the 800 LKQ phone number. It was actually nearby and the national LKQ parts guy also gave me a lifetime warranty on it too.

John CC

Thanks for the update! Good to hear it worked out well.