Worst news EVER!!!

[crupp]

So my day did not go as planned today. As some of you may know we have been getting ALOT of rain here in Atlanta, Ga. So I am heading back to the office in a very hard rain. I notice a puddle it doesn't appear to be deep so I proceed. Well, I didn't realize the water of the drain was clogged and very deep. The water splashed up on my car and the car stalled. Not a big deal I thought something got wet. I get out of the car and there is gas and oil streaming down the road. This can't be good. After Haz Mat and the fire department leave and I am at the dealership with the car I find out there is a much bigger problem! The intake sucked in the water and water went into the engine. Piston tries to push water = not good. Piston breaks goes through the bottom of the block, through the oil pan. ENGINE BLOWN, car needs a new engine. REALLY, I need a drink!!

 

[GripperDon]

So very sorry!

 

[crupp]

insurance is covering the engine. i'm more nervous about problems down the road

 

[ctrcbob]

Two comments.

1. With the drought in Atlanta last year, and Lake Lanier (sp) being so low, everyone in Atlanta was praying for rain. I guess you all can stop praying for that rain now.

2. Never NEVER try to go through puddles. Even if you think it is not deep, because you don't know if there is a hidden hole or pavement broken away. As you found out, it can cause a lot of damage. Also, even if you make it through, the deep water gets in the wires and plugs, (as in the low fog light plugs) and switches (things that switch the engine fan) and the splash can get into the fuse box in the engine compartment.

The last time I drove through water, (Kerrville Tx area) before I did, I got out of the car, and walked in the water, to see just how deep it was. If water is deeper than the depth of the bottom of your tires, where it meets the bottom of the wheel, it is too deep.

Many years ago, I had a beautiful 73 Pontiac GrandAm. (Remember them, with the soft nose). Drove it through deep water once, and although I made it through, the car never was right again. did something to the transmission, and fluid was leaking into the radiator through the transmission cooler inside the radiator. Had other things go wrong also. NEVER AGAIN.

 

[SterlingDave]

So my day did not go as planned today. As some of you may know we have been getting ALOT of rain here in Atlanta, Ga. So I am heading back to the office in a very hard rain. I notice a puddle it doesn't appear to be deep so I proceed. Well, I didn't realize the water of the drain was clogged and very deep. The water splashed up on my car and the car stalled. Not a big deal I thought something got wet. I get out of the car and there is gas and oil streaming down the road. This can't be good. After Haz Mat and the fire department leave and I am at the dealership with the car I find out there is a much bigger problem! The intake sucked in the water and water went into the engine. Piston tries to push water = not good. Piston breaks goes through the bottom of the block, through the oil pan. ENGINE BLOWN, cars needs a new engine. REALLY, I need a drink!!

Maybe you need two drinks, crupp....have two on me! So sorry to hear about your Gennie.

 

[moose66]

Yikes. That's a tough one. I have been watching the news reports on the weather you guys are having in that area. That has to suck! Hopefully the Hyundai techs can advise you on what to look for down the road once the engine (and all associated damaged parts) are replaced. Good luck and put the bottle down!

 

[Asus999]

So my day did not go as planned today. As some of you may know we have been getting ALOT of rain here in Atlanta, Ga. So I am heading back to the office in a very hard rain. I notice a puddle it doesn't appear to be deep so I proceed. Well, I didn't realize the water of the drain was clogged and very deep. The water splashed up on my car and the car stalled. Not a big deal I thought something got wet. I get out of the car and there is gas and oil streaming down the road. This can't be good. After Haz Mat and the fire department leave and I am at the dealership with the car I find out there is a much bigger problem! The intake sucked in the water and water went into the engine. Piston tries to push water = not good. Piston breaks goes through the bottom of the block, through the oil pan. ENGINE BLOWN, cars needs a new engine. REALLY, I need a drink!!

Wow That sucks.. sorry to hear that...

 

[PINGGOLF]

Holy COW! What a day man!

I'm anxious to hear what goes on next! Maybe Hyundai will go on and bolt on the supercharger for you!

in our dreams....

 

[MADDMOE]

Man i feel for you , im upset & its not even my genesis !!!

 

[crupp]

anyone think that the engine will give me problems. there seems to be alot of very precise electonics, etc associated with engine

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[dataguy]

That does suck. After my own harrowing traverse of a flooded street during an El Nino storm in California in the 90's (in which I could hear the stream of water through the floorboards, I wouldn't risk it unless either the car wasn't going to escape the floodwaters anyway.

I'd be interested in what you told your insurance company such that they didn't deny the claim

 

[dataguy]

anyone think that the engine will give me problems. there seems to be alot of very precise electonics, etc associated with engine

There's a reason why CARFAX makes a living off of reporting flood damaged cars. You can make 'em look new, but yeah, there's a lot of sensitive stuff that may be compromised.

EDIT: hey, 500th post!

 

[crupp]

That does suck. After my own harrowing traverse of a flooded street during an El Nino storm in California in the 90's (in which I could hear the stream of water through the floorboards, I wouldn't risk it unless either the car wasn't going to escape the floodwaters anyway.

I'd be interested in what you told your insurance company such that they didn't deny the claim

I actually told them exactly what happened, falls under comprehensive

 

[dataguy]

I actually told them exactly what happened, falls under comprehensive

Good thing it wasn't Dataguy Casualty Company. I would put in a "you did WHAT?!?" clause
But I'm glad you're not stuck with a blown engine, because that would be terrible.

 

[JK3]

I'm north Atlanta myself, saw a flooded road and turned around and went the LONG way around -- glad I did.....

 

[jwaters943]

Noooo! That sucks so bad. I'm not sure I'd be overly worried about problems long term, but then again, I've never had to deal with something like this.

Look at the bright side. You could always use this as an excuse to upgrade to the 2011 Supercharged V8 Genesis.

 

[Galbi]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks for reminding me of this possibility. Whenever I see a puddle, the kid teenage kid inside of me takes over and encourages me to step on the gas paddle. I guess I should grow up. Psshhh. Who wants to do that?

 

[Sayantsi]

When a car gets water in the engine, it typically stalls. The damage usually occurs when the owner tries to restart the engine and water gets into the cylinders, then things go boom. As a general note - never drive through water (for many reasons), but if a car stalls while driving through water or in heavy rain, be mindful of starting it again. Having it towed and having the water sucked out of the intake/cylinders is an easy fix compared with pulling an engine.

As for long term damage, with a new car and its good electrical wiring you won't see any issues from electronics if it was just a puddle. Everything in the engine bay is designed to withstand water spray, but not prolonged submersion. The mechanical parts need to be replaced, but assuming the mechanics plug everything back together properly, you shouldn't see any long term effects.

 

[mikec]

Years ago when SoCal had a couple days of torrential rains (by SoCal standards anyway) some of the major roads had several inches of standing water. Different vehicles that tried to maintain the normal 40 to 50 MPH sometimes met with the same fate: engines inhaling water and then trying to compress that water. I saw several cyl heads that tried to push through hoods.

Ford Probes and several other Fords of that vintage (late 80s/1990s) have the air intake as holes around the Ford Blue-oval on the nose of the car. Ford didn't have any sort of "trap" to separate dirt or water. Those vehicles were recalled and different plastic piping was installed. This piping included some type of "U" shape and other tricks to keep water out of the engine.

I wonder if Hyundai will make a similar design change?

mike c.

 

[crupp]

When a car gets water in the engine, it typically stalls. The damage usually occurs when the owner tries to restart the engine and water gets into the cylinders, then things go boom. As a general note - never drive through water (for many reasons), but if a car stalls while driving through water or in heavy rain, be mindful of starting it again. Having it towed and having the water sucked out of the intake/cylinders is an easy fix compared with pulling an engine.

As for long term damage, with a new car and its good electrical wiring you won't see any issues from electronics if it was just a puddle. Everything in the engine bay is designed to withstand water spray, but not prolonged submersion. The mechanical parts need to be replaced, but assuming the mechanics plug everything back together properly, you shouldn't see any long term effects.

This is exactly what I did. The car stalled. I waited a few minutes and then tried to restart it. When the mechanic pulled the air filter it was dripping wet!