Car got waterlogged, repairs estimate greater than resale value, what to do?

floyd · 14th June 2009, 20:59

Hello guys,
I really need some good advice on this one. Last week, Thursday, the heavy rains in Bangalore was a nightmare for me, as I was stuck on Kormangala-Domlur inner ring road. While negotiating a waterlogged section, the car ahead of me stalled, and I had to reduce my revving, and that caused my car to stall also. Knowing that there was no option but to leave the car there, I got out and pushed the car to the side of the road, where another car was also similarly stranded. Of course, when I opened the door, water rushed in the cabin, soaking the seats, carpets etc.
I took an auto back home, and next morning, found my car at the same spot; the water had receded. I got the car towed away to Metro Ford for repairs. From the looks of the car, it did not seem like the damage was anything substantial. The only thing was that the autocop alarm was ringing all night, possibly due to a short circuit, so the battery was completely drained. Hence, I thought that the repairs would involve just drying the interiors, and charging or replacing the battery.
The next day, I was in for a shock, when Metro Ford quoted the estimate for the repairs at Rs. 1,74,000. This, the technician said, was the charges for "visible damage", there may be further charges if anything was found wrong with the engine. Now, I believe the resale value of this car is just around 2 lakhs. The car was bought in November 2004, so is close to 5 years old now, and has done 58K kms. Even if I claim insurance, I would still have to pay some amount from my own pocket. I am guessing, with these high estimates, that may be close to 60-70K atleast.
I feel that it just does not make sense to pay this much to repair the car. I am really in a fix now. I even feel like just chucking the car away, assuming that the depreciated value is zero, and buying a new car. Can anyone please help....??

abhijeet080808 · 14th June 2009, 21:20

What is the car in question? Ford Icon?

Knight Rider · 14th June 2009, 21:39

Looks like you are driving an ikon, I also had an issue with my alto two years back, Bimal guys quoted me close to 50k including the ECU, ECU is located somewhere close to the glove box and the guys there were not agreeing with the fact that the water level did not even reach the base of the gear liver, So i did a wise thing, paid for the tow and got the car towed to another local garage, and guess what I ended up with, Change of carpet and gear oil and some minor stuff.

That was around 8k including service. So my advise is to get it checked with some other garage as well. These guys are bloodhounds, Its situations like these that they make money. I am sure that Bangalore has a lot of competent mechanics

So dont worry my dear friend, dont lose hope yet

Sorry, Just saw the word "METRO FORD" please lookup the forum and you will find how competent they are

drpullockaran · 14th June 2009, 22:23

I agree completely with Knight rider regarding FORD service centers. These guys may not be as theiving and conniving as Skoda but they are somwhere there as far as cheating the customer is concerned. If you or the FORD *** have not started the car then all you have to do is bench charge the battery use flushing oil for the enginefor 5 minutes and replace the gear oil and reset the ECU; do not forget to put fresh engine oil. You should be good to go. IF you have allowed FORD to start the car then they would have ruined the engine by starting it and sucking water into the cylinders. Best of luck. IF the car is submerged above the level of the top of the head assembly then too no parts need be changed only a thorough petrol wash will do. A car in Chalakudi( small village in Kerala) was totally submerged and by that I mean the roof was not visible and the only thing that owner had to do was a petrol wash of the innards of the engine. The car in question was a Palio 1.9D. He was charged only for disassembly and assembly of the engine. I think you will be far better off if the FORD *** has not touched the car and its immediately taken to a private specialist garage that rebores engines. Warning!!!! Do not start the car till it is ascertained that water has not been sucked into the cylinders. Personally I think you will get away with just bench charging the battery and flushing the engine and gear box.
Best of luck to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by floyd

Hello guys,

I even feel like just chucking the car away, assuming that the depreciated value is zero, and buying a new car. Can anyone please help....??

If you plan on

chucking the car I will gladly come and get it to Kerala.

Call me on 09447023330 if you are sending it to the landfill. Seriously.

greenhorn · 14th June 2009, 22:29

Yup, ford is almost as much of a ripoff as skoda, but the difference is , at most places, you can bribe and then try to bargain with the mechs, and get a lower quote from them.

floyd · 15th June 2009, 10:31

Thanks guys! It is a Ford Ikon Flair.
Can you guys tell me some contact details of a good repair shop for Ford cars? I also think these guys are ripping me off, and would be better off in another repair shop.

Shubhendra · 15th July 2009, 19:24

My two cents. Try with some local mechanic, even you require ECU etc. you will get the same in second hand market. Repair your car and sell it

Regards,
Shubhendra

arin_12 · 15th July 2009, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by floyd

Thanks guys! It is a Ford Ikon Flair.
Can you guys tell me some contact details of a good repair shop for Ford cars? I also think these guys are ripping me off, and would be better off in another repair shop.

Why dont you try ALI Garage. There is also some good shop near Indiranagar BDA complex. Try them. Else also u can try in Lathangi FORD.
Best of luck...

funda2max · 16th July 2009, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by floyd

Thanks guys! It is a Ford Ikon Flair.
Can you guys tell me some contact details of a good repair shop for Ford cars? I also think these guys are ripping me off, and would be better off in another repair shop.

You can also check with Cauvery (No longer Ford) in Kanakapura Road, they are servicing Ford cars!

emkay456 · 16th July 2009, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpullockaran

A car in Chalakudi( small village in Kerala) was totally submerged and by that I mean the roof was not visible and the only thing that owner had to do was a petrol wash of the innards of the engine.

Chalakudi a "small village" !! C'mon it is a Municipal Area !!

GTO · 19th July 2009, 15:55

Get your car checked out & repaired by an after-market specialist. Would work out WAY cheaper. A 5 year old car visiting an authorised service bay for a major job is not a good idea, atleast not in most cases.

MileCruncher · 19th July 2009, 16:36

Floyd what happened to your car finally???

floyd · 24th December 2009, 13:34

Quote:

Floyd what happened to your car finally???

Sorry, I had been silent about this. After visiting Metro Ford H'ghatta workshop and inspecting the car, and talking to the supervisors, I decided to let them fix it. Apparently, there was water intake in the engine, and I did not want to risk getting it fixed somewhere else. They also mentioned that the quote of Rs. 1,74,000 was the absolute worst case figure if they had to replace the engine ECU, and other parts.
The final bill came to just around 30K. I had to claim insurance, and paid around 15K from my pocket. These were the parts damaged (with their prices)

Part MRP
Strap Wiring 23.52
Transmission Oil 266.12
Clutch Cylinder 2137.34
Seal HTR inlet 8.14
Fuel Filter 154.69
Heater Hose Asy 1369.61
Hose Degas Return 155.87
Idler Pulley 1072.97
Oil Filter 90.63
Carpet Floor Sponge 813.37
Element Air cleaner 296.55
Winshield Washer Pump 678.18
Alternator Bracket 12653.05
Power Window Switch 2048.81
V Belt AC 1368.9
Brake Fluid 378.06
Engine Oil 171

After this, the car is running fine & well. The only difference is that I did not replace Autocop (which was also damaged) so now I dont have remove entry anymore. I even drove to Kadaikanal and back recently, and the car is in absolute good health! She's quite a survivor :-)

gemithomas · 24th December 2009, 15:17

Do you really need to change the Clutch Cylinder after water logging!!!
And what about the power window switch? Was the water so high to get into it?

Anyway good to know things are fine and running.

govigov · 24th December 2009, 15:32

alternator bracket? i think, thats just a piece of metal that holds the pulleys. no way that can be damaged in a water logging scenario.

14th June 2009, 20:59	#1
floyd BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 182 Thanked: 90 Times	Car got waterlogged, repairs estimate greater than resale value, what to do? Hello guys, I really need some good advice on this one. Last week, Thursday, the heavy rains in Bangalore was a nightmare for me, as I was stuck on Kormangala-Domlur inner ring road. While negotiating a waterlogged section, the car ahead of me stalled, and I had to reduce my revving, and that caused my car to stall also. Knowing that there was no option but to leave the car there, I got out and pushed the car to the side of the road, where another car was also similarly stranded. Of course, when I opened the door, water rushed in the cabin, soaking the seats, carpets etc. I took an auto back home, and next morning, found my car at the same spot; the water had receded. I got the car towed away to Metro Ford for repairs. From the looks of the car, it did not seem like the damage was anything substantial. The only thing was that the autocop alarm was ringing all night, possibly due to a short circuit, so the battery was completely drained. Hence, I thought that the repairs would involve just drying the interiors, and charging or replacing the battery. The next day, I was in for a shock, when Metro Ford quoted the estimate for the repairs at Rs. 1,74,000. This, the technician said, was the charges for "visible damage", there may be further charges if anything was found wrong with the engine. Now, I believe the resale value of this car is just around 2 lakhs. The car was bought in November 2004, so is close to 5 years old now, and has done 58K kms. Even if I claim insurance, I would still have to pay some amount from my own pocket. I am guessing, with these high estimates, that may be close to 60-70K atleast. I feel that it just does not make sense to pay this much to repair the car. I am really in a fix now. I even feel like just chucking the car away, assuming that the depreciated value is zero, and buying a new car. Can anyone please help....??
	(1) Thanks

14th June 2009, 21:20	#2
abhijeet080808 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 98 Thanked: 330 Times	What is the car in question? Ford Icon?
	() Thanks

14th June 2009, 21:39	#3
Knight Rider BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 282 Thanked: 28 Times	Looks like you are driving an ikon, I also had an issue with my alto two years back, Bimal guys quoted me close to 50k including the ECU, ECU is located somewhere close to the glove box and the guys there were not agreeing with the fact that the water level did not even reach the base of the gear liver, So i did a wise thing, paid for the tow and got the car towed to another local garage, and guess what I ended up with, Change of carpet and gear oil and some minor stuff. That was around 8k including service. So my advise is to get it checked with some other garage as well. These guys are bloodhounds, Its situations like these that they make money. I am sure that Bangalore has a lot of competent mechanics So dont worry my dear friend, dont lose hope yet Sorry, Just saw the word "METRO FORD" please lookup the forum and you will find how competent they are Last edited by Knight Rider : 14th June 2009 at 21:42.
	() Thanks

14th June 2009, 22:29	#5
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,746 Thanked: 4,403 Times View My Garage	Yup, ford is almost as much of a ripoff as skoda, but the difference is , at most places, you can bribe and then try to bargain with the mechs, and get a lower quote from them.
	(1) Thanks

15th June 2009, 10:31	#6
floyd BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 182 Thanked: 90 Times	Thanks guys! It is a Ford Ikon Flair. Can you guys tell me some contact details of a good repair shop for Ford cars? I also think these guys are ripping me off, and would be better off in another repair shop.
	() Thanks

15th July 2009, 19:24	#7
Shubhendra Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Poona Posts: 1,276 Thanked: 2,249 Times	My two cents. Try with some local mechanic, even you require ECU etc. you will get the same in second hand market. Repair your car and sell it Regards, Shubhendra
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 15:55	#11
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,559 Thanked: 300,935 Times View My Garage	Get your car checked out & repaired by an after-market specialist. Would work out WAY cheaper. A 5 year old car visiting an authorised service bay for a major job is not a good idea, atleast not in most cases.
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 16:36	#12
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Floyd what happened to your car finally???
	() Thanks

24th December 2009, 15:17	#14
gemithomas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,366 Thanked: 143 Times View My Garage	Do you really need to change the Clutch Cylinder after water logging!!! And what about the power window switch? Was the water so high to get into it? Anyway good to know things are fine and running.
	() Thanks

24th December 2009, 15:32	#15
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,691 Thanked: 1,092 Times View My Garage	alternator bracket? i think, thats just a piece of metal that holds the pulleys. no way that can be damaged in a water logging scenario.
	() Thanks