Team-BHP - Drove my Civic through water, engine hydrolocked | 1.55 lakh estimate for engine overhaul & repairs

Hi all,

The recent heavy rains in Bangalore and poor condition of the roads and the drainage resulted in my Honda Civic sucking up water. A bus moving through the road, created a mini wave and my car managed to suck up water through the intake. Ofcourse, it stalled after that. Water got into the cabin.

This is a 2008 model and now I'm given an estimate of 1.55 lakh for repairs. With 50k for the engine overhauling itself. The car has done 80k+ kms so far. I have insurance that does cover natural calamity including flooding. I think they provide 50% coverage for parts provided there is a GST bill. I know for sure there will be no GST bill for engine overhauling and maybe many others as well (perhaps most items under Machine room and outside works in the bill below).

Alternator is jammed, so is the starter motor. I have included some pictures to show you the state of the engine and the clutch plate. Clutch plate is actually new and hasn't done even 3k kms.

Looking for some expert opinion on these matters:
1. How reasonable is the estimate?
2. Engine overhaul or find an engine from a scrapped or totaled vehicle?
3. Insurance has sent a long questionnaire, knowing how insurance companies are and trying every reason to reject. Could someone PM and assist me how to approach filling the questionnaire?
4. I feel the cost to fix jammed alternator, AC compressor is on the high side.
5. Any suggestions on which garage in Bangalore would do a good job at a reasonable price?
6. Any contacts in Bangalore that does engine overhaul or will be able to provide an engine from a scrapped car?

Appreciate your inputs. Thank you in advance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontech (Post 5348352)

I have insurance that does cover natural calamity including flooding. I think they provide 50% coverage for parts provided there is a GST bill. I know for sure there will be no GST bill for engine overhauling and maybe many others as well (perhaps most items under Machine room and outside works in the bill below).

You have to show that the car was flooded when parked, if the damage is while moving, you cannot claim under Insurance unless you have purchased specific protection for the Engine (water damage).

Not recommended to fake as not ethical (illegal too) besides, it will be hard to prove.

The best shot, try to find out an old running engine from an accidental car, otherwise, ask how much is the engine assembly from the dealership(half engine may be enough)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbanator (Post 5348621)

With what the OP has described it seems he hasn't logged a claim yet and the engine has been dismantled without the Insurance company/surveyor's permission. So if that is the case the insurance company can reject the claim even if he proves water entered the engine while it was not in use, which is again difficult to prove with the amount of rust already developed inside the engine.

Also, being a 15 year old vehicle, it would be important to know what is the Insured Declared Value (IDV) the OP has on his policy as this looks like a total loss insurance claim if payable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnS_12 (Post 5348772)

The claim is launched. Inspection was done twice and they wanted an estimate before giving a go ahead to start the work. These guys dismantled the engine and other things before giving an estimate. So I'm not sure what is going to happen now. The claim is under process though. Car value on the insurance cover is 5+ lakhs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontech (Post 5348352)

If the insurance claim doesn't sufficiently cover the repair costs, and you want to still repair and use the car, I would recommend you check out Automech in Koramangala. It's a small FNG that does a pretty good job. I have been using then for my XUV 500 for many years now; he's reliable and cost wise very reasonable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontech (Post 5348817)

Sorry, forgot to include the details of the estimate in the first post.

If your engine seized up I dont see any estimate for Valves or piston or rings etc which are the usual victims of seizure. May I ask what was the diagnostics for the seizure like broken cam, bent/broken valves, bent/broken piston, Crank failure? Or simple ingress of water and choking the engine?

If your Engine has choked and hasn't damaged the above mentioned parts, then I think you just need to get Head of the engine resurfaced and pistons cleaned and injectors serviced, engine flushed with oil and then try starting the car, then check the electricals and it should be good again.

Nehow The estimate seems a bit high and vague. I just feel after looking at the labor Machine room and Outside work charges that your engine simply choked on water and the sensors killed the engine. and also was your power steering pump damaged?

Honda power steering pumps are quite durable and hard to fix, until unless there was ingress of water in it through the power steering rack, I wouldn't touch it. And also was your radiator damaged? I see alot of charges for hose pipes and coolant related stuff which i think you are getting replaced due to aging and not damage.

And honest opinion i doubt insurance is going to be a smooth sail in your claim as you were driving through a flooded road. I suggest immediately take a legal opinion and keep a storyline which will be upheld in court.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontech (Post 5348352)

Appreciate your inputs. Thank you in advance.

I had an Alto which was submerged in floods once. We had purchased it for 3.4 lacs and repair cost was 98000/-. We got an insurance claim of 95000/-. However the car kept throwing some issues or the other every few months. It was a car which was used only very little, so we kept it and fixed it. We had it for 11 years but it kept throwing up some issues or the other especially the AC which was never the same again.

Which FNG in Bangalore are you getting it done? I suggest you can get the lathe work done in Siddiah Road. Before that check for damages in pistons , connecting rods, cylinder walls. If any such visible damage only then go for overhaul. It appears that you only need some polishing of cylinder walls and head resurfacing and try starting it and subsequently get it scanned for accurate diagnostics of any other failed parts.